attach your silly GoPro to a real tripod so that your viewer doesn't feel the need to hurl. I stopped the video after 10 seconds before throwing up on the screen.
I've spent a couple days with this mod now, stock pads removed. I'm really impressed, these are the most balanced and yet enjoyable headphones I've used thus far. The bass, mids, and highs are all perfectly balanced. All of my previous headphones were either to focused on one or lacking in one. The mod also increased the soundstage a pleasant degree. For reference, here's how it stacks up with all of my previous headphones (they're all budget headphones) SHP9500 - great highs | good vocals | not enough bass | great soundstage SA CB-1 - good highs | okay vocals | good bass | good soundstage Monoprice Retro - recessed highs and vocals | to much bass | great soundstage KSC75 - slightly sibilant highs | great vocals | not enough bass | okay soundstage KPH30i stock - great highs | great vocals | not enough bass | okay soundstage KPH30i "ULTRA" - great highs | great vocals | good bass | good soundstage Edit: A word of warning a year later, while the audio is great these headphones break really easily. I don't mistreat them and I don't have a very big head, but I broke two of them before giving up on them. Super glue only saves them temporarily until they break again at the same spot they were glued. Additionally, the headphone pads recommended in this video are massive hair magnets, and the hair isn't easy to get out either.
I have a question, have you tried the kph40's and, if so, are they any better than the kph30i? And on that topic if you have hearf the kph40s modded do they sound better than the modded kph30i's?
"You could take off the pads, I think they have something to do with the tuning" So when the pads on my Sony 7506s inevitably deteriorated and I replaced them with Beyerdynamic DT-250 pads, I opted to leave the foam out the first time, and what that did to the sound is difficult to describe. It didn't just make the treble brighter or anything, it screwed up the entire sound balance. Put the foam back in and it was back to normal.
Can confirm, this does really improve the sound. They weigh nothing and feel great as long as you boil the pads for like ten seconds, and they do improve the low end and widen the sound a bit. Highly recommend getting another set of KPH30i’s (Killer Plastic Headphones 30 i) and doin’ this mod. Also there’s a small piece of buffering foam behind the driver that you remove. Do that.
@@vincetheveganprince Yeah, they are kinda stiff when you get brand new ones. I’ve been using my pair as desk listening headphones for years at this point, very comfy sound.
Been listening to KPH30i with cheapo Grado pads for about a year now, and I can't help but come back to them pretty much every day (no joke), no matter what new fancy headphone/iem I waste my money on.... Edit I got my cheapo Grado pads for $7 on eBay
Just got a pair, and some Geekria earpads for Grado SR125, etc. A perfect fit that does help the bass response. The stock phones actually don't clamp that tightly, in the latest version. They're the most comfortable phones I've ever had. The sound is effortless and clear and very revealing. Thanks for the push, Z and keep the good reviews coming!
I reviewed the KPH30i and KSC75 about a year ago. I still have them both and regularly use them more than my HD6XX. I 100% agree with Z, GET SOME KPH30i now, best $30 headphones EVER.⭐👍
My thought when you removed the pad entirely: "Now shit gonna get guuuuuud!" My simple unqualified explanation for the wonder of pad removal: With just removing the small bit of foam you effectively created a funnel, or a horn if you will. This of course strengthens the treble. Like on Klipsch or Triangle speakers. With the removal of the entire pad, you created an acoustic chamber, in which all frequencies can act naturally. Of course it could happen that the bass is stronger now. Don't if this makes sense to someone else, but that's my take on it.
I purchased a second set of these Koss's after hearing the stock first one. In case i sat on the first pair i wanted to make sure i had a backup. So after this Z vid i had to at least try this. The pads were def on a slow round about because i ordered them shortly after the video. Well they came and i tried putting them on without taking the original pads off. NOPE. Immediately went for it in taking all the foam off. Easy. So spending some a few hours with them this afternoon and this New Years Eve. I am blown away at how good these sound. If you have these....just do it! I was plugging in and out a few nice headphones i have,such as the 58X and the 598. I'm significantly enjoying these more at the moment. Soundstage got truly amazing. Definitely pleased and thanks for sharing this Zeos!
I don't own them yet because they are literally in transit to my home right now. Yep, I'm been using the Sony XB-550 for years now, but after I started to really care about sound I realized their ungodly bass didn't let me fully enjoy music. I want to try something different, and hopefully better, and also on a budget. You and DMS convinced me to get the KPH30I with the giant Grado pads
I own a Porta Pro, the Sporta Pro, the KCS75 an this little gem. Luv the low end of Koss for this particular price. They are really great fun. Keep up the good work of reviewing this kind of (budget) phones. Everyone can afford them. I'm happy with the stock KPH30i. Greetings from Holland.
I now have the same giant G pad mod on mine. At first, I thought the stock cans were too muddy sounding, but now w mod it’s my perfect Bossa listening cans.
Dude you did my beloved Grado G cushions mod!!!!!!!!! Dope. To be fair I've been shouting for you to do it on these comments for awhile 😅, and yes taking stock foams off, IF you want to brighten em up (granted, that maybe isn't everyone's thing, but I dig it). Vever is the mock brand I use. It's 10 bucks and nice and dense like the real grado brand. Now, for real, go put them on the basx, asap, their insane! 🤘🏼😎 albeit I'm sure the rebel is great too 😄
I have personally tried this mod...sounds great and I find it much more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. The removal of the original foam (yaxi pads in my case) is a must! Only slight downside is that a longer surface of my skin gets sweaty over the hours and I can see it get worse in the summer but ymmv. Anyway, I give it my recommendation.
Bought some cheaper Grado replicas, comfort improved, but sounded, mhpmh, hard to describe? They had become more fun but veiled. Went ahead and followed a guide to remove the stock earpads (it is possible to do). After slowly unclipping the driver from the headband you can remove the foam pads without tearing them. Now they sound fucking awesome, as God intended, do it, just be slow and steady. As Zeos said, they don't have to work as hard to retain that fun, punchy signature Koss worked on.
Love your review and thank you so much for keeping all of this info accessible to the average listener. Used your link for a Grey and Rhythm Beige KPH30i purchase. Had to go with a different brand of G1000 foam pads b/c your links were sold out. Hopefully you'll get some benefit. Pair for me and a pair for my buddy. Cheers!
