REVIEW - KOSS STRIVA Could Be the Next Big Platform to Enjoy Music

STRIVA - It’s sleek, it’s portable, and it’s cord-free. But will it define a new platform to wirelessly enjoy your music? A few weeks ago, KOSS Corporation announced their STRIVA WiFi Headphones series, and was generous enough to offer us a test drive of their Pro model.



If you haven’t already checked out my previous article about this exciting system, here’s the nutshell. STRIVA provides listeners control of their music via a WiFi hotspot, or through an ad-hoc CAP (Content Access Point) device that can transmit a WiFi signal from any stereo source. Their new website, myKOSS.com, manages your gear and provides access to many streaming music channels directly to your ears. There are two models in this series - the Pro, a compact on-ear headphone, and the Tap, a pair of in-ear buds. After spending a full week with the STRIVA Pro on-ear headphones, and having an exclusive talk with Mr. Koss Sr. himself (later in this review), here’s what I’ve experienced:

First Impressions



The Pro is much smaller than I had imagined. After opening the included carrying case it was clear that the STRIVA series was built for mobility. The frame construction is lightweight but durable. It’s almost hard to believe the complexity of hardware they fit inside, with KOSS advertising a maximum wireless range of 300 ft (90 m). The headband is adjustable, along with ear cups that fold flat for storage, or around your neck. Speaking of ear cups, the right side houses a navigation toggle, along with a touch-sensitive volume fader. Below that sits a mini-USB port for charging and initial setup.



And I thought the headphones were small... This is the CAP device. Sitting inside a large pouch resting in the carrying case, this miniscule gadget acts a TCIP/IP bridge that broadcasts any stereo audio source to the STRIVA Pro or Tap headphones. It’s very compact, and its pouch fits all of the extras packaged with the Pro. Did I mention this thing is tiny?



Next to the carrying case is a box of accessories, including two mini-USB to USB cables, two mini-USB to 3.5’’ TRS cables, two rubber bands to attach the CAP to a mobile device, and a USB-AC power wall charger.