The ESP-950s are very nice electrostatic headphones, and if you can get them for hundreds off of the $1K manufacturer's suggested price, as I did, they are a great value.
Pros: They sound great. Very accurate from bass through the mid-range, with an emphasis on mids. The bass is excellent, but not overdone -- these aren't for bass heads. They love human voices, guitars and pianos. They are lightweight. They come with their own amplifier (you have to use it, or a Stax amp with a modified cable). The whole rig is "portable" in the sense that you can run the amp off of batteries, but it won't fit in your pocket, so I would classify it more as "movable" from room to room, and flexible because you can drive it from an MP 3 as well as any source outputting analog via RCA jacks. Koss puts a lifetime warranty on the system.
Cons: They are made of plastic and the earpads are "pleather" or naugahyde, or whatever you wish to call fake leather. Not really uncomfortable, but they do get a bit warm, and for the price a nicer material could have been used. The volume control is dual, i.e., separate for left and right channels. This allows precision tweaking of the left-right balance, but it is also a pain in the rear if you just reach over to tweak the volume and you end up changing the balance because you didn't turn both the inner and outer rings the same amount. And you will change the volume a lot with these headphones, because they have a relatively narrow "sweet spot". They need to be driven a bit to hear all of their capabilities (like most quality speakers and headphones), but they do not like to be over-driven.
Pro and Con: They are very revealing. This is a good thing, in that they reveal everything good about a recording and the source of the analog signal received by the amp. They also reveal everything bad about the recording and source, and since much of today's music is poorly recorded, and MP3s at low-mid bit rates make poor recordings even worse, much of the material that many of us listen to does not sound very good on these headphones. It isn't really fair to blame the headphones, but they are a bit more unforgiving than many headphones out there. If you listen exclusively to low-res MP3s of modern pop/rock, you will probably not be overly happy with the ESP-950s. But if you listen to CD's or SACDs or high quality, high-bit-rate digital recordings played through a quality DAC, you will enjoy these headphones.
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From the brand
The Original American Stereophone Company
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In 1958 John C. Koss changed the way we all listen to music when he invented the world's first SP/3 stereophone.
Koss sought to replicate the excitement of a live musical performance, allowing listeners to experience sound as they had never before, bringing them closer to the music they love. Music lovers around the world recognize that dedication to accuracy in sound reproduction as: The Sound of Koss
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Birth of the Stereophone
Before the world's first SP/3 Stereophone in 1958, John C. Koss developed a portable stereo photograph player with side-wing speakers.
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World's First SP/3 Stereophone
in 1958 John C. Koss invented the world's first SP/3 Stereophone introducing personal stereo audio to the world.
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SP/3X
In 1960 Koss released the predecessor to the SP/3 with a lighter design, more comfortable headband and superior sound quality.
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Pro/4AA
In 1970 Pro/4AA set the standard for full-size professional headphones delivering true full frequency performance.
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Koss World Headquarters
On June 25, 1971 John C. Koss unveiled the new Koss World Headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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HV/1A
In 1974, Koss released the HV/1A the first dynamic headphone capable of reproducing all 10 audible octaves.
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Porta Pro
In 1984 the acclaimed Porta Pro was released and set performance and comfort standards worldwide for decades to come.
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JCK/300 Kordless System
In 1989 the JCK/300 Kordless Headphone system set the standard for infrared wireless headphones.
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ESP/950
In 1990 Koss's revolutionary ESP/950 electrostatic headphones introduced breakthrough high-fidelity sound.
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Pro4S Studio
Carrying on the legacy of the Pro/4 line, 2014's Pro4S Studio Headphone was specifically designed for audio professionals.
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KPH30i
In 2017 Koss released the acclaimed KPH30i featuring an ultra-light weight design with remarkable high-fidelity sound.
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Utility Series
In 2021 Koss Utility Series introduced three new headphones allowing listeners to connect via Lightning, USB-C and 3.5mm.
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True Wireless Earbuds
In 2023 Koss continued it's evolution of wireless headphones with the TWS250i True Wireless Earbuds.
Product Description
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A Sonic Symphony
Experience the pinnacle of audio reproduction with the renowned ESP/950 Electrostatic Headphones.
