The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you prioritize modern features like wireless connectivity, sweat and dust resistance, and active noise cancelling, the Jabra Elite 4 would be the better choice. They also have a higher mic quality, which is beneficial for calls and meetings. On the other hand, the Koss Porta Pro with a mic, while often less expensive, offers a more very good music listening experience due to its open-back design, which typically provides a more natural sound and wider soundstage; however, they lack noise isolation and are not suitable for exercise or travel due to their open design and lack of modern features like sweat resistance and active noise cancelling. The Koss Porta Pros are wired, so if you prefer not to worry about battery life, they are advantageous, but for those seeking the convenience of wireless earbuds, the Jabra Elite 4 is the go-to. Additionally, Jabra's offering is optimized for use with both Android and Apple devices, while Koss Porta Pro doesn't have such optimizations. 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 Jabra Elite 4
Very good for phone calls
Good for exercise
Very good for air travel
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
Very good for music
Very good for gaming
Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.6/10
8.2/10
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is very good for music, while the Jabra Elite 4 is only fair.
Gaming
5.4/10
8.2/10
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is very good for gaming, while the Jabra Elite 4 is poor.
Phone Calls
8.8/10
6.1/10
The Jabra Elite 4 is very good for phone calls, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.6/10
6.8/10
The Jabra Elite 4 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair.
TV and Video
6.0/10
7.6/10
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is good for TV and video, while the Jabra Elite 4 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
7.0/10
2.5/10
The Jabra Elite 4 is good for noise reduction, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is poor.
Battery
5.5 Hours
N/A
The Jabra Elite 4 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) does not have a battery.
Cost
$100
$60
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
The Jabra Elite 4 has a price of $100 and the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) costs $60.
Build Quality
9.0/10
6.0/10
The Jabra Elite 4 has excellent build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) has only fair build quality.
"The Jabra Elite 4 is a good midrange option with solid isolation and aptX codec for Android. It sounds consumer friendly from the box and the app has some EQ to adjust to taste. Some included luxuries include multipoint, sidetone, and Spotify Tap"
"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 Jabra Elite 4 or the Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
About Jabra
Jabra is a subsidiary of GN Store Nord, a 150-year-old Danish company that specializes in the manufacturing of hearing aids, headsets and earphones. Jabra has a focus on fit and comfort and quality control over everything else. According to Peter Karstromer, Jabras CEO, they “design and engineer technology that frees people to work, live and communicate how and where they want to, equipping them with the tools to live their life to a new rhythm”.
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
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
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,900
Recommendations made
18,435
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
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.