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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-07 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Koss UR29 — biggest strength: a genuinely portable full-size design that collapses for storage, with a very wide 18 Hz–20 kHz frequency range and a low 16 ohm impedance that's easy for phones and laptops to drive.
• Koss UR29 — biggest trade-off: no microphone and no inline controls beyond volume, so it's a listening-first headphone, not a headset.
• Maxell MAX199840 — biggest strength: an inline mic plus media controls make it a one-cable solution for calls, classes and voice chat, with a claimed 10-hour battery average life.
• Maxell MAX199840 — biggest trade-off: the 140 ohm impedance is much harder to drive from a weak phone jack, and the plastic build with a round earcup shape feels more utilitarian than refined.
• Koss UR29 is for: the listener who wants deep bass, a foldable frame and a full-size over-ear fit on a bigger head.
• Maxell MAX199840 is for: the buyer who wants a cheap wired headset with a mic for talking, not just listening.
The UR29 is Koss doing what Koss has always done: a full-size over-ear stereophone that folds up and disappears into a bag. The frame is collapsible, which matters more than it sounds — full-size over-ears are usually the least portable thing in your backpack, and this one isn't. For someone who wants over-ear cups on a commute, on a flight, or at a desk that isn't theirs, the folding hinge is the whole point.
On the spec sheet, the interesting part is the spread. Koss lists a frequency response of 18 Hz to 20,000 Hz for the driver itself, and the marketing text claims a much wider 4 Hz–40,000 Hz band for the stereophone as a whole. I'd treat the 18 Hz–20 kHz figure as the realistic one, but either way the low end is where this headphone is built to shine — the anisotropic magnet and 1.4 mil mylar element are aimed squarely at deep bass with clear treble on top. The 40 mm dynamic driver is a standard size for this class, and the 16 ohm impedance is the number that should matter most to you: it's low, which means a phone, tablet or laptop headphone jack can push it to real volume without a separate amp.
Maxell MAX199840: Who It's For
The Maxell Bass 13 is a different animal. It's a wired over-ear headphone with an inline microphone and inline media controls, sold under a "heavy-bass sound signature" label. Where the Koss is a listening tool, this is a communication tool that also plays music. The inline mic means you can answer a call, sit in on a class, or talk in a game without swapping to earbuds, and the media control on the cable handles playback without you reaching for your phone.
Two specs tell you a lot. First, the impedance is 140 ohm — roughly nine times the Koss. That's high for a headphone meant to plug into a phone, and it means quiet sources will struggle; you'll get usable volume from a laptop or a decent dongle, but a weak headphone jack may leave you wanting. Sensitivity is listed at 100 dB, which helps, but the 140 ohm figure is the one that shapes how this headphone behaves in the real world. Second, the frequency range is 20 Hz–20 kHz — a normal, full-range figure with no wide-band claims attached. Maxell sells it on bass emphasis rather than extension, so expect a fuller low end than a neutral monitor, not subwoofer-grade rumble.
The build is plastic, the earpiece shape is round, and the whole thing weighs 8 ounces, which is a real number to plan around for long sessions. Maxell also lists a 10-hour battery average life — that's the manufacturer's figure for this model, and for a wired headphone you should read it as the rating attached to the product rather than something you'll be charging nightly.
Who should buy it: someone who wants one cable for music and talking, who plugs into a laptop or a stronger source, and who wants over-ear bass forward sound cheaply. Who should skip it: anyone with a weak phone jack, anyone who needs a folding frame, and anyone who wants the cleanest treble — the Bass 13 is tuned for low-end weight, not accuracy.
• Best for portability → Koss UR29. The collapsible frame is a genuine advantage; the Maxell doesn't fold.
• Best for calls and voice chat → Maxell MAX199840. The inline mic and media controls are the deciding feature.
• Best for big-head comfort over long sessions → Koss UR29. Full-size over-ear cups plus a light, low-impedance design that doesn't need an amp.
• Best for easy volume from a phone → Koss UR29. 16 ohm vs 140 ohm is not close.
• Best for bass-forward tuning with a mic attached → Maxell MAX199840. That's the entire premise of the Bass 13.
• Best for deep low-end extension on paper → Koss UR29. 18 Hz at the bottom of the listed range.
• Best for a single-cable travel setup → Maxell MAX199840. Music, mic and controls on one 3.5 mm cable.
• Best for someone who mostly listens alone → Koss UR29. You're not paying for a mic you won't use.
In my opinion, the Koss UR29 is the better buy for most people reading this, and it's the one I'd pick. The 16 ohm impedance means it works from the phone or laptop you already own, the collapsible frame makes it the rare full-size headphone you'll actually carry, and the bass-first tuning matches what most listeners want. If you specifically need to talk — calls, meetings, game chat — and you plug into a laptop rather than a weak phone jack, the Maxell MAX199840 earns its place with the inline mic. But for a big head, for travel, for pure listening, I'd take the Koss.
For most people, yes. The UR29 is a full-size over-ear with a collapsible frame and a low 16 ohm impedance, so it's easier to drive and easier to pack. The Maxell is also over-ear at 8 ounces, but round plastic cups and a 140 ohm load make it fussier about what you plug into.
Does the Maxell MAX199840 have a microphone and the Koss UR29 doesn't?
The Koss UR29, by a wide margin. At 16 ohm it needs far less power than the Maxell's 140 ohm. The Maxell's 100 dB sensitivity helps, but high impedance plus a phone jack usually means lower volume and less headroom.
Yes — I don't quote prices here because they move around. Check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page, then weigh it against which features you actually need: a mic or a folding frame.
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