Koss The Plug is a stereo earbud for the discriminating listener. It delivers accurate acoustical reproduction and unbelievable isolation typically found in more expensive, closed-style stereophones. The Plug features a dynamic element that is positioned just outside the ear and connected to a tubular port structure that is inserted on a soft expandable cushion into the ear canal. The soft foam cushion expands for a custom fit to improve isolation and enhance deep bass and treble clarity. The Plug has special ear cushions made of hydrophilic, formed urethane, for a custom fit each and every time it is inserted into the listener's ear. The custom fit enhances isolation when you want to plug out ambient sounds that interfere with the listening experience. The Plug delivers the full sound of Koss. Combined with your favorite music and a portable sound system, it is the ultimate accessory on the go. A mute switch on the cord provides connection to the outside world without having to un-plug. Four extra ear cushions and a colorful vinyl carrying case are included.
Koss The Plug is a stereo earbud for the discriminating listener. It delivers accurate acoustical reproduction and unbelievable isolation typically found in more expensive, closed-style stereophones. The Plug features a dynamic element that is positioned just outside the ear and connected to a tubular port structure that is inserted on a soft expandable cushion into the ear canal. The soft foam cushion expands for a custom fit to improve isolation and enhance deep bass and treble clarity. The Plug has special ear cushions made of hydrophilic, formed urethane, for a custom fit each and every time it is inserted into the listener's ear. The custom fit enhances isolation when you want to plug out ambient sounds that interfere with the listening experience. The Plug delivers the full sound of Koss. Combined with your favorite music and a portable sound system, it is the ultimate accessory on the go. A mute switch on the cord provides connection to the outside world without having to un-plug. Four extra ear cushions and a colorful vinyl carrying case are included.
Koss The Plug is a stereo earbud for the discriminating listener. It delivers accurate acoustical reproduction and unbelievable isolation typically found in more expensive, closed-style stereophones. The Plug features a dynamic element that is positioned just outside the ear and connected to a tubular port structure that is inserted on a soft expandable cushion into the ear canal. The soft foam cushion expands for a custom fit to improve isolation and enhance deep bass and treble clarity. The Plug has special ear cushions made of hydrophilic, formed urethane, for a custom fit each and every time it is inserted into the listener's ear. The custom fit enhances isolation when you want to plug out ambient sounds that interfere with the listening experience. The Plug delivers the full sound of Koss. Combined with your favorite music and a portable sound system, it is the ultimate accessory on the go. A mute switch on the cord provides connection to the outside world without having to un-plug. Four extra ear cushions and a colorful vinyl carrying case are included.
Koss The Plug is a stereo earbud for the discriminating listener. It delivers accurate acoustical reproduction and unbelievable isolation typically found in more expensive, closed-style stereophones. The Plug features a dynamic element that is positioned just outside the ear and connected to a tubular port structure that is inserted on a soft expandable cushion into the ear canal. The soft foam cushion expands for a custom fit to improve isolation and enhance deep bass and treble clarity. The Plug has special ear cushions made of hydrophilic, formed urethane, for a custom fit each and every time it is inserted into the listener's ear. The custom fit enhances isolation when you want to plug out ambient sounds that interfere with the listening experience. The Plug delivers the full sound of Koss. Combined with your favorite music and a portable sound system, it is the ultimate accessory on the go. A mute switch on the cord provides connection to the outside world without having to un-plug. Four extra ear cushions and a colorful vinyl carrying case are included.
Last updated at 07/25/2024 02:01:08
originally posted on homeessentialsdirect.com
I bought my first pair of these in July 2020 and the right earbud failed in October 2021. Even though they only lasted a little over a year, I liked them well enough to come back and buy a 2nd pair to replace them, especially since there are few options in this area w/the actual soft foam plug option. The sound quality is good and they offer some sound dampening w/out going all in for the larger noise cancelling style. I do think they should have lasted longer and although they come with a lifetime warranty, the fee + your cost to return ship to them is more than the price of the earbuds, so that's just a waste.
