YAXIEARPADS for Koss PORTAPRO (Black)

These are so much comfier than the original pads the Porta Pros come with! The default ones are quite flat, and so you can kinda feel the plastic underneath them which is torture on your ears for extended listening, which is a shame for otherwise very light and comfortable headphones.I've heard about these pads from another Porta Pro owner, and so I figured I'd give 'em a try. And hey, they even came in orange, just like those old Walkman headsets, and my favorite color!When I unboxed them, the first thing I noticed was the quality of the foam; nice and soft, good feel against the skin, not scratchy or cheap like some cheap store-brand headphones have. They're also quite breathable, and deform to fit over your ears nicely. When listening to some of my cassette tapes through these, they didn't negatively affect the sound quality of my Porta Pros at all. In fact... they improved it? I think the greater distance from your ears really helps the soundstaging feature the Porta Pros are so good at really shine, and gives a slightly fuller sound. Color me impressed!I'd say if you spend the $35 on a pair of Porta Pros (or $59 for the limited edition ones like I did...) this is such a tiny purchase to make them soooo much more comfortable, and even sound a little better too! Super easy recommendation, and great value for your money :)

QUICK STATS- Price: $15 for 2 pairs (a bargain compared to most "audiophile" upgrades)- Material: Open-cell poly foam- Thickness: About 0.5 inch (nice and plush)- Diameter: 2 3/8 inch (locks onto your head like a lovesick koala)- Colors: 8 options, 25+ 2-pair combos (Christmas, Halloween, Tuesday - you name it)THE SWEET SOUND NOTES✓ Reportedly opens up the high-end response (finally hear the dog whistles!)✓ Maintains the open, airy Porta Pro sound signature✓ Comfortable enough for even the longest listening sessions (no "clamped vice grip" headaches here)THE (MINOR) DISCORDANT NOTE- More expensive than stock pads (your ears have champagne taste, what can we say?)INSTALL & TRANSPORT TIPSSwapping out the pads is blissfully simple - just wrap them around the driver case and let the integrated pins do their job. The Yaxi pads wrap around the divers a bit more aiding in a secure fit (photo comparison provided) Be carefule not to break the pins when removing old pads. And speaking of the stock pads, those slippery fellas have a tendency to go AWOL, especially when putting the headphones on or tossing them in your bag. These Yaxi replacements, on the other hand, stay firmly in place no matter what you put them through.REAL-WORLD RUNNER REVIEWAs a daily runner relying on my trusty Porta Pros, the stock pads just couldn't keep up. These Yaxi replacements, on the other hand, stay firmly in place no matter how hard I push it. And the more breathable foam design means my ears don't end up as uncomfortably swampy and sad.TECH TALK (AUDIOPHILE OPTIONAL)The thicker Yaxi pads are said to gently open up the high-end response, creating a slightly airier, more spacious soundstage. Theoretically, this could be due to the proximity effect - the stock pads sit closer to your ears, emphasizing the low-end. But the extra foam also probably tames those highs a touch, keeping things nicely balanced. Not a night-and-day difference, but a welcome refinement for discerning listeners (or dog owners with exceptionally sensitive hearing).MIX-AND-MATCH MADNESSYaxi offers 8 individual colors, allowing you to create over 25 unique 2-pair combo looks. Want to channel your inner Christmas elf? They've got festive red and green options. Hoping to match your lovingly curated sneaker collection? There are plenty of non-holiday hues to choose from. Just be prepared for seasonal costume commentary if you go the holly-jolly route.FINAL VERDICTIf the stock Porta Pro pads keep letting you down (like a lukewarm football team), or you're simply looking to level up your listening experience, these Yaxi replacements are a worthy investment. They stay securely in place, breathe better than the originals, and may even give your tunes a subtle sonic upgrade. And with all those color options, you can customize your look to match your mood (or the calendar). Your ears - and your overall swagger - will thank you. Just don't be surprised if people start calling you "Rudolph" around the holidays.

A big upgrade acoustically and for comfort. Will make good headphones great, tricky to install but will stay put once on.

5 pads, 4 lithographs (lithograph-likes?), 1 larger paper poster (maybe rice paper? Visible grains on the backside).Shipped DHL and got it in a week. I had previously ordered just the 2 pack but it was just before the Covid lockdowns happened and tracking showed it at the "underwriting" stage with JapanPost for a month and a half before the delayed ETA lapsed and I asked for a refund or replacement. They refunded the cost of the item and shipping through Amazon.The pads are good. Fit easily onto the KSC75, took more work with the KPH30i. On the KPH30i, you need to pinch the existing pad with 2 fingers very close together and pull slowly away from the headphone but also outward (away from the plastic teeth that grip the pad in the groove). This needs to be done for at least 1/3rd of the individual plastic teeth for the pad to come off. To put the Yaxi pads on, you'll need to do the opposite of this but also need to hold the pad to the driver with your second hand and use the fingertips of the second hand to hold down the pads on the opposite and adjacent sections of the driver frame (so you're trying to hold the thing in place on 60 to 80% of it as you work your way around). It's not an intended fit, so it'll be a bit of effort and much easier to slip off a bit when you've just put it on and it hasn't stretched.Because of the shape difference, the Yaxi pads are far more plush on the KPH30i. Feel like it increases soundstage, bass, and mid-range while slightly tempering the treble. Also reduces the ear clamp a bit such that the silicone comfort strap makes decent contact. However the headphones still need to sit stretched around the long side of the box for weeks to ease the clamp, the pads don't magically fix that.All in all, good pads.

I’m not sure they do much to improve the sound quality, maybe a bit, but it’s a bit subjective to say the least. What they do well though is that these are much higher quality foam than what the Porta Pro comes with and they make for a more comfortable experience. They are also slightly larger and slightly thicker, so they look good too. Overall, I’d recommend getting these just for the appearance and comfort upgrade.