Orders KPH30i and G1000 foam pads - 1 Day Later - Wow! 100% as advertised with drivers exposed and large foam pads. So much better than trying to power throgh the OEM foam and filling in the added space. I don't care if these get outclassed by more expensive and better built headphones, I feel like I'd have to spend a sizeable chunk of coin to improve the build quality AND sound. Really nice affordable way for someone to get their feet wet in this audio game. Thx Z! So what can you show me for $50 and $100 that also punches above its weight. Lol.
Ordered pads and headphones on 12-1 and received pads on 12-30.Already had 2 sets of kph30i. Performed mod today and great increase in comfort with clearer highs and deeper bass. WOW
I'm glad you did this video because I was recently listening to the venerated Philips SHP9500 and I couldn't understand why the sound wasn't as rich or detailed... I realized that the angle my ear was hitting the driver was much different than the first time... It just goes to show you that little things (pads and the angle of the driver to your ears) can significantly affect the sound! I have no idea why I haven't figured this out after 2 decades of headphone collecting!
watched this a couple months ago, and decided to buy a pair. I was slightly disappointed with the stock. not entirely, but slightly. I just did the grado pad swap a couple minutes ago and it compensates on what was originally lacking to my ears. stock, they sounded almost like there was a lowpass filter on everything if that makes sense. taking off the stock pads and putting on the grado pads opened them up so they are much brighter now.
Removing the original pads on the Kph30i got rid of the bass buzz that I was originally having problems with. It sounds so much cleaner now with the Grado pads! Damn Zeos game changer!
"...and you put them on your ears, and they press on your ears. And over time, they'll either stretch or the pads'll soften...." "...and you play them..." "...and first of all, they're massive..." Me, getting lost in Eugen's chest: "hmmm, yeah... Uh-huh.... Indeed." EDIT: FYI as of right now, Honey gave a coupon for like $2 off on Koss's website, plus free ground shipping. $16.14 shipped for a white pair. I spent more to get Eugen and Ayanami's party dresses in Azur Lane. ... I wonder if you could improve the Shures by just ripping everything out, shoving some Koss in there, and punching the back out to make it open again? Boom, good sounding headphones and a fancy build/headband.
Just did the mod last night. Thanks Zeos for no sleep last night! I ended up staying up till 1am listening to the glorious cans! I have another pair with the Yaxi pads on. I didn't like how it took some of the sparkle out of the treble. But with these. All the treble is back. Everything seems to have more body/weight.
So after doing this mod myself, this is what I think. DO THIS. It takes away any comfort issues that the original and Yaxi pads had. Last year for Christmas everyone got kph30is, this year everyone gets these pads.
Regarding light gear sliding around, using a combination of 3M Scotch SJ3550 and SJ3551 dual lock is a great way to avoid that. You'll see that method used on guitar pedalboards. It just takes a little square in each corner, doesn't move around like velcro once snapped together, and holds really well. Well enough that you need something like a nylon upholstery crowbar to pop the gear apart.
Bought a pair based on the old review. The adjustable part is quite rigid and will crack if you adjust them without taking them off your head. Some electrical tape on one side works well. Unfortunately 6 months in and the sound stopped working in one ear. I had them for 6 months and paid the postage to mail them back to Koss. You get what you pay for.
The KPH30i clears with Yaxipads and the Grado pads on top are absolute bliss out of my FiiO M9. I think these do Jazz better than my DT990's. Gerry Mulligan - Chelsea Bridge sounds so wide and airy, but I can hear every breath and click, BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY SUB BASS. The fact that the KPH30i and this mod are so cheap still blows my fucking mind and I've been using them like this for nearly a year now. This should not sound this fucking good.
I tried this mod using the Vever pads and I didn't like them. The treble was harsh and sibilant, I tried it on both the KPH30i clear and rhythm beige. So a sample size of two. They had great midrange and soundstage but the bass distorted. I much preferred the stock pads and the later swapped Yaxi pads for the Portapro. I am not sure what happened with the sound, I even just ran the headphone with just the Vever pad with the stock pad removed and the same problem occurred. I tried to calm the harshness with the desecrated corpse of my clear's stock pads by cutting it into a circle and placing into the hole where the driver is and the same problem occurred. I then switched to the Yaxi pads and the sound was unoffending and not sibilant. The amps I ran with these headphones were my phone, MT602, Zen Stack and and Hidizs S3. Is there anything I am doing wrong? Thanks. Edit: Same problem happened with my Grado SR80X, the Vever pads made them harsh sounding. Stock pads make the Grados sound like Grados
Why don't I own KPH30i's yet? Because i'm new here and this is only the 2nd video you have mentioned them in. They are on there way now. Yes I figured out the wallpaper thing >__
Z... huge fan, and as such I wanted to stop by this video and tell you they now make this in a clear version. You may already know that, but it is super sexy. Not that there needs to be a review bc they wont sound any different, but they look so good. I already bought a pair.
Just got a grey pair in the mail. They are immediately impressive sounding for their looks. Huge bass, decent clarity. They're now back to $30. Wish I'd bought a couple extras for Christmas. Bought the cheapest pads in the description not realizing they were from China. I'll be able to test the mod in 4-6 weeks.
Just found this channel, browsing the amazon links; on the page for 2 of the 3 pads listed, they're listed as "frequently bought together" with none other than the KPH30i's. So I guess you done did something here.
My headphones and pads have arrived; the Grado pad mod improves the headphones significantly for sure. I haven't removed the stock foams yet, but I'll likely try that, too. The headphones without the mod are pretty good for the money... the knock-off Grado pads bring the sound quality up significantly. Still not as good as the Philips SHP9500 imo. Edit after further listening: In some ways, I prefer the Koss over the Philips. The Koss provide a fuller upper bass / lower midrange than the Philips, thereby giving them a warmer overall sound by comparison. The Koss, however, are not as expansively 'open' as the Philips, but by no means are they 'closed' - sounding. The Koss seem to have a pretty uniform mid to high frequency range (nothing stands out), and their smoothness lends itself well to a good vocal presentation (somehow offering more intimacy), not to mention provides a bit of forgiveness in some less than stellar recordings. Both sets of headphones are equally enjoyable to me. The Philips are more comfortable due to the circumaural design, have a wider, way more open soundstage, cooler sound signature and better overall resolution than the Koss. The Koss are not quite as open or resolving, but still no slouch in either of those regards, and provide a warmer overall presentation due to a slight bump up in the lows and a very slight bit of treble roll-off (with the stock pads on and the Grado pads added). They both excel at delivering a uniform presentation, both offering very good midrange performance. It's more a matter of cool and agile vs warm and smooth. Good either way.