originally posted on homeessentialsdirect.com
I bought these to use on a flight to Europe, and while these do tend to block out the ambient noise, they can be a little cumbersome to insert. This is really only an issue if you remove them constantly, but I found myself doing so to either talk to my husband, a flight attendant, listen to announcements, go to the restroom, etc. so having to reinsert them each time was a little annoying. I ended up using other headphones for the rest of the flight to make things a little easier. My other issue with these earphones is the cable; it is thin and flimsy, and they could have really gone for a more robust cabling, either a thicker plastic or a wrapped plastic. I worry about the durability of these units as a result, but will keep them around as a backup option. The sound ... MoreI bought these to use on a flight to Europe, and while these do tend to block out the ambient noise, they can be a little cumbersome to insert. This is really only an issue if you remove them constantly, but I found myself doing so to either talk to my husband, a flight attendant, listen to announcements, go to the restroom, etc. so having to reinsert them each time was a little annoying. I ended up using other headphones for the rest of the flight to make things a little easier. My other issue with these earphones is the cable; it is thin and flimsy, and they could have really gone for a more robust cabling, either a thicker plastic or a wrapped plastic. I worry about the durability of these units as a result, but will keep them around as a backup option. The sound from these earphones is pretty good once you get them inserted and wait until the memory foam fills the ear canal.
originally posted on homeessentialsdirect.com
I owned a pair of these many, many years ago and after I'd accidentally left them behind on a flight I didn't replace them - at the time they weren't as easy to find. Just recently, when looking for a replacement for some failing wired buds I came across these here on Home Essentials Direct and purchased a pair. I was happy to find out that not only did the meet my expectations from my previous experience but they seem to have improved in fidelity. What I like about these earbuds is the simple design and ease of use. The moldable foam inserts provide a precise fit in the ear and do a good job isolating audio and keeping out exterior sound. The fidelity is above average and is fairly even across the audio spectrum - nice bass, a slight dip in mids, smooth but ... MoreI owned a pair of these many, many years ago and after I'd accidentally left them behind on a flight I didn't replace them - at the time they weren't as easy to find. Just recently, when looking for a replacement for some failing wired buds I came across these here on Home Essentials Direct and purchased a pair. I was happy to find out that not only did the meet my expectations from my previous experience but they seem to have improved in fidelity. What I like about these earbuds is the simple design and ease of use. The moldable foam inserts provide a precise fit in the ear and do a good job isolating audio and keeping out exterior sound. The fidelity is above average and is fairly even across the audio spectrum - nice bass, a slight dip in mids, smooth but slightly subdued highs. They can handle some power and seem pretty efficient - will work very well with average smart phone output volume. Best of all is the affordability. Koss, once again, offers an incredible bang for your buck with The Plug. There's a good reason they've been around all these years!
| General | |
| Product Type | Earphones - wired - 3.5 mm jack |
| Weight | 7 g |
| Recommended Use | Portable electronics |
| Audio Output |
I bought my first pair of these in July 2020 and the right earbud failed in October 2021. Even though they only lasted a little over a year, I liked them well enough to come back and buy a 2nd pair to replace them, especially since there are few options in this area w/the actual soft foam plug option. The sound quality is good and they offer some sound dampening w/out going all in for the larger noise cancelling style. I do think they should have lasted longer and although they come with a lifetime warranty, the fee + your cost to return ship to them is more than the price of the earbuds, so that's just a waste.
I bought these to use on a flight to Europe, and while these do tend to block out the ambient noise, they can be a little cumbersome to insert. This is really only an issue if you remove them constantly, but I found myself doing so to either talk to my husband, a flight attendant, listen to announcements, go to the restroom, etc. so having to reinsert them each time was a little annoying. I ended up using other headphones for the rest of the flight to make things a little easier. My other issue with these earphones is the cable; it is thin and flimsy, and they could have really gone for a more robust cabling, either a thicker plastic or a wrapped plastic. I worry about the durability of these units as a result, but will keep them around as a backup option. The sound ... MoreI bought these to use on a flight to Europe, and while these do tend to block out the ambient noise, they can be a little cumbersome to insert. This is really only an issue if you remove them constantly, but I found myself doing so to either talk to my husband, a flight attendant, listen to announcements, go to the restroom, etc. so having to reinsert them each time was a little annoying. I ended up using other headphones for the rest of the flight to make things a little easier. My other issue with these earphones is the cable; it is thin and flimsy, and they could have really gone for a more robust cabling, either a thicker plastic or a wrapped plastic. I worry about the durability of these units as a result, but will keep them around as a backup option. The sound from these earphones is pretty good once you get them inserted and wait until the memory foam fills the ear canal.
