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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Koss Porta Pro with mic offers good sound quality and comfort for a significantly lower price, with a particular strength in gaming audio, but they're wired, which may limit mobility and may not be suitable during exercise. They are also not recommended for use in noisy environments due to low noise isolation. On the other hand, the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) provides quality sound, better features for calls and meetings, and comes with higher build quality, active noise cancelling, sweat and dust resistance, which makes them more versatile for a variety of situations including exercise and travel. However, they come at a higher price. If you need wireless convenience, active noise cancelling, and a durable build for a range of activities, the "Nothing" Ear (2) could be worth the extra cost. If you prioritize a strong gaming audio experience and are happy to work with a wired connection to save money, the Koss Porta Pro could be a better choice. 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 Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
- Very good for music
Advantages of the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2)
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.2
7.0
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is very good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is good.
Phone Calls
6.1
7.9
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is good for phone calls, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.8
9.1
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is only fair.
Noise Reduction
2.5
8.0
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) is very good for noise reduction, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is poor.
Battery
N/A
6.7 Hours
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) does not have a battery. The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) has 6.7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$60
$149
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Koss Porta Pro (with mic) has a price of $60 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) costs $149.
Build Quality
6.0
9.0
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) has excellent build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
8.2
8.5
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) and Koss Porta Pro (with mic) are both very good for gaming.
TV and Video
7.6
8.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) to be very good for TV and video, while the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) is good.
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How the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) and the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Koss Porta Pro (with mic) | "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$60 | $149 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Koss | "Nothing" Brand | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 1984 | March 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.2/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.2/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.7/10 | 8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.2/10 | 7.9/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 6.7 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.3. | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 30 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 6/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 63.5 Grams | 4.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | In-Line | Integrated | |
Shopping
Koss Porta Pro (with mic)
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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."
"Nothing" Brand Ear (2)
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Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | March 2023
"For the price the Nothing Ear (2) is pretty good. It fits well, and the IP54 rating (and IP55 with case) is durable enough for daily life. Most of its unique features are found in the Nothing X app, such as personalized frequency responses, and personalized, adjustable ANC."
Get a great deal on the Koss Porta Pro (with mic) or the "Nothing" Brand Ear (2)
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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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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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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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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