So I have these and I love them. I bought the grado earcups and they're way better with them. They plug right into my ps4 controller, so I can play at night or watch TV and not wake my wife. They're insanely comfortable. Use them to play D&D over Discord with my formerly in-person group and have them on for four hours without realizing it... BUT they break way too easily. I have snapped 3 pairs just putting them onto my not-freakishly sized head. Especailly with the grado cups, they are at their max just going on and off.
Old video, but I did this recently. The KPH30i's were not on sale but this is still worth it. These are so comfortable and sound great. Very well tuned. Nothing boomy or shouty about them. Nice and easy not fatiguing at all. I think I get a bit of what y'all mean when you talk about sound stage and what not. These sound fantastic and coming from only using in ear monitors. The stereo positioning of instrument tracks is much more convincing. Panned hard doesn't still sound like it's inside my head so they really do feel more wide then in ears ever could.
I removed the original pads and applied the Yaxis, loved the sound on the clears, only the sibliance was a bit too high, sounds better to me eith original pads + yaxis
I am using these with Yaxi pads and while I was blown away with what those pads did to Porta Pro, I didn't hear much difference with them on KPH30i, only they are more comfortable this way. This seems very tempting since I love low end.
Glad I discovered this. They cost $30 although according to the Amazon price history they drop to $20 all the time. I might wait till the prize drops and grab two of them
whoever you are from TWITCH!!! TY, this is what Z reviews is ALLLLL About!!! DUDE the original grado cushion doesnt even require any cutting!!!!!! yeh really big sound changes!!! nice FIND mr twitch!!!!
I have had my Audio-Technica ATH-M40fs cans forever and they still sound great except the ear pads have long since eroded away. I stopped looking for new pads years ago and simply cut two 7" sections from a pair of heavy\thick-(ish) winter socks, creating a tube to slip over each can and that did the trick. It's too bad that AT doesn't make/sell original spec pads for these fantastic (and still awesome sounding) cans anymore. The 3rd party pads I did come across online before were selling for stupid high prices (probably still are today). I've tried some 'new' cans at my local big box stores and can only laugh at the crap sound from $300.00 pairs compared to my (back then) $80.00 AT's. Shame on AT for not (still) supporting & manufacturing these incredible headphones.
@@ChrisoneillART I bought a pair of replacement pads for Grado headphones for mine. I bought it online so It will take a while to arrive so I can't say how it is, but, even if I could, I'm guessing you're thinking of buying an even larger pair than that.
Definitely trying this!!! Ordered the first ones you linked.$8 today. I own 58x,598,shp500,X2,X2HR and Sivga 006. I love these Koss. Looking forward to trying this out and experimenting! :)
@@ruslankazimov622 Well that's not too bad then since everything else has gone so far up in price. Yes i still have them and they still sound really really good. I am careful with those seemingly fragile wires. I tore off the covering of the original Koss pads to let the highs come through more with the added pads. They sound great like that but i would be careful with dust and just keep them covered when not in use.
I didn't quite hear the same low end you got with the only god forgives soundtrack (with my KPH30i and RebelAmp :) ) but I tried out Karmacoma in the Massive Attack vs Mad Professor album and that has some good bass to demonstrate the Koss's abilities. Good review btw will have to mod mine too
THE ULTRA MOD AKA GREAT SOUND REMOVAL MOD . . . I wear mine (UModded) for hours on end with zero discomfort. I realize everyone is different but I've had no discomfort. The Ultra Mod destroys the beautiful highs mids and lows but luckily it's simple to undo . My Set Up zfold3 to Hidizs S9 Pro DAC AMP DONGLE to KPH30i
My pads arrived today.. I bought these sometime over the summer and they have been fine headphones for around the house with a portable DAC amp. I like the 90s look (beige). Now they have other shades. The pad swap has made me look at these in a new light. I will admit that I was never really impressed with their sound. I kind of thought they were overhyped. I also never thought about plugging them into my Darkvoice or any other amp besides my FiiO BTR5. On both amps, they do sound good (better than before) especially considering the money, surprising clarity (after pad swap) and very lightweight/comfortable. Much more so with these pads.. I am using a sonarworks preset for the Koss PortaPros and it does sound better with it on. So do that or an EQ is probably a good idea for these. The pads I used are from AliXpress for $3.20 - Replacement Earphone Ear Pad Earpads Sponge Soft Foam Cushion for GRADO PS1000 GS1000I RS1I RS2I headphones these feel of nice quality. I did set them in a bowl and poured boiling water over them. I let them sit in the water for about a minute. Not sure if that changed anything. You can find the headphones for sale at Koss and use this promo code - VRKTHQ33EC 15% off
I was just listening to my KPH30is a day ago thinking of how much I love them with the aftermarket pads with them (especially so if you apply some pressure to push the drivers closer manually). Looks like I've got to get modding
For EU people. Amazon finally has the KPH30i in international US shipping available. I bought two. Finally after 2 years of waiting to have all the import duties pre-paid.
Close. It's pronounced New-jah-boss (boss is phonetically closer than bass, because bass to some would give the impression its BAYCE which is even more wrong). If anyone really wants to know what the name actually sounds like, you can hear the man himself say it at the very beginning of his Ristorante Mixtape and take from it what you will. Just search for it on youtube. Peace.
I've seen a similar mod to what you've done here a while ago with a pair of Portapros, same large grado chinesium pads, much thinner piece of foam almost to the point of being paper thin just to protect the diaphragm from dirt, and MMCX connectors. (and some head extra padding in style of an aftermarket Shure) Also, I have my own Sportapro's that i modded to have MMCX connectors, thinner pads and a BT adapter, which i use them on the go all the time and especially when just around the house. Might get a pair of KPH30i to do the same if i can get them at a decent price shipped to clapistan (60$~ right now), though i'm thinking of getting a 2pin connector and heatgun for further testing.
Omg yess!! I bought a pair of these KPH30i a week ago and they're too clampy for my sensitive earlobes...been stretching them for a few days, and it doesn't seem to be doing anything...but I do have a pair of G-pads already sitting unused. I know what I'm doing this weekend!