I owned a pair of these many, many years ago and after I'd accidentally left them behind on a flight I didn't replace them - at the time they weren't as easy to find. Just recently, when looking for a replacement for some failing wired buds I came across these here on Home Essentials Direct and purchased a pair. I was happy to find out that not only did the meet my expectations from my previous experience but they seem to have improved in fidelity. What I like about these earbuds is the simple design and ease of use. The moldable foam inserts provide a precise fit in the ear and do a good job isolating audio and keeping out exterior sound. The fidelity is above average and is fairly even across the audio spectrum - nice bass, a slight dip in mids, smooth but ... MoreI owned a pair of these many, many years ago and after I'd accidentally left them behind on a flight I didn't replace them - at the time they weren't as easy to find. Just recently, when looking for a replacement for some failing wired buds I came across these here on Home Essentials Direct and purchased a pair. I was happy to find out that not only did the meet my expectations from my previous experience but they seem to have improved in fidelity. What I like about these earbuds is the simple design and ease of use. The moldable foam inserts provide a precise fit in the ear and do a good job isolating audio and keeping out exterior sound. The fidelity is above average and is fairly even across the audio spectrum - nice bass, a slight dip in mids, smooth but slightly subdued highs. They can handle some power and seem pretty efficient - will work very well with average smart phone output volume. Best of all is the affordability. Koss, once again, offers an incredible bang for your buck with The Plug. There's a good reason they've been around all these years!
I purchased these after reading reviews that said these were the same audio quality as the Pathfinder (aka Spark Plug) headphones, both with the memory foam buds. I found the sound to be not nearly as good...tinny, and the volume not as loud. Perhaps it's just this pair, I don't know. But when I switched back and forth between the two, I can tell a definite difference. I'm going to keep them as a back-up. Plus, having more spare foam inserts is a good thing. My next purchase of Koss will be back to the Pathfinders. Although, I think I'm going to give the ones by LUDOS a try, based (again) on so many positive reviews. These Plug headphones aren't 'bad', but I just can't give them more than a 3 of 5 rating.
LOVE KOSS THE PLUG! Don't love that my favorite colors of it (white & green) are more expensive than the least expensive basic black (by only a couple of bucks or so). Still, it's my favorite brand. Great bass sound (if you get the real deal, not a Chinese knockoff that sounds tinny, which happened once on eBay) & if cared for decently will last far longer than other comparably-priced brands I've tried. I prefer the foam plugs of these which for me fit more securely & comfortably than plastic or silicone tips that slide out, fall out, don't maintain a seal & it gets very annoying to repeatedly adjust them in the ear canal & to constantly clean them of greasy ear wax (eww). Wax collects on the foam too but requires less frequent wiping with a soft towel (I use ... MoreLOVE KOSS THE PLUG! Don't love that my favorite colors of it (white & green) are more expensive than the least expensive basic black (by only a couple of bucks or so). Still, it's my favorite brand. Great bass sound (if you get the real deal, not a Chinese knockoff that sounds tinny, which happened once on eBay) & if cared for decently will last far longer than other comparably-priced brands I've tried. I prefer the foam plugs of these which for me fit more securely & comfortably than plastic or silicone tips that slide out, fall out, don't maintain a seal & it gets very annoying to repeatedly adjust them in the ear canal & to constantly clean them of greasy ear wax (eww). Wax collects on the foam too but requires less frequent wiping with a soft towel (I use microfiber or tissue) & comes with replacement foam tips that can be switched out (I don't usually need to, so I've collected several extra pairs over the yrs, not to mention the foam tips aren't always as easy to replace as you'd expect, so I avoid doing it unless necessary). With good care & regular cleaning these last with frequent use for at least 1 maybe 2 years, longer if not used daily. Usually what would break on me is one ear bud (either the wire in the casing or the sound tube holding the foam would break off completely - bye bye, music), but only with rough use, usually if I wear them often in bed for sleep (which I've stopped doing). Pillows & these don't get along too well, unless my head is propped up higher with an extra cushion. Excellent sound quality for hooking up to TV - brings out every unnoticed background sound (birds, traffic, etc) which I love, & enhances inaudible whispers otherwise missed (& often omitted from subtitles). I have to say I used to love the rubber surface of the cord (it's soft, smooth, doesn't kink & doesn't create friction noise) but ever since getting my current touch-activated phone the rubber cord can actually acts as a stylus and whenever it touches the screen (which happens constantly during use) my phone responds like I'm touching it & all sorts of irritating functions & apps are activated (& accidental changes made! Not good). Nuisance! (not the earphones, it's touchscreen phones that I hate). The struggle to keep the cord from touching the screen is a constant burden & frequently a failure. Oh well. I think not all phone brands are touch activated to use, but LG phones are. It's a very good but also highly annoying feature. I still love & prefer these earphones for the quality of bass they give. I've paid as much as $50 for (used) Klipsch earphones that were good quality & incredibly durable (took 5 yrs of gym abuse before they broke) but I didn't like those better than these. I wouldn't dream of spending $250+ for Bose or Beats or Dyson or whatever high-end brand, only to probably lose them after the insane investment (story of my life). I'm happy in my relationship with Koss The Plug as long as they don't change quality or discontinue manufacture (another story of my life).
