The parts express headphones are like... $3. You just remove their drivers and put the KSC75 in their place. Here's the link to Amazon if you wanna try it:
Should be this one, yeet the garbage drivers that it comes with. I bought mine from a British store for really cheap but I'm in Italy an it was before Brexit as well.
I enjoy the sound so never bothered with the sound mods. The cables are fine for my use case I didn't bother with the MMCX mod. YMMV.
Amazon link for the Parts Express Headband if that floats your boat.
You pull the headband off of these and put them on the KSC75. But yeah, I see what you mean. It's a lot more expensive for you. Those headphones are only a couple/few $ in the US.
Hmm, since you have the PX-100ii, and they're a little bassier than the PX-100's that I have, then maybe you'll like the PortaPros. A lot of people like the PortaPros (they also can use yaxi pads). I would've probably steered you towards the PortaPros earlier then since the KSC75 are a little bass shy, but it is a good compliment to the PortaPros especially after swapping out the ear clips with a headband. Unfortunately, it seems that the manufacturer bumped up the price of cheapo headband replacement from $3 to $7 since I bought them over a year ago.
This crappy Parts Express headphone.
They snap right together. Like a $6 junk part on Amazon.
Try taking the clips off and strapping them to a headband from a pair of these. The pressure gives the bass more impact and a whole lot less anemic when you're on the go.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002KQZJS/
It is commonly used for the KSC75, but they have the have the same mounting points. I can confirm it works.
Link to the headband: https://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-Stereo-Lightweight-Headphones/dp/B0002KQZJS
Link to the 3d printing piece plus guide: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3378059
Not exactly sure how the whole thing goes since a user here did it for me.
Also the adapter that comes with the Parts Express headset that you can attach the KSC75/Porta Pro drivers to works as well!
This is the one that I bought on Amazon after I made this post (I was originally using the KPH40 headband). It's actually PartsExpress not Aliexpress but I'm sure the latter has some options for cheaper if you're willing to wait a while for shipping. It comes with drivers of it's own but they are not good. Just pop them off and replace with Koss drivers.
From the brief bit of browsing I did, a lot of listings for Koss compatible headbands will say so in the product description or you can check reviews to see if users mentioned it. The KSC75, KPH40, and PortaPro all use the same type of clip for the drivers so if you get a band that says it's compatible with any one of those, it should work.
If you've never done/seen it before, I made this short vid for someone else the other day to illustrate how to remove the KSC75 driver from the ear clips but it also shows what the connector looks like. Hopefully it helps: https://gfycat.com/welltodoorderlygoldenretriever
Here's the cheap headband people suggest. For the price, it's a no brainer.
These pads are another commonly suggested upgrade.
My favorite Koss 60mm driver upgrade is the Parts Express headband. They seem to almost disappear on your head this way. I have a pair of MMCX modded KSC75s (detachable cables) on the PE headband myself.
Buy these $7 headphones on Amazon:
Unclick the crappy-ass headphones themselves
Clip on the Koss drivers
and enjoy.
This works with Porta Pros, Sporta Pros, and KSC75s.
Ugly but they do sound great. You can buy a headband here for $12: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0002KQZJS?tag=camelcamelcam-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1&language=en_CA
If you are so motivated, you can also add some Yaxi pads and you've got a killer set of cans for cheap.
London Drugs has the KSC75 on sale sometimes too.
I have a modded pair and I really like them.
I like the KSC75s better than the PortaPros. The ear clips aren't great, and you'll probably want to do the PartsExpress headband mod.
Parts Express headband: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002KQZJS
Ksc-75x( the drop version specifically so you get an inbuilt microphone), Parts express Headband, and yaxi pads. Put them all together, and while you don't have to much bass, you get crazy soundstage for cheap, and decent imaging.
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Ksc75x=$20 https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-koss-ksc75x-on-ear-headphones
parts Express headband=$7 https://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-Stereo-Lightweight-Headphones/dp/B0002KQZJS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LBHHDYUFWWBJ&dchild=1&keywords=parts+express+headband&qid=1620052661&sprefix=parts+ex%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1
Just gonna list a few good headphones in different price ranges.
