Koss KSC75 vs Moondrop Old Fashioned: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Moondrop Old Fashioned comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 81. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Moondrop Old Fashioned - Outstanding overall at around $23.

On-Ear

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Neither pulls ahead overall - they trade wins across the measures.

Koss KSC75
Moondrop Old Fashioned

HearWiki score

Sound

7.3

7.2

Value

9.8

9.5

Price (USD)

$25

$23

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

Same generation

The Moondrop Old Fashioned is 22 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price. For 22 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.

KSC752004
Old Fashioned202622 yr newer

Specifications

KSC75Old Fashioned

Type: On-Ear; On-Ear
Price (USD): $25; $23
HearWiki score: 65; 81
Released: 2004; 2026
Availability: Discontinued; Sold new
Driver: dynamic; 3× 40 mm dynamic
Driver type: dynamic; dynamic
Driver size: -; 40 mm
Drivers per side: -; 3
Frequency response: -; 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance: 60 Ω; 32 Ω
Sensitivity: 101 dB/mW; 109 dB/mW
Active noise cancelling: No; No
Controls: -; buttons
Detachable cable: -; Yes
USB-C: -; No
Connector: -; 3.5 mm

Specification comparison of Koss KSC75 vs Moondrop Old Fashioned
Spec	Koss KSC75	Moondrop Old Fashioned
Type	On-Ear	On-Ear
Price (USD)	$25	$23
HearWiki score	65 / 100 Good	81 / 100 Outstanding
Released	2004	2026
Audio
Driver	dynamic	3× 40 mm dynamic
Driver type	dynamic	dynamic
Driver size	-	40 mm
Drivers per side	-	3
Frequency response	-	20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance	60 Ω	32 Ω
Sensitivity	101 dB/mW	109 dB/mW
Features
Active noise cancelling	No	No
Controls	-	buttons
Design
Detachable cable	-	Yes
USB-C	-	No
Connector	-	3.5 mm

What reviewers said

Koss KSC75

The KSC75 is a budget-friendly clip-on headphone that delivers surprisingly open and well-balanced sound for its price, with good midrange detail and instrument separation. However, its lightweight design comes with trade-offs: minimal bass impact, mediocre treble refinement, and a flimsy build with virtually no noise isolation. It shines for focused listening in quiet spaces rather than portable or noisy environments.

Pro:Outstanding value for the price
Pro:Open, spacious soundstage
Pro:Clear mids with good separation

Con:Weak bass response
Con:Inconsistent treble quality
Con:Flimsy build quality

Moondrop Old Fashioned

The Moondrop Old Fashioned is a budget-friendly wired on-ear headphone that delivers impressively clear and well-balanced sound for its price, with a focus on vocals and an easygoing signature. Its open-style design means sub-bass is noticeably limited and sound leaks in and out, but it remains a comfortable and enjoyable pick for casual listening. Easy to drive with a detachable cable, it offers solid value despite its modest technical ceiling.

Pro:Very good tuning and clarity for the price
Pro:Comfortable fit for an on-ear design
Pro:Easy to drive with any device

Con:Sub-bass is almost absent with steep roll-off
Con:Open design leaks sound and offers little isolation
Con:Not the most technically ambitious performer

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

Compare something else

Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.

New comparison Koss KSC75 Moondrop Old Fashioned