Koss 155954 VC20 Volume Control, Standard Packaging, 39-Inch Cord, Compatible with Cell Phones and Headphones

Works great. Laying in bed, often struggling to sleep, I stream podcasts to help pass time and lull me to slumber. Unfortunately my I-phones’ volume control is not smooth, the lowest setting is inaudible and the next one is too loud. This volume control solves the problem!

I already have two "no name" inline volume controls, but I needed another. This Koss unit was no more expensive from Amazon than another "no name" from an electronics store, and I've been a big fan of Koss since the late 70s, so I bought it.First, what it IS and ISN'T. This is a volume control, but NOT an amplifier. It will make your MP3 player, etc., quieter, but NOT louder. If your source is too quiet, look for a headphone amplifier.When I used to listen to a cassette walkman it was easy to turn down the volume when I needed to. The volume control was a thumbwheel right on the player. I have several MP3 players now, and they all have hi-tech context sensitive controls. This means (for me, anyway) that I have to look at the screen to make sure the button or slide control is set for volume. This control solves that problem. Set the player for a volume slightly on the loud side and use the inline control to get comfortable sound. If you need to lower the volume (to talk to someone, for instance) you can use the volume control without taking your player out of your pocket.This model has a three foot cord between the player and the volume control. This is nice if your player has an FM tuner -- MP3 players use the headphone cord as an FM antenna. My generic ones were only about 8 inches long and the FM reception suffered.The control has a clip on it, so you can wear your player safely in a padded pouch on your belt and clip the volume control to your chest pocket.A few reviewers have noted that lowering the volume attenuates high frequencies. I tried using the EQ settings on my player (I was also using Koss PortaPro headphones). When I had Bass Boost EQ settings I did notice some high frequency attenuation in both the Koss and generic inline volume controls; when the EQ was turned off I didn't notice as much high frequency attenuation, but the sound was very "flat." Anyway, I don't think I would have noticed it if other reviewers hadn't pointed it out.An inline volume control is very handy for portable MP3 players, etc., and this unit is well thought out, and works great.

I tend to be very selective when it comes to earbuds. One of the things I prefer in every pair of earbuds I use is an extra volume control in addition to the one from my iPod. Therefore, this little appliance is perfect: theoretically, I can use any pair of earbuds I want, as long as I use this thing along with it. This volume control is slim and compact, and does the job fantastically.Some things that could be better:In my opinion, the cord could be shorter. For the most part, most earbud cords are long enough for everyday tasks, so adding an extra 3 or 4 feet is overwhelming and unnecessary.The volume control could be a little smaller--I have an iPod nano 4G and it adds bulk when I wrap up my earbuds.The port for the earbud jack (inside the volume control) is a little defective on my volume control, and so when I connect my earbuds, it doesn't connect smoothly. I have to push it a little harder and it clicks louder.This is the second Koss volume control that I've purchased and it seems that for all of these, the jack where it plugs into your iPod or mp3 player is not durable. When I twist the wire just under it from side to side, it sounds like my music is switching from stereo to mono sound (mono sounds like it's being played to you down a tunnel or similar). So don't expect this thing to last forever, even with gentle care.

19 July 2021: Due to the idiosyncratic design of our old home, our AC blower creates quite a bit of noise. At times it is very much like being on a jet airliner. Our TV has a 3.5 mm audio output port but unless one has headphones with internal volume control, the headphone volume has to be controlled by the TV volume controller.This Koss device allows me to use my old Sony noise cancelling headphones, cancelling the ambient noise, and control headphone volume semi-independently from the TV. The control isn't totally independent, if the TV volume is made louder or more quiet, the Koss controller needs to be adjusted in response.But this controller does a very good job in combination with the Sony noise cancelling headphones, allowing me to hear dialogue much more clearly.The scroll wheel which controls volume is quite small, as is the overall size of this Koss device.The device is 36 mm long by 15 mm wide by 8 mm wide.The scroll wheel is 10 mm in diameter and protrudes above the body of the controller by only 2 mm.I haven't had any problem manipulating the wheel, but I can see how some folks would. For fine control I use my fingernail on the ridges of the scroll wheel. It gives decent fine control.My Sony noise cancelling headphones plug into this Koss device which plugs into a 15 foot extension which plugs into the TV headphone port.In reviewing the Koss controller three features were asked to be rated. I gave Sound Quality 5 stars. I gave Volume Control five stars. I didn't rate Noise Cancellation as noise cancellation isn't a feature of this Koss controller.I gave five stars for the Overall rating as this controller does all I had hoped.If the controller breaks down I'll return and amend this review.