Quality scissors should use a screw not a rivet. I've been sort of getting into scissors. I don't think it's much of a hobby tho so there's not a lot of info out there
FYI, the plastic arm of the drivers might snap due to the constant clamping. But you don't have to toss them. Get a replacement headband 3d printed then the arms slide into the new headband.
Sending the link to all my friends. Words cannot describe my love for these. I haven't watched it yet, please tell me you mention Yaxi pads. They're such an upgrade to an already fantastic headphone.
I bought the KPH30i and returned them a few days later. The highs were almost non-existant - like i was listening to a speaker, covered with a few thick blankets.
I just picked up 4 pairs of these at 19 smackos to give as late holiday gifts, im keeping 1 pair to go full ham on and modify with braided cables and grado cups (why? Because I can).
@@ImCannibalOfficial nice order the kph on Amazon just to see the fuss never like on ears but luckily I found zeos grado replacement cup vid and now I’m really sold...found the cups on Amazon with free one day shipping!! I’ll be out of town for three months this will be a great travel companion
Still probably one of the best open backs sub 100usd, they are better than shp9500 and ad500x Edit: Next upgrade for open back from the kph30i would be like a 58x/dt880 then 400i 2020/560s
Hi Koss, Any idea if or when Massdrop is gonna do another drop? They have 6,600 requests! I want to get a couple sets. Also can you me tell if these need an amp? The impedance seems a bit high-ish?
holy SHIT the bokie pads with the hole in the center make these godly. I might sell my HD600 and just keep these!? KPH30i + Apple dongle DAC + (USB-C to A adapter) + Grado pads = $50-$60 endgame for most people I swear to god
Modded with Yaxi Koss PortaPro pad. I have grey and used orange pads. Improved comfort without adding so much pad. Thanks for the tip. Also has microphone so it’s great for calls/zoom. Keeps me from having to listen to my 7 year old who talks all day. When is school opening?
A guy from Singapore was going on and on about this mod couple weeks ago so ordered pads then...Just got them today..Dear god this is this a fucking amazing mod! removing the foam made a massive difference nice one Z ;) CALLING ALL KPH30I OWNERS! DO THIS F'ING MOD!!!!!!!!!
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why dont you review sennheiser hd 250 linear 1,2 ???
+MAYBE pops bowers px, px7 and kef space one maybe.....
i dont own kph30is because i dont have enough money (shipping is 3 times the price of the product for some people)
Just bought them😋Now wait. Btw normally i use starfield and dt 1990 pro
attach your silly GoPro to a real tripod so that your viewer doesn't feel the need to hurl. I stopped the video after 10 seconds before throwing up on the screen.
If you stick those grado pads in boiling water for 10-20 seconds, they soften up even more (and they're clean too!)
So I need to find Aldente?
@@ZReviewsor let a shibe mlem them
Just remember to take them off the headphone first.
I concur, definitely boil the pads. Feels a lot better afterward. Just make sure to dry the inside groove of the pads as well.
Boiling water or warm water?
I've spent a couple days with this mod now, stock pads removed. I'm really impressed, these are the most balanced and yet enjoyable headphones I've used thus far. The bass, mids, and highs are all perfectly balanced. All of my previous headphones were either to focused on one or lacking in one. The mod also increased the soundstage a pleasant degree.
For reference, here's how it stacks up with all of my previous headphones (they're all budget headphones)
SHP9500 - great highs | good vocals | not enough bass | great soundstage
SA CB-1 - good highs | okay vocals | good bass | good soundstage
Monoprice Retro - recessed highs and vocals | to much bass | great soundstage
KSC75 - slightly sibilant highs | great vocals | not enough bass | okay soundstage
KPH30i stock - great highs | great vocals | not enough bass | okay soundstage
KPH30i "ULTRA" - great highs | great vocals | good bass | good soundstage
Edit: A word of warning a year later, while the audio is great these headphones break really easily. I don't mistreat them and I don't have a very big head, but I broke two of them before giving up on them. Super glue only saves them temporarily until they break again at the same spot they were glued. Additionally, the headphone pads recommended in this video are massive hair magnets, and the hair isn't easy to get out either.
I have a question, have you tried the kph40's and, if so, are they any better than the kph30i? And on that topic if you have hearf the kph40s modded do they sound better than the modded kph30i's?
@@n1kora937 Haven't tried kph40's
"You could take off the pads, I think they have something to do with the tuning" So when the pads on my Sony 7506s inevitably deteriorated and I replaced them with Beyerdynamic DT-250 pads, I opted to leave the foam out the first time, and what that did to the sound is difficult to describe. It didn't just make the treble brighter or anything, it screwed up the entire sound balance. Put the foam back in and it was back to normal.
foam absolutely affects sound
for anyone that has stock kph30i, listen to the cowboy bebop cover by Sapphire and cry like I did
Jesus Christ, thanks for the recommendation 😭
Ordering just to try
I love how excited you got when you had the eureka moment
My library made me return them with my copy of The Giver in 1996.
Can confirm, this does really improve the sound. They weigh nothing and feel great as long as you boil the pads for like ten seconds, and they do improve the low end and widen the sound a bit. Highly recommend getting another set of KPH30i’s (Killer Plastic Headphones 30 i) and doin’ this mod. Also there’s a small piece of buffering foam behind the driver that you remove. Do that.
Imma take your word and try this out❗️
@@Chemunguss Go for it! When you get the grado pads, be sure to boil the pads in water for about 10-15 seconds. Makes ‘em softer.
@bzmudaifydIsn't it not there by default on the clear version?
I just got the KPH30i and grado pads. They do feel pretty firm so I'm about to boil them to make it softer. Thank you for the tip.
@@vincetheveganprince Yeah, they are kinda stiff when you get brand new ones. I’ve been using my pair as desk listening headphones for years at this point, very comfy sound.
Been listening to KPH30i with cheapo Grado pads for about a year now, and I can't help but come back to them pretty much every day (no joke), no matter what new fancy headphone/iem I waste my money on....
Edit
I got my cheapo Grado pads for $7 on eBay
Same here I even use them for gaming when I don't feel like wearing heavy headphones. The drivers Koss used on these are simply good enough lol.
really? even over planars?
