If you want closed-back isolation and a straightforward wired studio-style design for calls, choose SAMSON SR450; if you need an open-back, collapsible headset with an inline microphone and device-specific Utility cords, choose Koss Porta Pro Utility. For most calls, I’d choose the Koss because its included Utility cord options add a microphone and call controls; the Samson is the simpler fit for listening in noisier surroundings.
• SAMSON SR450: Closed-back construction and 40 mm drivers suit focused listening; its listed features do not include a microphone or call controls.
• Koss Porta Pro Utility: Open-back design, collapsible build, and an inline microphone and remote on the Lightning and USB-C Utility cords; it offers less sound isolation.
• SAMSON SR450 is for: People who want wired on-ear headphones with a closed-back design and an included 1/8-inch-to-1/4-inch adapter.
• Koss Porta Pro Utility is for: People who prioritize a detachable cord system, portability, and call controls with compatible Utility cords.
• For calls: Koss has the clearer feature match, while neither product’s listed information establishes noise-canceling or microphone-noise-reduction performance.
The SR450 is a wired, on-ear headphone with a closed-back design. That construction is intended to reduce ambient sound around you, which can be helpful when you want to concentrate in a shared room or a busy environment. Its dynamic 40 mm drivers and stated 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range describe a broad audio range, while the product is positioned for detailed listening and studio use. Those are listening features, not a microphone specification: the listed SR450 features do not include a built-in mic or an inline call remote.
Its 3.5 mm connection keeps the setup simple, and the included 1/8-inch-to-1/4-inch adapter gives you another connection option for compatible equipment. The adjustable headband is intended to provide a secure fit, while the product description notes wide cushions on the ear pads and headband for longer listening sessions. At 8.64 ounces, it is described as lightweight. These details may appeal if you plan to use one wired pair for music, recording-related listening, or other audio work as well as occasional calls through a separate device microphone.
The trade-off is practical: the SR450 has no listed call microphone, and its closed-back, on-ear design is less portable than a collapsible pair with a carrying case. It also does not offer a detachable-cord system in the listed features. For a video call, you would need to account for how your device will capture your voice rather than assuming the headphones handle it.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-20 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the SR450 if an inline microphone and call-answer controls are essential to your setup.
Koss Porta Pro Utility: Who It's For
The Porta Pro Utility is an open-back, on-ear wired headphone built around flexibility and portability. Its collapsible design and included carrying case make it easier to pack away than a conventional fixed-shape headphone. The adjustable headband and temporal pads are intended to support a comfortable fit, and the detachable cord system gives you the option to connect through compatible Utility cords rather than treating the cable as a fixed part of the headphones.
For calls, the most relevant feature is the inline microphone and remote included on the Lightning and USB-C Utility cords. The listed controls let you answer or end calls and manage music. That makes the Koss a more direct candidate if you want call functions built into the cable, though you should choose the cord that matches your device. The product information also describes a 3.5 mm connection. Its open-back design, however, does not provide the sound isolation offered by the closed-back Samson.
The Koss is also intended for everyday listening, with a stated 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range and a dynamic driver. The product description highlights a full midrange, deep bass, and crisp highs; those are claims about its audio character, not a guarantee of how it will sound to every listener. One point worth checking before buying is cord compatibility: the call microphone and remote are specified for the Lightning and USB-C Utility cords, so don’t assume every possible cable connection includes those controls.
Who should skip it: Skip the Porta Pro Utility if you need a closed-back design to help reduce surrounding sound while listening or taking calls.
• Best for a closed-back design → SAMSON SR450. Its closed-back construction is specified to reduce ambient noise; the Koss is open-back and lists no noise control.
• Best for packing away → Koss Porta Pro Utility. It folds down and comes with a carrying case, useful when you want to put headphones in a bag between calls or listening sessions.
• Best for a studio-style wired setup → SAMSON SR450. It is described as an on-ear studio headphone and includes a 1/8-inch-to-1/4-inch adapter.
• Best if your device uses a compatible Utility cord → Koss Porta Pro Utility. The detachable-cord system supports Utility cord options, including Lightning and USB-C versions with call controls.
• Best if you want fewer call-specific assumptions → Neither without checking your setup. The Koss has a specified inline mic on particular Utility cords; the SR450’s listed features do not include a mic.
• Best for listening where surrounding sound matters → SAMSON SR450. Closed-back construction gives it the advantage for isolation, although the specifications do not quantify how much sound it blocks.
• Best for open-back wear and compact storage → Koss Porta Pro Utility. Its open-back style and collapsible design suit a different priority than the Samson’s more isolating enclosure.
My Verdict
Before choosing either pair, start with how you will connect it. Both products are listed as wired and include a 3.5 mm connection, but the Koss has a detachable-cord system and Utility cord options for Lightning and USB-C devices. Its call microphone and remote are specified on those Utility cords. Confirm that the cord arrangement suits your device and that the call functions you need are part of the setup you plan to use.
Next, consider your surroundings. The Samson’s closed-back design is intended to reduce ambient sound, which may help when you are trying to focus. The Koss is open-back and lists no noise-control feature, so it is not the obvious pick for shutting out nearby activity. Neither specification says that either headphone cancels noise, and neither provides a stated microphone noise-reduction feature. If you take calls in a busy place, that distinction matters: headphone isolation and what the person on the other end hears are separate questions.
Think about portability and wearing style, too. The Koss collapses and comes with a carrying case, while the Samson is described as lightweight with an adjustable headband and wide cushions. Both are on-ear headphones, so fit is personal; the listed design information does not establish which will feel more comfortable to you. The Koss’s temporal pads and adjustable headband offer one comfort approach, while the Samson’s cushions and contoured fit are intended for extended listening.
Finally, match the headphones to the job beyond calls. The SR450’s studio positioning and included 1/4-inch adapter may suit someone who wants a headphone for listening with compatible audio equipment as well as everyday use. The Koss emphasizes an open-back design, collapsibility, and cable flexibility. If you are searching for the best open ear headphones for calls or the best open ear earbuds for calls, note that both products here are on-ear headphones, not earbuds; only the Koss’s specified Utility cords include an inline microphone. For someone looking for the best voice assistant headphones for calls, the provided product details do not establish voice-assistant support, so check your device and cord requirements rather than assuming that feature is included.
FAQ
It has a closed-back design intended to reduce ambient noise. The product information does not give a measured isolation level or describe active noise cancellation.
Its detachable-cord system includes Utility options for Lightning and USB-C, and the product information also lists a 3.5 mm connection. Call controls and the inline microphone are specified for the Lightning and USB-C Utility cords.
The Koss is collapsible and comes with a carrying case, making portability a stated feature. The SR450 is described as lightweight, but its listed details do not mention a folding design or included case.
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