I first bought these earphones about 7-8 years or so ago but didn't realize just how good they were until one too many too tight wrappings of its cord around my Sony MP3 player caused a wire to break. I paid $15, give or take, when I first bought them so I thought I'd be upgrading when I bought a $35 replacement set. The sound with those was awful, the bass was weak and nothing sounded at all right. At home I use some excellent audio monitors, with a totally flat rresponse, that exactly reproduces music the way the artist intended it to sound. I know what the music I listen to us supposed to sound. These Koss earphones are so much more accurate and clear than the more expensive earphones I first replaced them with. The earbuds comfortably fills my ear canal with ... MoreI first bought these earphones about 7-8 years or so ago but didn't realize just how good they were until one too many too tight wrappings of its cord around my Sony MP3 player caused a wire to break. I paid $15, give or take, when I first bought them so I thought I'd be upgrading when I bought a $35 replacement set. The sound with those was awful, the bass was weak and nothing sounded at all right. At home I use some excellent audio monitors, with a totally flat rresponse, that exactly reproduces music the way the artist intended it to sound. I know what the music I listen to us supposed to sound. These Koss earphones are so much more accurate and clear than the more expensive earphones I first replaced them with. The earbuds comfortably fills my ear canal with foam that does a vastly better job of blocking external noise than the thin rubber of most others. I can turn the volume way down and still have more than enough "umph" and clarity.I'm now a big fan of these earphones and will be buying a couple more sets next month as backups just in case something happens to my new pair or they stop making them. You shouldn't have to pay an arm and a leg to hear music the way it was meant to sound, with these Koss earphones you don't have to.
The Koss ""The Plugs"" are a pair of ultra budget level IEMs, they use a pair of dynamic drivers, have a non-removable non-balanced 3.5mm cable, and have a warm signature. Going into this, I saw the large number of perfect reviews that are glowing about these IEMs. So, I went in with somewhat high expectations. By the way, there is a big difference between ""noise canceling"" and ""noise isolation"". These are not ""noise canceling"", they are ""noise isolating"". Noise isolation is the blocking of sound by physical passive means, noise canceling is the actual active cancellation of sound, noise cancellation requires power and a microphone. All of the noise canceling headphones you see out there, basically play the ""opposite sound"" (its a little more complicated ... MoreThe Koss ""The Plugs"" are a pair of ultra budget level IEMs, they use a pair of dynamic drivers, have a non-removable non-balanced 3.5mm cable, and have a warm signature. Going into this, I saw the large number of perfect reviews that are glowing about these IEMs. So, I went in with somewhat high expectations. By the way, there is a big difference between ""noise canceling"" and ""noise isolation"". These are not ""noise canceling"", they are ""noise isolating"". Noise isolation is the blocking of sound by physical passive means, noise canceling is the actual active cancellation of sound, noise cancellation requires power and a microphone. All of the noise canceling headphones you see out there, basically play the ""opposite sound"" (its a little more complicated than that, but that is generally what it is) of all the sound around you, so it cancels the sound in your perception. Those expectations were not met. But, that is not saying that these are not without merit. Build quality: well, these are as bargain basement as you get. Extra thin, lightweight wires. The plastic used is light, and somewhat cheap feeling, and the foam for the earpieces arent even uniform, there are rough spots on them. Its $10, so I didnt expect much, it gets the job done. Overall, acceptable. Comfort: Decent enough, the initial getting them in your ears is more work than most IEMS, since you have to squish down the foam before you jab them in your ears, then you will need to wait for the foam to re-expand to give you a good seal. Its light, the foam is pretty comfortable, you can easily wear these for hours, no problem. They are very lightweight, so you dont feel anything weighing you down. The foam tips are also the contact point with your ears, so the foam is able to take most of the cable rubbing noise you get from cables not designed to go over your ears. Overall, good. Sound: This is where it is a bit of mixed bag for me. Given the price point, I havent found anything at this level that is able to produce truly clear sound. The Plug is unfortunately the same as others at this price point when it comes to the sound quality, its grainy, glaringly so. My reference point will be the Moondrop Starship, a pair of $20 IEMs, the Starship is just $10 more, but its a whole league above The Plug when it comes to the resolution of the music it is able to produce. It is like comparing a relatively new LCD 1080p screen to an old 480p tube screen. Sure, the quality of the tube TV is great, for a tube TV, but it is objectively inferior, and somewhat of a pain to see when you are used to high-resolution, high-DPI screens. The sound signature is a heavy plain warm type, the bass is very strong, but thankfully, not so much that it completely drowns out everything else. The mids and the highs are slightly recessed. Precision is good, if low resolution. Sound stage is somewhat small as well, but it does exist to a decent degree. Overall, acceptable. In the end, these are good, for their price point, but by no means is it actually great. if you need a noise-isolating pair of ultra light, ultra budget buds, then these will do well. However, if you are looking for actually good quality sound, you can ignore these. Koss makes the killer KPH30i that gives you $100-150 level sound for $30, and if you want an IEM, the Moondrop Starship at $20 blow these out of the water for just barely more.