@@CartyCantDance No planars yet (maybe the GL2000 someday), but over my X2 and DT880 and M40x for sure
@@xTG14x over all those TITANS??? alright I have to get me a pair
@@CartyCantDance Doooooo itttttt! Even if you don't dig them, you're only down ~$40!
Just got a pair, and some Geekria earpads for Grado SR125, etc. A perfect fit that does help the bass response. The stock phones actually don't clamp that tightly, in the latest version. They're the most comfortable phones I've ever had. The sound is effortless and clear and very revealing. Thanks for the push, Z and keep the good reviews coming!
I reviewed the KPH30i and KSC75 about a year ago. I still have them both and regularly use them more than my HD6XX. I 100% agree with Z, GET SOME KPH30i now, best $30 headphones EVER.⭐👍
My thought when you removed the pad entirely: "Now shit gonna get guuuuuud!"
My simple unqualified explanation for the wonder of pad removal:
With just removing the small bit of foam you effectively created a funnel, or a horn if you will. This of course strengthens the treble. Like on Klipsch or Triangle speakers.
With the removal of the entire pad, you created an acoustic chamber, in which all frequencies can act naturally.
Of course it could happen that the bass is stronger now.
Don't if this makes sense to someone else, but that's my take on it.
I think you're onto something. I was thinking something similar about the 'funnel' - I just thought 'tunnel'. It made the headphone 'shouty'.
Z, I need to know this. Would you pick KPH30is with this glorious mod, attached to a btr5... over the Drop Panda's in sound?
I have the KSC75 playing through the BTR5 and I love it. My phones can't drive them adequately for sure. They sing with the BTR5...
Just finished the mod about a week or so ago and it is legit, I am loving the sound of these!
Just got mine in today. Listening to 808’s and Heartbreak on vinyl through my Sansui 4000 and MAN do these bump! Thanks Zeos!
You did it!! You've made my year! 🔥💚🔥🙏🏾🔥
Extra step... Cover the driver with sheer curtain fabric. It's acoustically transparent and protects from dust.
thanks for the rec dude, I love it alsom
Man...when I heard Stories...just got flashbacks. Got a few tears coming out.
Code geass so goooood
I did this mod and am running them through an ifi zen dac and I think its the best budget setup possible
I purchased a second set of these Koss's after hearing the stock first one. In case i sat on the first pair i wanted to make sure i had a backup. So after this Z vid i had to at least try this. The pads were def on a slow round about because i ordered them shortly after the video. Well they came and i tried putting them on without taking the original pads off. NOPE. Immediately went for it in taking all the foam off. Easy. So spending some a few hours with them this afternoon and this New Years Eve. I am blown away at how good these sound. If you have these....just do it! I was plugging in and out a few nice headphones i have,such as the 58X and the 598. I'm significantly enjoying these more at the moment. Soundstage got truly amazing. Definitely pleased and thanks for sharing this Zeos!
I don't own them yet because they are literally in transit to my home right now.
Yep, I'm been using the Sony XB-550 for years now, but after I started to really care about sound I realized their ungodly bass didn't let me fully enjoy music.
I want to try something different, and hopefully better, and also on a budget.
You and DMS convinced me to get the KPH30I with the giant Grado pads
I've never heard of these until your reviews and I instantly placed an order for the KPH30i and Vever pads.
I own a Porta Pro, the Sporta Pro, the KCS75 an this little gem. Luv the low end of Koss for this particular price. They are really great fun. Keep up the good work of reviewing this kind of (budget) phones. Everyone can afford them. I'm happy with the stock KPH30i. Greetings from Holland.
I now have the same giant G pad mod on mine. At first, I thought the stock cans were too muddy sounding, but now w mod it’s my perfect Bossa listening cans.
Dude you did my beloved Grado G cushions mod!!!!!!!!! Dope. To be fair I've been shouting for you to do it on these comments for awhile 😅, and yes taking stock foams off, IF you want to brighten em up (granted, that maybe isn't everyone's thing, but I dig it). Vever is the mock brand I use. It's 10 bucks and nice and dense like the real grado brand. Now, for real, go put them on the basx, asap, their insane! 🤘🏼😎 albeit I'm sure the rebel is great too 😄
I have personally tried this mod...sounds great and I find it much more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. The removal of the original foam (yaxi pads in my case) is a must! Only slight downside is that a longer surface of my skin gets sweaty over the hours and I can see it get worse in the summer but ymmv. Anyway, I give it my recommendation.
Bought some cheaper Grado replicas, comfort improved, but sounded, mhpmh, hard to describe? They had become more fun but veiled. Went ahead and followed a guide to remove the stock earpads (it is possible to do). After slowly unclipping the driver from the headband you can remove the foam pads without tearing them. Now they sound fucking awesome, as God intended, do it, just be slow and steady. As Zeos said, they don't have to work as hard to retain that fun, punchy signature Koss worked on.
Best value for money, no doubt.
Love your review and thank you so much for keeping all of this info accessible to the average listener. Used your link for a Grey and Rhythm Beige KPH30i purchase. Had to go with a different brand of G1000 foam pads b/c your links were sold out. Hopefully you'll get some benefit. Pair for me and a pair for my buddy. Cheers!
Orders KPH30i and G1000 foam pads - 1 Day Later - Wow! 100% as advertised with drivers exposed and large foam pads. So much better than trying to power throgh the OEM foam and filling in the added space. I don't care if these get outclassed by more expensive and better built headphones, I feel like I'd have to spend a sizeable chunk of coin to improve the build quality AND sound. Really nice affordable way for someone to get their feet wet in this audio game. Thx Z! So what can you show me for $50 and $100 that also punches above its weight. Lol.
Ordered pads and headphones on 12-1 and received pads on 12-30.Already had 2 sets of kph30i. Performed mod today and great increase in comfort with clearer highs and deeper bass. WOW
I'm glad you did this video because I was recently listening to the venerated Philips SHP9500 and I couldn't understand why the sound wasn't as rich or detailed... I realized that the angle my ear was hitting the driver was much different than the first time... It just goes to show you that little things (pads and the angle of the driver to your ears) can significantly affect the sound! I have no idea why I haven't figured this out after 2 decades of headphone collecting!
watched this a couple months ago, and decided to buy a pair. I was slightly disappointed with the stock. not entirely, but slightly. I just did the grado pad swap a couple minutes ago and it compensates on what was originally lacking to my ears. stock, they sounded almost like there was a lowpass filter on everything if that makes sense. taking off the stock pads and putting on the grado pads opened them up so they are much brighter now.
