Headphones — Koss SB42

The SB42 is a wired communication headset made by Koss, the American company that introduced the SP/3 Stereophone in 1958. It pairs full size over-ear headphones with a boom microphone and is aimed at computer and game console use, where listening and speaking clearly both matter.

Key specs that matter

Each closed ear cup uses a dynamic driver with a neodymium magnet, and the headphone frequency response covers 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Impedance is 32 ohms and sensitivity is 100 dB. The microphone is mono and covers 100 Hz to 16 kHz. The cord is 2.4 m long, detachable, and ends in a 3.5 mm plug. The headset weighs around 200 g.

Engineering and use context

Koss fits the boom with its Clear Voice Technology, a noise reduction scheme that removes excess background noise and makes speech recognition and other voice software on a computer easier to work with. The ear cups follow a D-profile shape modelled on the human ear to keep the fit consistent, and the headband is designed for extended wear. The cord enters on the left or right side as preferred, and while it is attached the opposite cup provides pass-through listening. Koss covers its wired headphones with a limited lifetime warranty.

Alternatives

The Koss SB45 is a separate communication headset that folds for storage and uses a straight single-entry cord.