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8-35,000 HZ
Ultra Wide Frequency Response
Experience unparalleled sound reproduction with the utmost clarity, accuracy and detail.
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Ultimate Audio Power
Power from the E/90 Energizer delivers the full potential of the electrostatic drivers.
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Detailed Sound, Inside and Out.
Crafted with a meticulous attention to detail combing premium materials and a sophisticated design.
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Handcrafted Excellence
ESP/950 is made and hand assembled at Koss World Headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1 ESP/950 2 Electrostatic Precision 3 E/90 Energizer 4 Premium Design 5 Made in the USA
Premium Design
All while maintaining it's ultra lightweight design, ESP/950 is crafted with durable steel acoustical grills, premium decals and leatherette cushions.
The Electrostatic Difference
With a frequency response of 8-35,000 Hz, ESP/950 delivers unparalleled sound reproduction, clarity and accuracy.
Detachable Earcups
ESP/950 features detachable ear cups for convenient storage, transportation and simplified ear cushion maintenance.
Luxurious Comfort
Plush leatherette ear pads delicately cradle the ears, allowing for extended listening sessions without discomfort.
Experience the Electrostatic Difference
Unparalleled Sound Reproduction
At the core of the ESP/950's brilliance is its electrostatic driver system. This advanced technology delivers an unparalleled level of sonic accuracy and transparency, reproducing audio with breathtaking realism, making you feel like you're right there in studio.
Made in the USA
In an era where mass production dominates, the ESP/950 Electrostatic headphones are a beacon of handcrafted excellence and are made, hand assembled and tuned at Koss World Headquarters in Milwaukee, WI.
Fine Tuned Audio
Each ESP/950 is calibrated by Koss. Each driver is delicately handled and tuned to ensure optimal performance, delivering unrivaled audio precision .
Ultra Lightweight Design
Weighing in at approximately 353 grams the ESP/950 is designed to strike a delicate balance between substance and comfort for hours of listening.
E/90 Energizer
Power from the E/90 Energizer delivers the full potential of the electrostatic drivers with an input impedance of100k Ohms.
Protect Your Investment
The included premium calf skin carrying case stores the ESP/950, E/90 Energizer and all cords with room to spare for easy transportability.
More Products From Koss
 ESP/950 |  Porta Pro |  Porta Pro Limited Edition |  Porta Pro Utility |  KPH40 Utility |  KPH30i |  KSC75 | |
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Customer Reviews
| 58
| 15,741
| 1,736
| 158
| 847
| 3,301
| 7,947
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Price
| $999.99 | $39.99 | $59.99 | $49.99 | $39.99 | $29.99 | $19.99 |
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Headphone Type
| Over Ear | On Ear | On Ear | On Ear | On Ear | On Ear | Ear Clip |
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Connection
| — | 3.5mm | 3.5mm | Utility Series | Utility Series | 3.5mm | 3.5mm |
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Utility Series
| — | — | — | 3.5mm, USB-C & Lightning | 3.5mm, USB-C & Lightning | — | — |
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Audio Controls
| E/90 Energizer | — | In-Line Remote | Utility Cord Remote | Utility Cord Remote | In-Line Remote | — |
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Microphone
| — | — | In-Line Remote | Utility Cord Remote | Utility Cord Remote | In-Line Remote | — |
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Noise Cancelling
| Noise Isolating | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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Adjustable Headband
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
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Collapsible
| Detachable Ear Cups | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | — |
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Carrying Case/Pouch
| Leather Case | Carrying Pouch | Hardshell Case | Carrying Pouch | — | — | — |
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Koss ESP-950 Electrostatic Stereophone
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Reviews with images
I really like this headphone
I really like this headphone. It's hard for me to make the decision to return it. The main problem is its service. When it came, the produce box was broken while the package box was ok. It made me feel it was not a brand new one. It looked like pre-owned or opened by someone before. That made me very uncomfortable.
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MadnewsQ
A Polite & Gentlemanly Budget E-STAT - But Sadly Historically Unreliable
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Whistling noise occurring intermittently in one channel after 2 years super light use
Reviewed in Canada on October 19, 2019