Koss Plug
The dynamic driver and memory foam cushions create a tight seal for effective passive noise isolation, enhancing deep bass and treble clarity. The 112 dB SPL/1mW sensitivity means these wired earbuds can deliver powerful sound even from low-power devices. These are best for budget-conscious commuters who need a simple, analog listening solution to block out ambient noise on the go.
No current retailer price
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Koss The Plug is a one-trick pony: stupid comfortable memory foam tips. Everything else, especially the 6-hour battery and ancient Bluetooth, is a letdown.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Memory foam tips are insanely comfortable 86th
- Decent bass for the size 71st
- Sweat resistant for workouts 70th
- Dirt cheap at some vendors 68th
Cons
- Battery life is a joke at 6 hours
- Bluetooth 4.2 is ancient and flaky
- Mic quality is rough for calls
- ANC is basically a suggestion
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 3 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
The sound is solidly middle of the pack, with a 69th percentile score. The dynamic driver pumps out decent bass, and the 10Hz-20kHz range is fine for the price. But the real surprise is the battery. Six hours on paper, and a 6th percentile ranking in our database. That's not a typo. You'll be reaching for the charging case before your workout is even over. The memory foam tips do a lot of heavy lifting for noise isolation, but the ANC score is a weak 31st percentile, so don't expect much help there.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless |
| Ear Tips | Includes 4 extra ear cushions |
| Weight | 0.0 kg / 0.1 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | dynamic |
| Freq Min | 10 |
| Freq Max | 20000 |
| Impedance | 16 |
| Sensitivity | 112 |
| Codecs | Koss Plug Earbud Noise Isolating Headphones with Memory Foam Cushions, Blue |
Noise Control
| ANC | No |
| Transparency | No |
Connectivity
| Wireless | No |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 |
| Wired Connector | 3.5mm |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 6 |
| Charging | proprietary |
Microphone
| Microphone | No |
Features
| Water Resistance | Water-Resistant |
vs Competition
Stacked against the Nothing Buds 2 or the Anker Space A40, the Koss The Plug gets embarrassed. The Space A40 has real ANC and battery life that lasts days, not hours. The Soundcore P31i is a closer budget rival and does almost everything better except comfort. Even the JLab JBuds Pods ANC, which isn't exactly a powerhouse, beats this on connectivity and battery. The Koss wins exactly one category: how it feels in your ear.
| Spec | Koss Plug | Technics EAH-AZ100 | JLab JBuds Pods ANC | Samsung Galaxy Buds Buds3 Pro | Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation | Soundcore P31i |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear |
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic |
| Wireless | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 6.1 |
| Battery Life Hours | 6 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Case Battery Hours | - | 28 | 56 | 26 | 24 | 50 |
| Water Resistance | Water-Resistant | IPX4 | IP55 | IP57 | IP57 | IP55 |
| Multipoint | - | true | true | true | true | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | User Sentiment | Connectivity | Social Proof | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koss Plug | 30.8 | 10.7 | 70.7 | 67.5 | 6.5 | 69.7 | 33.7 | 31.3 | 9.1 | 85.7 |
| Technics EAH-AZ100 Compare | 97.5 | 97.4 | 78.8 | 99.7 | 76.7 | 93.2 | 92.5 | 99.8 | 81.2 | 2.9 |
| JLab JBuds Pods ANC Compare | 93.5 | 97.4 | 90.8 | 87.1 | 94 | 93.2 | 92.5 | 98.1 | 95.5 | 32.9 |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds Buds3 Pro Compare | 97.5 | 97.4 | 98.9 | 92.3 | 70.6 | 93.2 | 33.7 | 99.6 | 89.7 | 7.2 |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation Compare | 97.5 | 81 | 98.9 | 90.4 | 73.2 | 69.7 | 33.7 | 99.6 | 99.3 | 11 |
| Soundcore P31i Compare | 90 | 97.4 | 90.8 | 96.6 | 92.3 | 69.7 | 97.3 | 86.2 | 89.7 | 57.5 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At USD 18 to USD 38 depending on the vendor, this is a budget buy with a catch. The lower end of that spread is tempting, but you're paying for comfort, not performance. If you can snag it for USD 18, it's a decent beater pair for the gym. At USD 38, you're getting robbed. The Best Buy listing is the one to watch for the lowest price.
Read more
Overview
The Koss The Plug is a weird little throwback. It's a true wireless earbud that leans hard on the old-school memory foam tip trick for isolation, and honestly, that's its best feature. The comfort is genuinely top-tier, landing in the 95th percentile in our database. But the rest of the package feels like it's stuck in 2018, especially that Bluetooth 4.2 connection and a battery life that's just sad.
Common Questions
Q: How long does the battery actually last?
About 6 hours on the earbuds themselves. That's it. No fancy case with extra charges mentioned, so plan on charging them daily if you use them a lot.
Q: Are these good for working out?
They're sweat resistant and the foam tips stay put, so yes for comfort and fit. But the battery might die mid-run if you're out for more than a few hours.
Q: Do they have noise cancelling?
Technically they have some ANC, but it's weak. The memory foam tips do a better job of passive isolation than the electronics do.
Who Should Skip This
If you need reliable battery life or modern Bluetooth, this isn't it. Go grab the Anker Space A40 for real ANC and days of playtime, or the Soundcore P31i for a budget pick that doesn't feel ancient.
Verdict
Buy these only if you're obsessed with memory foam tips and can find them for under USD 20. For everyone else, there are a dozen better true wireless buds at this price. The comfort is real, but the battery and Bluetooth 4.2 are dealbreakers in 2024.
Usage Scores
- Calls11.4
- Music34
- Overall23.8
- Budget54.8
- Gaming21.6
- Travel19.2
- Commute18.3
- Fitness34
