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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're seeking a budget-friendly, modern earbud with wireless convenience and active noise cancelling, the Creative Labs Zen Air would be the better pick; they're also sweatproof, making them a good option for light exercise. Conversely, if you prefer very good overall sound quality and don't mind a wired connection, the Koss Porta Pro headphones, with their open-back design, offer a more natural soundstage, though they lack noise isolation and aren't as portable. The Zen Airs are optimized for both Android and Apple devices and come with a case that provides additional battery life and wireless charging. Choose the Koss Porta Pro if you're looking for a more immersive audio experience for music and can sacrifice the convenience of wireless technology and modern features like a mobile app and active noise cancelling. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Creative Labs Zen Air
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Koss Porta Pro
- Very good for music
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.8
8.2
The Koss Porta Pro is very good for music, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is only fair.
Gaming
5.1
6.4
The Koss Porta Pro is only fair for gaming, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1
4.3
The Creative Labs Zen Air and Koss Porta Pro are both poor for phone calls, though the Creative Labs Zen Air is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.4
6.8
The Koss Porta Pro is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
7.6
The Koss Porta Pro is good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
2.5
The Creative Labs Zen Air is good for noise reduction, while the Koss Porta Pro is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The Creative Labs Zen Air has 5 hours of battery life. The Koss Porta Pro does not have a battery.
Cost
$30
$49
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Creative Labs Zen Air has a price of $30 and the Koss Porta Pro costs $49.
Build Quality
9.0
6.0
The Creative Labs Zen Air has excellent build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro has only fair build quality.
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How the Creative Labs Zen Air and the Koss Porta Pro compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Zen Air | Koss Porta Pro |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $49 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | Koss | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2022 | January 1, 1984 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.9/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 4.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.1/10 | 6.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.9/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 12 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 6/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 63.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Creative Labs Zen Air
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Check
Maike Paeßens | February 2023
"The Creative Zen Air’s weak points are its low battery life and rather short Bluetooth range. On the other hand, the strengths of these weatherproof True Wireless in-Ears are the sound and the wide attenuation of the Active Noise Cancellation. Considering the price range, the speech intelligibility during calls is also exceptionally good."
Koss Porta Pro
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphones.com
Sebastian Taboada | February 2022
"It’s clear to see why these have been such a popular choice amongst listeners for nearly four decades. It’s a charming pair of headphones that delivers a truly enjoyable listening experience and one that I think punches well above its weight."
Get a great deal on the Creative Labs Zen Air or the Koss Porta Pro
About Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a Singaporean technology company specialized in the manufacture of multimedia products. They created the world-famous Soundblaster soundcard back in 1989 which was a staple of the gaming community for a long time. Nowadays, besides still marketing their discrete audio systems, they offer a wide array of headphones, gaming headsets and speakers that still preserve that same heritage.
About Koss
Koss is an American headphone manufacturer established in 1953. In 1958, they created the first set of stereophones, that is headphones with stereo sound, and in 1984 they released the world-famous Porta Pro, a set of on-ear headphones that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years and that is still made, sold and loved by many audio enthusiasts around the world today.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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