Koss Qz99 Passive Noise-Cancelling Full-Size Headphones

Passive Noise Reduction Headphones

Neodymium Magnet Structures Deliver Outstanding Clarity & Definition

Closed Pneumalite(Tm) Ear Cushions & Extra Secure Headband Seal Ears, Eliminate All Ambient Noise

Volume Control On Ear Cup Allows Easy Level Adjustment

Stereo/Mono Switch Extends User Flexibility

Ideal for use with racing scanners and metal detectors

Passive noise reduction stereophone system isolates listener from ambient sounds

Single-entry, 8-foot coiled cord

Stereo/mono switch for added flexibility

Volume control on earcup for easy level adjustment

Average Customer Review: ( 97 customer reviews )
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They look tough but I doubt they could handle a weekend at NASCAR, for which I bought them for. I was using them for music and radio when they shorted out on me.

However, the warranty on them says "Lifetime, No Questions Asked!" ...So I will check that out, send them in, and see what happens. If Koss can get them back to me in a quick turnaround, I'll knock my rating back up to a 3.

BW

I sent them in to the company and got an extremely quick turn-around, back and working good. Next test - NASCAR.

B.

30 of 35 found the following review helpful:

Slightly Sound ProofSep 29, 2001
By Dale Allen Crum "Dale Crum"
Overall I enjoy these headphones. I love the way the look and feel, the weight of them and the comfort factor. I have only a few complaints. 1: they are not as sound proof as I was hoping they would be. Random noises still manage to creep in and disturb the your listening. 2: Although they don't hurt at all to wear for long periods of time, if by chance, someone knocks on the ear piece you're in for a world of hurt my friend. 3: I bought a [less expensive] pair of headphones for [a few] dollars and noticed the bass and treble are slightly better than in the KOSS pair. At times I wondered if too much bass would blow them out or if they were really designed for music at all.

I'm not saying KOSS isn't a great headphone maker, but if your looking for something soundproof avoid these headphones. If your looking to block out ambient noise and the majority of sounds then these are definitely yours all the way. Very comfortable and well made, KOSS is an amazing company I was looking for total soundproof protection though. In the end I kept them and still use them for my music. I very much enjoyed this product and highly recommend it to anyone out there.

9 of 9 found the following review helpful:

The Truth about these Headphones...Mar 04, 2010
By TinkerMan
I'm a drummer and have been involved with music - in some form or fashion - for more than 40 years. One of my current gigs involves playing a drumset enclosed within a sound booth. Isolation headphones are an absolute necessity in this setting. My old headphones were well worn and I did do a good bit of research for a replacement pair. Most "pro" studio headphones are $150+ and I didn't want to drop that much for them. When I saw the Koss QZ-99's, read the reviews (most of which were good), and saw the price (forty bucks even - shipped - on Ebay)- I decided to give them a try. Well, they are rather suitable for my purposes - they do a fair job cutting the background noise - are decently constructed with metal supports rather than the soon-broken plastic used on most of today's headphones - and will probably hold up well. They fit snuggly - perhaps just a bit too snuggly - but, again, that is desirable for my purposes. I don't want them flying off while I'm playing. So - they do fill a need for me - and relatively inexpensively compared to most other options.

Now for the bad news - the sound quality from these headphones is mediocre at best and they can be uncomfortable to wear. Bass response is very poor - and if you try to accentuate the bass, you'll get an annoying rattle in both earpieces. Since the sound elements can't keep up, I really don't believe they would hold up long with boosted-bass settings. The treble also seems just a bit clipped... I'd characterize the sound as slightly "muddy" in general. These are by no means "audiophile" quality headphones - I've had inexpensive headphones from discount stores that could easily match - and, in some cases, exceed - the sound quality of the Koss QZ-99's. Almost all but the smallest heads out there will probably find them too tight (and a bit too heavy) for prolonged wearing without discomfort. As the Amazon description states - these might be "ideal for use with racing scanners and metal detectors" - but they are by no means for the casual and comfortable listening of music.

One thing that seriously disturbs me reading some of the other reviews here is how often these are promoted for use when using power tools and equipment. By no means should you be listening to music - or other audio sources - while operating chainsaws, mowers, power saws, etc. Doing such is simply beyond stupid and can be quite dangerous to you - and to those around you. Certainly you should make every effort to protect your hearing with passive (non-speaker) headphones or earplugs when exposed to loud equipment - but you certainly don't need your attention distracted by music.

So - I'm relatively satisfied with these for my intended purposes (studio isolation) and they would likely be a tolerable match for metal detectors and even for scanners on race day. However - if you buy them solely to listen to music and expect to have a pleasant and comfortable experience - you're very likely to be very, very disappointed..... and if you plan to use them while operating potentially-dangerous power equipment - you are a complete moron....

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