Removing the original pads on the Kph30i got rid of the bass buzz that I was originally having problems with. It sounds so much cleaner now with the Grado pads! Damn Zeos game changer!
"...and you put them on your ears, and they press on your ears. And over time, they'll either stretch or the pads'll soften...." "...and you play them..." "...and first of all, they're massive..."
Me, getting lost in Eugen's chest: "hmmm, yeah... Uh-huh.... Indeed."
EDIT: FYI as of right now, Honey gave a coupon for like $2 off on Koss's website, plus free ground shipping. $16.14 shipped for a white pair. I spent more to get Eugen and Ayanami's party dresses in Azur Lane.
...
I wonder if you could improve the Shures by just ripping everything out, shoving some Koss in there, and punching the back out to make it open again? Boom, good sounding headphones and a fancy build/headband.
Just did the mod last night. Thanks Zeos for no sleep last night! I ended up staying up till 1am listening to the glorious cans!
I have another pair with the Yaxi pads on. I didn't like how it took some of the sparkle out of the treble. But with these. All the treble is back. Everything seems to have more body/weight.
It's ridiculous how good they sound. If anyone is on the fence about it, give it a go. The Vever pads will definitely work
A "Sizzling Gash" lol now that needs to be on some merch
So after doing this mod myself, this is what I think. DO THIS. It takes away any comfort issues that the original and Yaxi pads had. Last year for Christmas everyone got kph30is, this year everyone gets these pads.
Regarding light gear sliding around, using a combination of 3M Scotch SJ3550 and SJ3551 dual lock is a great way to avoid that. You'll see that method used on guitar pedalboards. It just takes a little square in each corner, doesn't move around like velcro once snapped together, and holds really well. Well enough that you need something like a nylon upholstery crowbar to pop the gear apart.
Bought a pair based on the old review. The adjustable part is quite rigid and will crack if you adjust them without taking them off your head. Some electrical tape on one side works well. Unfortunately 6 months in and the sound stopped working in one ear. I had them for 6 months and paid the postage to mail them back to Koss. You get what you pay for.
The KPH30i clears with Yaxipads and the Grado pads on top are absolute bliss out of my FiiO M9. I think these do Jazz better than my DT990's.
Gerry Mulligan - Chelsea Bridge sounds so wide and airy, but I can hear every breath and click, BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY SUB BASS.
The fact that the KPH30i and this mod are so cheap still blows my fucking mind and I've been using them like this for nearly a year now. This should not sound this fucking good.
I don't have these because after the currency exchange rates, import fees and taxes they cost about 50x the price in usd (over 1k ₺)
I'm spoiled by China's free shipping. Not sure where Koss manufacture their headphones but they ship from US which is very expensive.
They are made in China... Lika all Koss Headphones, but still awesome
Your great Sultan ruined the turkish Lira pretty bad... No wonder it's so expensive in turkey.
@@kianag6692 bold of you to assume that I support the tall man
@@sildim.6042 yalnız değiliz reyiz
I tried this mod using the Vever pads and I didn't like them. The treble was harsh and sibilant, I tried it on both the KPH30i clear and rhythm beige. So a sample size of two. They had great midrange and soundstage but the bass distorted. I much preferred the stock pads and the later swapped Yaxi pads for the Portapro. I am not sure what happened with the sound, I even just ran the headphone with just the Vever pad with the stock pad removed and the same problem occurred. I tried to calm the harshness with the desecrated corpse of my clear's stock pads by cutting it into a circle and placing into the hole where the driver is and the same problem occurred. I then switched to the Yaxi pads and the sound was unoffending and not sibilant. The amps I ran with these headphones were my phone, MT602, Zen Stack and and Hidizs S3. Is there anything I am doing wrong? Thanks.
Edit: Same problem happened with my Grado SR80X, the Vever pads made them harsh sounding. Stock pads make the Grados sound like Grados
I don't own them because my last ones broke and they've been outa stock forever, glad to see they're back.
I love a great on-ear takes me back to the Walkman days
Why don't I own KPH30i's yet? Because i'm new here and this is only the 2nd video you have mentioned them in. They are on there way now.
Yes I figured out the wallpaper thing >__
I can use YAXI pads on my 30i and my Porta-Pro, but clearly you've gone for a different solution. Thanks for the vid.
Z... huge fan, and as such I wanted to stop by this video and tell you they now make this in a clear version. You may already know that, but it is super sexy. Not that there needs to be a review bc they wont sound any different, but they look so good. I already bought a pair.
A clear KPH30i? Where can I find this?
@@Wabajak13 amazon my friend. Its added in the colors on there. I have mine and they are sexy af
Just got a grey pair in the mail. They are immediately impressive sounding for their looks. Huge bass, decent clarity. They're now back to $30. Wish I'd bought a couple extras for Christmas.
Bought the cheapest pads in the description not realizing they were from China. I'll be able to test the mod in 4-6 weeks.
Kind of wish I'd have bought the beige with the red and blue sides.
Just found this channel, browsing the amazon links; on the page for 2 of the 3 pads listed, they're listed as "frequently bought together" with none other than the KPH30i's. So I guess you done did something here.
I own kph30i and have been using them for online school ever since I started. They're great 👍
People must be watching cause the suggested purchase with all of these pads right now is KPH30i. So props on that front.
My headphones and pads have arrived; the Grado pad mod improves the headphones significantly for sure. I haven't removed the stock foams yet, but I'll likely try that, too. The headphones without the mod are pretty good for the money... the knock-off Grado pads bring the sound quality up significantly. Still not as good as the Philips SHP9500 imo.
Edit after further listening: In some ways, I prefer the Koss over the Philips. The Koss provide a fuller upper bass / lower midrange than the Philips, thereby giving them a warmer overall sound by comparison. The Koss, however, are not as expansively 'open' as the Philips, but by no means are they 'closed' - sounding. The Koss seem to have a pretty uniform mid to high frequency range (nothing stands out), and their smoothness lends itself well to a good vocal presentation (somehow offering more intimacy), not to mention provides a bit of forgiveness in some less than stellar recordings.
