Koss KDE250 Earphones

If you value portability but don’t like the tight, earplug-like feel of IEMs or the loose fit of earbuds, look no further than the Koss KDE250. From an audio pioneer that’s been in the business since 1958, these earphones look like nothing else on the market, featuring a retrofuturistic metal design that’s entirely adjustable and entirely cool. The disc-shaped housing contains a pair of dynamic drivers—one 20-millimeter low-frequency driver and one 13-millimeter driver for the mids and highs—and the hinged frame allows you to adjust the angle of the driver assembly relative to your ears. Then there are the ear clips. Take your pick of the three included sizes, and fine-tune the fit by spinning the metal knob on the side. Wherever you go, the Koss KDE250 will stay comfortable and stay put.

Here’s what Chris Martens of Hi-Fi+ has to say: “The Koss KDE250 offers what some listeners will regard as a compelling alternative to traditional in-ear headphones. [It’s] light, comfortable, and offers impressive openness and transparency, and it allows you to keep track of what’s going on in the room around you.” To read more about the earphones’ sound signature, check out this review.