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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The HifiMan Edition XS offers superior overall sound quality and soundstage, making them ideal for an immersive listening experience, especially at home due to their larger size and open design. However, they are not suitable for noisy environments and workouts as they offer little noise isolation and are not sweatproof. The Koss Porta Pro, on the other hand, is more portable, foldable, and budget-friendly with good sound quality, which makes them suitable for casual, on-the-go listening. They also have an open design but do not provide sound quality or soundstage on par with the HifiMan Edition XS. Neither option has a mic for calls, nor do they support wireless or active noise cancellation. If budget is a concern and you seek good sound for daily use, the Koss Porta Pro could be your choice, while if you prioritize top-of-the-line sound quality and can afford a higher price, the HifiMan Edition XS would be the better option. 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 HifiMan Edition XS
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Koss Porta Pro
- The Koss Porta Pro has no clear advantages over the HifiMan Edition XS.
Key differences
Music
8.8
8.2
The HifiMan Edition XS and Koss Porta Pro are both very good for music, though the HifiMan Edition XS is somewhat better.
Gaming
7.4
6.4
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for gaming, while the Koss Porta Pro is only fair.
Phone Calls
5.0
4.3
The HifiMan Edition XS and Koss Porta Pro are both poor for phone calls, though the HifiMan Edition XS is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
6.8
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Koss Porta Pro is only fair.
TV and Video
9.5
7.6
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Koss Porta Pro is good.
Cost
$269
$49
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The HifiMan Edition XS has a price of $269 and the Koss Porta Pro costs $49.
Build Quality
8.5
6.0
The HifiMan Edition XS has very good build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Noise Reduction
2.5
2.5
The HifiMan Edition XS and Koss Porta Pro are both poor for noise reduction.
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How the HifiMan Edition XS and the Koss Porta Pro compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Edition XS | Koss Porta Pro |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$269 | $49 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | Koss | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | January 1, 1984 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 4.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.5/10 | 6.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 4.2/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 421 Grams | 63.5 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HifiMan Edition XS
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | January 2023
"The Edition XS easily compete with headphones in their price range with a very high price-to-performance ratio. The XS are an amazing value and offer performance not far off from headphones more than twice their cost. These will be a mind-blowing revelation for enthusiasts and music lovers who have only heard standard big-brand mainstream headphones."
Koss Porta Pro
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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 HifiMan Edition XS or the Koss Porta Pro
About HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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