Both sets of headphones are equally enjoyable to me. The Philips are more comfortable due to the circumaural design, have a wider, way more open soundstage, cooler sound signature and better overall resolution than the Koss. The Koss are not quite as open or resolving, but still no slouch in either of those regards, and provide a warmer overall presentation due to a slight bump up in the lows and a very slight bit of treble roll-off (with the stock pads on and the Grado pads added).
They both excel at delivering a uniform presentation, both offering very good midrange performance. It's more a matter of cool and agile vs warm and smooth. Good either way.
Wish these headphones were available in the UK for a half decent price.. I have 1 pair but would love all 3
Great vid as always sir.
Thanks for the heads up this weekend! Mine just came in today and get to "mod" them tomorrow at work lol.
So I have these and I love them. I bought the grado earcups and they're way better with them. They plug right into my ps4 controller, so I can play at night or watch TV and not wake my wife. They're insanely comfortable. Use them to play D&D over Discord with my formerly in-person group and have them on for four hours without realizing it... BUT they break way too easily. I have snapped 3 pairs just putting them onto my not-freakishly sized head. Especailly with the grado cups, they are at their max just going on and off.
I was messaging someone halfway through the video and was like "Why is the Code Geass soundtrack playing?" Also great anime, probably my favorite.
what is the name of the track, do you know?
@@darwin0988 Stories by Hitomi Kuroishi
That anime was trash
Old video, but I did this recently. The KPH30i's were not on sale but this is still worth it. These are so comfortable and sound great. Very well tuned. Nothing boomy or shouty about them. Nice and easy not fatiguing at all. I think I get a bit of what y'all mean when you talk about sound stage and what not. These sound fantastic and coming from only using in ear monitors. The stereo positioning of instrument tracks is much more convincing. Panned hard doesn't still sound like it's inside my head so they really do feel more wide then in ears ever could.
So basically snip a circle in the center of the pads, then add the Grado pads?
I removed the original pads and applied the Yaxis, loved the sound on the clears, only the sibliance was a bit too high, sounds better to me eith original pads + yaxis
I am using these with Yaxi pads and while I was blown away with what those pads did to Porta Pro, I didn't hear much difference with them on KPH30i, only they are more comfortable this way. This seems very tempting since I love low end.
I don't have KPH30i because I got the CAL! for the same (original) price on Amazon earlier this year. But for $19, had to pick them up again.
Glad I discovered this. They cost $30 although according to the Amazon price history they drop to $20 all the time. I might wait till the prize drops and grab two of them
Zeos Admirign a pair of vintage scisors while listening to popcorn is a vibe
Oh my goodness how have I not tried this before.
I use them when I lay down great for pillow ,I'm glad you mentioned these now I can't live without thm
whoever you are from TWITCH!!! TY, this is what Z reviews is ALLLLL About!!! DUDE the original grado cushion doesnt even require any cutting!!!!!! yeh really big sound changes!!! nice FIND mr twitch!!!!
I have had my Audio-Technica ATH-M40fs cans forever and they still sound great except the ear pads have long since eroded away. I stopped looking for new pads years ago and simply cut two 7" sections from a pair of heavy\thick-(ish) winter socks, creating a tube to slip over each can and that did the trick.
It's too bad that AT doesn't make/sell original spec pads for these fantastic (and still awesome sounding) cans anymore.
The 3rd party pads I did come across online before were selling for stupid high prices (probably still are today).
I've tried some 'new' cans at my local big box stores and can only laugh at the crap sound from $300.00 pairs compared to my (back then) $80.00 AT's.
Shame on AT for not (still) supporting & manufacturing these incredible headphones.
I just bought 3 more pairs, because I'm going to do a thing, but that's all I'm sayin.
mmcx and the the fiio tws adapters?
Can you say more now?
@@TALPOKEYASHA yeah, I'm going need to buy a set of really really big ear pads.
@@williamlisbourne5294 no, but I have modded the first pair I owned with mmcx connectors, a while back.
@@ChrisoneillART I bought a pair of replacement pads for Grado headphones for mine. I bought it online so It will take a while to arrive so I can't say how it is, but, even if I could, I'm guessing you're thinking of buying an even larger pair than that.
Definitely trying this!!! Ordered the first ones you linked.$8 today. I own 58x,598,shp500,X2,X2HR and Sivga 006. I love these Koss. Looking forward to trying this out and experimenting! :)
wtf? Eight bucks? now they are 31$ !
@@ruslankazimov622 I was talking about the ear pads not the headphones. Hope the ear pads aren't $31!
@@RUMBLEGO1 My bad then. They are something like $ 10 or $ 11 now. You still got your Koss piece? Is it holding up well after a year of use?
@@ruslankazimov622 Well that's not too bad then since everything else has gone so far up in price. Yes i still have them and they still sound really really good. I am careful with those seemingly fragile wires. I tore off the covering of the original Koss pads to let the highs come through more with the added pads. They sound great like that but i would be careful with dust and just keep them covered when not in use.
I didn't quite hear the same low end you got with the only god forgives soundtrack (with my KPH30i and RebelAmp :) ) but I tried out Karmacoma in the Massive Attack vs Mad Professor album and that has some good bass to demonstrate the Koss's abilities. Good review btw will have to mod mine too
THE ULTRA MOD AKA GREAT SOUND REMOVAL MOD . . . I wear mine (UModded) for hours on end with zero discomfort. I realize everyone is different but I've had no discomfort. The Ultra Mod destroys the beautiful highs mids and lows but luckily it's simple to undo .
My Set Up zfold3 to Hidizs S9 Pro DAC AMP DONGLE to KPH30i
set-up to get ppl to buy the pads
My pads arrived today..
I bought these sometime over the summer and they have been fine headphones for around the house with a portable DAC amp. I like the 90s look (beige). Now they have other shades. The pad swap has made me look at these in a new light. I will admit that I was never really impressed with their sound. I kind of thought they were overhyped. I also never thought about plugging them into my Darkvoice or any other amp besides my FiiO BTR5. On both amps, they do sound good (better than before) especially considering the money, surprising clarity (after pad swap) and very lightweight/comfortable. Much more so with these pads.. I am using a sonarworks preset for the Koss PortaPros and it does sound better with it on. So do that or an EQ is probably a good idea for these.
