Koss KPH30i vs Koss KSC75

Short answer: the Koss KPH30i. It ranks #67 of 134 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $23.99; the Koss KSC75 ranks #116, rated 2.8/5, at $19.99. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.

The Koss KPH30i is the better-sounding choice. A very low price makes it an easy disposable or backup pair, and the 60 ohm, 101 dB sensitivity runs from any phone. Watch for: Sub-bass is nearly 12 dB under target below 60 Hz, so there is no rumble and deep bass is essentially missing.

The case for the Koss KSC75: An extremely low cost and a featherweight 0.1 lbs (43 g) clip-on design make it easy to carry and wear for long stretches. The tradeoff: Sub-bass is about 17 dB below target under 60 Hz, so there is almost no rumble and bass-heavy music sounds thin.

Buy the Koss KPH30i. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $4 saving on the Koss KSC75 is not enough to make up the difference.

Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.

Specifications Side By Side

Related Headphone Comparisons

More worthwhile head-to-heads for Koss KPH30i:

• Koss KPH30i vs Koss KPH40
• Koss KPH40 vs Koss KSC75
• Koss KSC75 vs Koss Porta Pro
• Koss KPH40 vs Koss Porta Pro
• Koss KPH40 vs Razer BlackShark V2 X

Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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The Two Headphones In Full

Koss KPH30i: $23.99 Amazon eBay

Pros: A very low price makes it an easy disposable or backup pair, and the 60 ohm, 101 dB sensitivity runs from any phone. It has an inline microphone for calls and the open on-ear design is light and airy. Bass from 60 Hz to the upper mids stays within about 0.6 dB of the Harman target, which gives a fairly balanced core.

Cons: Sub-bass is nearly 12 dB under target below 60 Hz, so there is no rumble and deep bass is essentially missing. An 11.8 dB dip near 4.2 kHz makes vocals and detail recede, and treble from 3 to 10 kHz is about 2.8 dB low. The open back leaks sound and offers no isolation, so it suits quiet rooms only.

Full Koss KPH30i review and specifications →

Back	Open
Built-in Microphone	Yes
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	2.62 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Dynamic
Drivers	1 x 35mm dynamic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	15Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	60 ohms
Sensitivity	101 dB SPL/1mW
Tonal Tilt	-0.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	+6.8 dB	0.70
Peak	109 Hz	-4.7 dB	0.47
Peak	2,979 Hz	+1.7 dB	0.18
Peak	1,956 Hz	-4.1 dB	2.01
Peak	49 Hz	+2.5 dB	2.08
High shelf	10,000 Hz	+0.1 dB	0.70
Peak	5,070 Hz	-5.0 dB	5.22
Peak	3,844 Hz	+2.9 dB	5.95
Peak	6,348 Hz	+2.6 dB	5.99
Peak	502 Hz	+0.3 dB	1.44

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the Koss KPH30i (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Koss KPH30i vs Koss KPH40

Koss KSC75: $19.99 Amazon eBay

Pros: An extremely low cost and a featherweight 43 g clip-on design make it easy to carry and wear for long stretches. The midrange is close to target, with the low mids within 0.2 dB, so voices sound natural, and the slightly lifted treble of about 2 to 3 dB adds clarity. The open back gives an airy sound, and 101 dB sensitivity at 60 ohms works from a phone.

Cons: Sub-bass is about 17 dB below target under 60 Hz, so there is almost no rumble and bass-heavy music sounds thin. Bass in the 60 to 200 Hz range is also about 2 dB low, and a 4 dB peak near 5.3 kHz can add some edge. The open design leaks sound and gives no noise isolation.

Full Koss KSC75 review and specifications →

Back	Open
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	3.33 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Dynamic
Drivers	1 x 35mm dynamic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	15Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	54 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	60 ohms
Sensitivity	101 dB SPL/1mW
Tonal Tilt	+1.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)
Weight	0.1 lbs (43 g)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	+6.2 dB	0.70
Peak	610 Hz	+2.2 dB	0.63
Peak	2,358 Hz	-3.4 dB	1.92
Peak	169 Hz	-2.3 dB	0.77
Peak	74 Hz	+2.0 dB	2.94
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-3.0 dB	0.70
Peak	4,033 Hz	+3.3 dB	5.88
Peak	5,191 Hz	-3.4 dB	5.53
Peak	7,220 Hz	-1.5 dB	2.25
Peak	4,517 Hz	+0.7 dB	4.34

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the Koss KSC75 (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Koss KSC75 vs Koss KPH40
  • Koss KSC75 vs Koss Porta Pro