Koss SB49 Communication Stereophone

Comment: Sound is at mid-range price quality. Since it has no sound processor, make sure you get a decent sound card. I'm using on-board RealTek HD audio, with which I immediately notice is a fall in quality when I switched from my previous USB Plan**ics headset. The disadvantage of the old built-in sound card was that it had no stereo-mix, if I want to record the PC's own sound you need to switch.

No volume problem for me. Should be loud enough. I use it in mid volume most of the time.

Mic works fine for chatting, you can rotate the arm 360 degree, very flexible.

The ear cups are indeed quite tight, after around 1 month I still feel it's Tight and Uncomfortable. It's not painful but I just won't wear it for long. It's probably good for exercise as it won't easily fall. The air tightly trapped inside the cup is probably affect the sound quality too. And you can't hear the sound from surroundings at a mid-volume setting.

It's not heavy.

Quite a solid build overall.

Comment: Let's face it, I a computer nerd. I play a ton of video games and not only do I play them, I commentate competitve video game play for a youtube audience of about 15,000 people. I was in serious need of a headset that had great sound quality, great mic quality, and a decent level of sturdiness should I break out into a fit of nerd rage after losing a game. I've had other models of headsets (including the SB45 version of this headset) and I couldn't seem to get all 3 attributes I was looking for. I was a little hesitant at first after my previous Koss headset mic died but this model was actually cheaper so I decided to give it a try.

It's been about 6 months now since I got the headset and it is still going strong. Its very comfortable unless you go for hours without taking it off at which point it may start to feel a bit heavy. The mic rotates in and out of your way in a very convenient manner so that you can get the mic out of your field of vision if you don't need it. The mic quality is very very good, especially compared to one of those long stem stand up mic's that sit on your desktop in front of you. You can easily tell the difference in my videos from pre-headset to post-headset like night and day. It should be noted that like any headset, you may need to move the mic up to your nose level to avoid popping your "p's" which is caused from the higher pressure coming from your mouth when pronouncing words like "pop". Moving the mic out of that area will reduce those occurences, but that is something that happens with ANY microphone that is close to your mouth unless you have a screen to absorb the energy. Lastly, the in-line volume adjuster is awesome for quick muting or tweaking of volume to the headphones without having to go to your desktop to adjust through the PC mixer.

This headset is sturdy with great sound and convenience. I highly recommend it for anyone using it to talk on ventrillo, team speak, skype, speech recordings (non-singing), or just for playing games. GG!

Comment: I have owned these headphones for 4 months now and would consider myself a heavy user. I use them on a daily basis, typically for anywhere between 30 minutes to several hours in a sitting and use them for voice communication, music, movies, games, etc. I also have had a lot of experience with lower-end headsets breaking frequently so the lifetime warranty really sealed the deal for me for this particular headset.


Comfort (4 out of 5): This headset definitely has a snug fit, its tight enough to block outside noises fairly well yet not so tight as to cause any real pain or discomfort (I've used headsets in the past that are almost unbearable to wear for more than 30 minutes at a time). If you do plan to wear these at length then you'll probably need to adjust them from time to time or take them off to allow your ears to 'stretch' out a little as they will be pressed to the side of your head while wearing these.

Ease of Use(4 out of 5): These are very easy to use, just plug them in and go. There is a simple volume slider attached about 1 foot down the cord from where it connects to the headset. The only thing that is lacking is a way to mute the microphone on the headset itself.

Sound Quality (5 out of 5): The sound quality in my opinion is very good. Everything comes to me as crisp and clear. The snug fit of the headset helps to cut down on some room/background noise and really focuses the sound right into your ear.

Microphone (3 out of 5): This is where the headset fails a little for me and I have mixed feelings about this. For most people this is a non-issue and the mic quality is adequate for general use, gaming chat, etc. However, if you're going to be using the headset for voice recording, voice recognition programs, or voice chat programs and need good voice isolation then you may want to pass on this headset and go for something with a better mic.

Comment: I was a little worried at first when reading some of the reviews, it doesn't matter if theres 50 good ones, that one bad review really stands out. i ordered the product anyways and to my delight it was everything i was looking for. the comfort is amazing (i like my whole ear to fit in the headset) they work great, they sound even better! If your looking for a sturdy headset for gaming, music or whatever the reason this is what your looking for! for the price the product is outstanding.
They cancel out the background noise better then i'd hoped, and the bass is strong, but not overpowering. The one and only downside to this headset is there's no in-line volume control, but don't be lazy just adjust it manually :)

Comment: I bought this headset when my old one broke about a year ago. I have absolutely no complaints. The sound quality is fantastic, the microphone works like a charm, the earphones are noise-cancelling, and they are very comfortable to wear. I have a breakdown of what I use it for and how it works below, but first let me say that if you're looking for a new headset, BUY THIS ONE.
I have a few things that I use this for:

1. Playing videogames using voice programs to talk with teammates.
If you're looking for a headset for gaming, you couldn't ask for a better one. The microphone works effortlessly, and on many of my games I didn't even have to adjust the sound settings in order to make it work. But it isn't just the microphone that makes this headset amazing for gaming, but the audio portion as well. You can really feel like you're in the game; it's kind of like watching a movie with surround sound. I originally used this headset to play Left 4 Dead, and then Left 4 Dead 2, and believe me when I say that it is a whole new gaming experience with a good headset.
2. Listening to new music.
The sound quality is so good on these headphones that it almost makes me sad that I wasted money on an expensive pair of speakers. When I first got these, I listened to a lot of songs and discovered a whole new experience - the sound was better, and I heard things I never heard before. I'm sure that you can get better sound quality if you want to blow hundreds of dollars or something, but for the price this is by far the best sound quality I've ever experienced.
3. Talking via skype and similar programs to friends.
This is a simple use that can be done with virtually any headset, but this one does the trick just as well. :)

For other uses, I cannot speak to their efficiency, but they do all of the things mentioned above very well.

As far as the question of durability goes, I said above that I've had this headset just about a year now. I can honestly attest that it looks and performs just like it did the day I got it.

As I said, no complaints whatsoever - in fact, these have exceeded my expectations in so many ways that it's difficult to believe that I paid $30 for them. My recommendation: buy this headset.