The pads I used are from AliXpress for $3.20 - Replacement Earphone Ear Pad Earpads Sponge Soft Foam Cushion for GRADO PS1000 GS1000I RS1I RS2I headphones these feel of nice quality. I did set them in a bowl and poured boiling water over them. I let them sit in the water for about a minute. Not sure if that changed anything.
You can find the headphones for sale at Koss and use this promo code - VRKTHQ33EC 15% off
Question: Don't the Yaxi pads also give a little more treble?
So then wouldn't you combine the Grado and Yaxi pads to get similar results?
I was just listening to my KPH30is a day ago thinking of how much I love them with the aftermarket pads with them (especially so if you apply some pressure to push the drivers closer manually). Looks like I've got to get modding
For EU people. Amazon finally has the KPH30i in international US shipping available. I bought two. Finally after 2 years of waiting to have all the import duties pre-paid.
Still costs double for me to import. No thx.
Nejabes: “New-ha-bass”
Also happy thanksgiving
Close. It's pronounced New-jah-boss (boss is phonetically closer than bass, because bass to some would give the impression its BAYCE which is even more wrong). If anyone really wants to know what the name actually sounds like, you can hear the man himself say it at the very beginning of his Ristorante Mixtape and take from it what you will. Just search for it on youtube. Peace.
I've seen a similar mod to what you've done here a while ago with a pair of Portapros, same large grado chinesium pads, much thinner piece of foam almost to the point of being paper thin just to protect the diaphragm from dirt, and MMCX connectors. (and some head extra padding in style of an aftermarket Shure)
Also, I have my own Sportapro's that i modded to have MMCX connectors, thinner pads and a BT adapter, which i use them on the go all the time and especially when just around the house. Might get a pair of KPH30i to do the same if i can get them at a decent price shipped to clapistan (60$~ right now), though i'm thinking of getting a 2pin connector and heatgun for further testing.
Omg yess!! I bought a pair of these KPH30i a week ago and they're too clampy for my sensitive earlobes...been stretching them for a few days, and it doesn't seem to be doing anything...but I do have a pair of G-pads already sitting unused. I know what I'm doing this weekend!
Quality scissors should use a screw not a rivet. I've been sort of getting into scissors. I don't think it's much of a hobby tho so there's not a lot of info out there
Had to pause when I saw Grado pads on kph30is, nothing has ever felt more Zeos
exactly how I felt too! gotta try these in the future. currently still bumping SHP9500's and tin t2's with the fiio TWS mod
Came for the headphone review and stayed for the amazing personality xD
Thank you for the vid mane 👍🏻
FYI, the plastic arm of the drivers might snap due to the constant clamping.
But you don't have to toss them. Get a replacement headband 3d printed then the arms slide into the new headband.
Sending the link to all my friends. Words cannot describe my love for these. I haven't watched it yet, please tell me you mention Yaxi pads. They're such an upgrade to an already fantastic headphone.
I bought the KPH30i and returned them a few days later. The highs were almost non-existant - like i was listening to a speaker, covered with a few thick blankets.
Holy moly! The thumbnail alone made me almost spill my proverbial coffee 😂
I just picked up 4 pairs of these at 19 smackos to give as late holiday gifts, im keeping 1 pair to go full ham on and modify with braided cables and grado cups (why? Because I can).
So? Did you do it?
@@TALPOKEYASHA still waiting for the wire to show up.
@@ImCannibalOfficial udo it yet?
@@deykno87 yes. MMCX connectors, grado cups, braided balanced cable. They sound incredible.
@@ImCannibalOfficial nice order the kph on Amazon just to see the fuss never like on ears but luckily I found zeos grado replacement cup vid and now I’m really sold...found the cups on Amazon with free one day shipping!! I’ll be out of town for three months this will be a great travel companion
I wonder if Zeos has ever removed the foam between the driver and the back case of the KPH30is. I've done it and I think it makes a good improvement
Worthy of buying to swap out the crappy drivers in my ATV helmet that came with the Sena Bluetooth communicator?
Which pads did you finally use? Do you think there is a difference? Zeos you rock!!!
I got the VEVER pads for my extra pair of KPH30is like an hour after watching this video, thank you!
Same.
I can't even find the shops to import these where I live. And if I can even get one it's closer to $50
Still probably one of the best open backs sub 100usd, they are better than shp9500 and ad500x
Edit: Next upgrade for open back from the kph30i would be like a 58x/dt880 then 400i 2020/560s
@@joshe2420 alright fuck it, pulling the trigger, ist 40 here in Malaysia
Yeah in Australia to get a pair of these you have to pay extortionate amounts for shipping etc, ends up being a lot more expensive than it should be.
Aliexpress could sell them
@@enzotibirica8458 yes but i havent seen any sell on aliexpress
Have a couple MDR-222s and kinda wanna try this mod now. Idk if the cup size is much different from the KPH30i so it'll hopefully work out
Hi Koss, Any idea if or when Massdrop is gonna do another drop? They have 6,600 requests! I want to get a couple sets. Also can you me tell if these need an amp? The impedance seems a bit high-ish?
You are the reason I have these headphones at home, in white/blue. Most grateful for your recommendation, indeed.
How are they holding up? Compared to the other popular brands like Sony etc
Well I got one as a gift last cyber Monday when my friend bought it for 20 dollars. She's been my best friend ever since! ❤️
holy SHIT the bokie pads with the hole in the center make these godly. I might sell my HD600 and just keep these!?
KPH30i + Apple dongle DAC + (USB-C to A adapter) + Grado pads = $50-$60 endgame for most people I swear to god
What !!! Selling HD600 ?!!!!
@@MrFSTQhd600 is boring
@@TattooMyBones 650HD/6XX too.
Modded with Yaxi Koss PortaPro pad. I have grey and used orange pads. Improved comfort without adding so much pad. Thanks for the tip. Also has microphone so it’s great for calls/zoom. Keeps me from having to listen to my 7 year old who talks all day. When is school opening?
Very happy to see exactly what I commented on the last KPH video finally happen!
As soon as I saw they dropped 2 days ago, I pulled the trigger. Can't wait.
Just did that same thing to my ksc75 with the parts express headband mod. Open a whole new world for me.
A guy from Singapore was going on and on about this mod couple weeks ago so ordered pads then...Just got them today..Dear god this is this a fucking amazing mod! removing the foam made a massive difference nice one Z ;) CALLING ALL KPH30I OWNERS! DO THIS F'ING MOD!!!!!!!!!