Apple EarPods (USB-C) vs Koss KSC75
Quick take: The Apple EarPods (USB-C) costs $3 less.
| Spec | Apple EarPods (USB-C) | Koss KSC75 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$17 | ~$20 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Wired & Studio | Wired & Studio |
| Noise Cancelling | None | None |
| Battery (single charge) | — | — |
| Battery (with case) | — | — |
| Quick Charge | — | — |
| Codecs | — | — |
| Bluetooth | — | — |
| Multipoint | No | No |
| Driver Size | — | — |
| Weight | — | 43 g |
| Water Resistance | — | — |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | No |
| Spatial Audio | No | No |
| App EQ | No | No |
Pros & cons
Apple EarPods (USB-C)
- ✓Built-in DAC in the USB-C plug drives full volume
- ✓Inline mic beats most Bluetooth buds for calls
- ✓Seventeen dollars — effectively disposable without guilt
- ✓No tips to fuss with or lose
- ✓Open fit keeps traffic and coworkers audible
- ✓Works with any USB-C phone, iPad, or laptop
- ✗Bass is thin unless they happen to fit
- ✗Zero isolation on buses and planes
- ✗One-size fit is love-it-or-hate-it
- ✗Cable longevity is fine, not endless
- ✗USB-C only — older iPhones and jacks excluded
Koss KSC75
- ✓Class-leading clarity and openness for around $20
- ✓Titanium-coated drivers with a wide, airy presentation
- ✓Roughly 43g — effectively weightless, no headband hair
- ✓Runs from any phone or laptop jack (60 ohm, 101 dB/mW)
- ✓Koss limited lifetime warranty
- ✓Massive mod community — headband and pad swaps are cheap and easy
- ✗Ear-clip design takes fiddling and bothers some ears until you mod a headband on
- ✗Zero isolation and full sound leakage — home/desk use only
- ✗Bass is tight but shallow; no sub-bass to speak of
- ✗Bright upper mids/treble can fatigue sensitive listeners
- ✗Build quality is as cheap as the price suggests
- ✗Fixed cable