These are the best Ear Phones for the dollar I have ever had. I love my music. I've used everything from the free ear phones to $300 E2C's, and these are my favorite. They are like a foamy ear plug and ear phone in one. If you don't know how to put foamy ear plugs in, you won't like these. However, I ride in everything from trains, boats, cars, helicopters, private airplanes and even on foot; these things are the best. I can seal out the outside world and hear my music without cranking the volume to max. Did I mention they are cheap? Unbelievable the quality of tones in such a cheap ear phone. I have been using these for years. I travel al over the world, and I have a stack of three in the closet just in case I lose one, or they break. Perfect.
i normally buy the jvc marshmellow memory foam earbuds but i thought i'd try something different, i regretted it almost as soon as i got them but i figured i would get used to them (and i did) and i could deal with it until they broke (they haven't broken yet btw) but they still have a lot of thing that i don't like about them, these are mostly things that could be bad or good depending on the person but here is a list of things i didn't like about these headphones compared to the jvc earbuds that i like. 1, the size of the earbud is considerable larger 2, the foam is much softer and for me that made it a lot harder to get it to stay in my ear, plus, when combined with the size, i can't really sleep with them in unless i want to end up sore cause they came out and i ... Morei normally buy the jvc marshmellow memory foam earbuds but i thought i'd try something different, i regretted it almost as soon as i got them but i figured i would get used to them (and i did) and i could deal with it until they broke (they haven't broken yet btw) but they still have a lot of thing that i don't like about them, these are mostly things that could be bad or good depending on the person but here is a list of things i didn't like about these headphones compared to the jvc earbuds that i like. 1, the size of the earbud is considerable larger 2, the foam is much softer and for me that made it a lot harder to get it to stay in my ear, plus, when combined with the size, i can't really sleep with them in unless i want to end up sore cause they came out and i rolled over on them. 3, the cord is made out of a kind of material that catches on things easily, it's constantly getting tangled, and it feels very flimsy, i haven't had a problem with the cord braking or anything yet, but i feel like i have to be more careful with it. the only plus about the cord is that it doesn't seem to transfer as much static sound when you brush the cord against things. 4, the foam pieces start looking bad pretty quickly (and i clean my ears regularly) and are hard to clean because the foam is very soft. 5, the rubber that surrounds the cord where it connects to the earbuds and the jack is very weak, i've only had them about a month or so but it keeps breaking off or splitting. i can't really say anything about the sound quality, it's definitely different and i didn't like it at first but i got used to it.
The koss earbuds sound better than my generic $2.50 earbuds(bad) and better than my $8 skull candy ink'd. But compared to their popular $35 koss porta pro, the koss earbuds are much worse. They were not good for listening to music. I ended up buying 1more triple driver earbuds to listen to music which i think are good but not great. however i also did not want to spend over $100 for a pair of earbuds. my $120 sennheiser over the ear headphones are better than the 1 more triple driver. my friends $300 noise canceling over the ear headphones are even better than my sennheiser. bottom line is you get what you pay for.
| General | |
| Product Type | Earphones - wired - 3.5 mm jack |
| Weight | 7 g |
| Recommended Use | Portable electronics |
| Audio Output |