Product & Packaging *********************** Koss Spark Plug Stereophone with spare set of ear cushions. They arrived in a cardboard backed blown plastic. The cardboard is purply blue, with instructions on the back on how to insert the ear piece diagrams also help to show how to do this. The earphones are displayed inside the plastic so you can see what they look like before buying.
Price ****** mydogandbone.co.uk £11.95 + £3.93 p&p ipodworld £13.95 + £4.99 p&p ebay.co.uk £8.99 + £3.99 p&p All prices shown dated 18/05/2006 these are only a few of the places where you can buy the Spark Plug.
First thoughts. ***************** When you open the package and take out the stereophones they feel quiet cheap as if they won't last long. The lead was already twisted and took a while to sort out. Weight is only 13grams and this does feel very light. The white lead is 50inches 130cm and i have found this to be a good lenght with no problems doing day to day things.
Discription ************ The ear pieces themselves are white 1 with R And 1 with L so you can tell which one is for the right and left ear, it also has a silver band around with the Koss logo on it in black.On the end of these is the soft expandable foam in black and cone shaped. You can put the foam on either way depending how much noise you want to block out from the outside world. They work well enough the way they come in the packaging.The foam comes off very easily you just pull and they slide off.
Inserting ********** To put them in your ears roll the foam between your thumb and forefinger until you have squashed the foam, quickly with one hand pull the top of your ear up to open your ear canal then with your other hand slide the foam as far in as it will go then hold it in place till the foam expands back to its normal size, repeat with the othe side.They feel funny at first as the foam expands, like pressure building up inside the ear, but not painful. The longer you have them in the more you forget about them, and you relise just how comfortable they are. You don't get any of the soreness that some of the over ear earphones give. And not once have they falling out while using them, this includes running.
Sound ******** The quality of sound from these stereophones is great i like alot of deep bass and they supply that. I've used them on aeroplanes sat over the engine and had no problem hearing my PSP which has a very low volume (read my review of the PSP) and i didn't have the volume fully turned up which has got to be better for your hearing. Even listening to mp3 files at low quality sound much better, so i can get more music on my mp3 player.
Longevity *********** Had these earphones 8 months now so my initial thoughts of them not lasting long was wrong. But i have been using an old case from another set of earphones. This has helped stop the lead from getting twisted and tangled, so if you have not got one i would suggest getting one. The foam inserts seem to be lasting, but you must keep them clean as they do go in your ear.
Improvements **************** What would make them better, volume control on lead and a carry case, but for £14 alot less than noise cancelling earphones, and they work alot better, i shouldn't complain.
Conclusion ************** All in all a great product at a good price and does the job that they are meant to do. Very comfortable, will last longer than initial thoughts and they go with the Ipod as they are white, good marketing ploy.
Thanks for reading my review.
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Advantages: Good sound quality. Good sound isolation. Disadvantages: Ear pads wear away after a few months, are easily lost and too expensive to replace
naffcaff 17.03.2004 (31.08.2005)
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