$50:
Koss KSC75/Porta Pro.
They're open-back, and sound pretty good for the price, the Porta Pro has a bit more bass than the KSC75 if that's important to you. The KSC75 uses earclips but you can replace it with the headband from these headphones. Would also recommend getting yaxi pads to make them more comfortable.
Creative Aurvana Live.
Closed-back headphones, great bass for the price, and just pretty good overall. Not the best build quality or comfort though.
$100:
AKG K612.
Open-back. Decent headphone overall, a bit bright in terms of sound, good imaging and soundstage. Will most likely need an amp. Meizu hifi dac or similar dongle should be fine, could also get the Schiit Magni or JDS Atom.
AKG K361.
Closed-back headphones, pretty good overall, slightly v-shaped. Build quality isn't the best but it should be fine.
$150
Beyerdynamic DT880/TYGR.
Open-back headphones with good soundstage and imaging, the DT880 is a bit bright, while the tygr is more v-shaped. Both good options. The TYGR doesn't need an amp, and the DT880 only needs an amp if it's the 600ohm version, 250 and 32 is fine.
$200
Sennheiser HD6XX.
Open-back headphones, best for music out of the ones I've mentioned, not as wide soundstage as the DT880 or K612, but overall also a good choice. Doesn't need an amp but would definitely benefit from one. Unfortunately they're US only, you could import them but then it'd be too expensive.
With this headband it doesn't look or feel much more ridiculous than it did on the KPH30i.
Took me a bit to buy the KSC75 but they are worth it and they less than 20 bucks. You can add in a Parts Express Mini Stereo (you are buying it just for the retro headband) plus some YAXI EARPADS for KOSS PORTAPRO . you have a very nice set of headphones for less than 40 bucks.
This is the one I used and it's great: https://youtu.be/kdtadOpBU_M
So far I've done the Kramer mod, and the Parts Express headband: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002KQZJS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_wrn7FbVGJXEAJ
I'm also going to put the Yaxi pads on to make them a little more comfortable with the headband: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQVHX84/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_Dsn7FbNBGX9ED
I'm not planning on doing the gasket one. I've done the quarter mod on other headphones before but I probably won't with these because they're so small.
Here you go. Parts Express Mini Stereo Lightweight Headphones with 4 ft. Cord https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002KQZJS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_XSV3Fb78KH639?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1.
>Parts Express headband
I think I found a couple
https://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-Stereo-Lightweight-Headphones/dp/B0002KQZJS/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Parts+Express&qid=1607053130&sr=8-2
Or
https://giantpygmy.net/shop/index.php?id_product=8&controller=product
For the first, just discard the drivers and mount the Koss drivers
Agreed, I also recommend the parts express headband for a nice comfy light fit
If you're on the limited budget I'd suggest the KSC75 with a Parts Express Headband ($2) and Yaxi pads ($12). I own the porta pros and kph30i as well but I find if I don't want to wear my DT880s the ksc75 is best for imaging/soundstage out of the 3 koss options. KPH30i with yaxi pads is my favorite out of the 3 for general sound though.
You should be able to drive these with a iPhone USB C to 3.5mm dongle ($9) or something similar if you have android.
You know if you really like the retro look and actually want good sound you should look into the holy trinity of Koss Porta Pros/KSC75 (with the parts express headband)/KPH30i. They all benefit greatly from Yaxi Pads and you can go crazy with the dif colors of the pads.
If you're on the limited budget I'd suggest the KSC75 with a Parts Express Headband ($2) and Yaxi pads ($12). Will be better and cheaper than a stock kph or porta pro for gaming.
this is link to actual site for it. you will pay shipping unless your order is bigger
this is link to amazon page for it with an upcharge and prime delivery which is where I got it from https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002KQZJS/
Should I buy these and attach the headband to my ksc75's or just grab some Koss KTXPRO1's?
not a portapro headband, but this parts express headphone is well known to work with ksc75 or portapro drivers