The Koss KPH40 ranks #115 out of 134 total Over-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Koss
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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#115 Koss KPH40: $32.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: It is one of the cheapest options in its class, and the open-back design gives a more airy, spacious feel than most closed budget headsets. Bass between 60 and 200 Hz sits about 2 dB above target and the lower mids are slightly full, which suits a warm, relaxed listener. Sensitivity of 101 dB at 60 ohms means a phone can drive it.
Cons: Sub-bass rolls off about 7 dB below target under 60 Hz, so kick drums and synth bass lack rumble. A 14.5 dB dip near 4.4 kHz makes vocals and instrument detail sound distant, and treble is about 4 dB low overall, so the sound is dark and muffled. Open backs also leak sound and offer no isolation.
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.35 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | 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 | -1.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 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 | +7.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 79 Hz | -7.6 dB | 0.37 |
| Peak | 3,725 Hz | +4.9 dB | 3.94 |
| Peak | 614 Hz | +1.5 dB | 2.05 |
| Peak | 37 Hz | +3.9 dB | 1.16 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,429 Hz | +4.0 dB | 0.78 |
| Peak | 5,445 Hz | -7.7 dB | 4.24 |
| Peak | 1,941 Hz | -2.0 dB | 2.35 |
| Peak | 1,012 Hz | +0.3 dB | 1.84 |
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