hot gadget review and price: Klipsch

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Kamis, 05 Maret 2009

Klipsch Image S4

Nothing is known about them yet, but judging by the more traditional design I am going to guess that this will be an entry level version of their popular Image line-up.

Via Head-Fi

Update (10 March 09): Amy has kindly informed me via Twitter that the Image S4 will have the following specs:

Frequency Response: 10Hz – 19KHz
Transducer: moving-coil dynamic
Sensitivity (1mW): 110db SPL/mW
Impedance (1kHZ): 18-ohm
Price: $79.99

It is available for pre-order from Amazon.com for US$79.99

Klipsch Image S4

Jumat, 02 Januari 2009

Klipsch UK's Image X10 offer

Klipsch's Image X10 is easily the sexiest and smallest high-end IEM I've ever laid my eyes on. Unfortunately they are pretty expensive. Klipsch UK, in conjunction with What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision, is offering the Image X10 for a slightly better price of £129.99 down from £179.99, the same price as the mid-range X5. The offer ends on 6 January.

Unfortunately for me and my wallet, I am all spent out. :( You can read my opinion of Klipsch's Custom-3 here.

Klipsch UK's Image X10 offer

Rabu, 31 Desember 2008

Klipsch Custom-3 IEM headphones review

Here it is, the final review in my journey through Klipsch's Custom series, and the last review of 2008. Perhaps next year I'll do another one (maybe Sennheiser's IE range? I'll go broke!). So anyway, the Custom-3 is Klipsch's top-end IEM in terms of SQ performance and the second most expensive after the Image X10. With a recommended retail price of US$199/£199 (the street price is a lot cheaper than that), the Custom-3's direct competitors includes Shure SE420, Sennheiser IE8, Denon C751, Sleek Audio SA6, Etymotic ER4P and Westone UM2 - all of which are well regarded and have received raved reviews.

Some boring technical specs:

Frequency response: 8Hz – 19kHz
Sensitivity: 115 dB SPL/mW (1mW)
Nominal impedance: 32 ohms
Crossover frequency: 1500 Hz
Tweeter: KG723
Woofer: KG731
Headphone weight: 13 grams
Bundled accessories: Large carrying case, 1/8" to 1/4" adaptor, airplane jack adaptor, two pairs of bi-flanged ear gels, three pairs of single-flanged ear gels, ear wax tip cleaning tool

Perhaps rather disappointingly, the Custom-3 shares the exact same physical and attractive triangular enclosure as its lower-end cousins. There is no removable cable system or additional use of premium material that reflects the premium cost. The only distinct difference is the colour scheme - that is of the traditional bronze Klipsch logo. It is personally my favourite colour scheme of the three Customs, as the bronze accent doesn't make it stand out as much as the other two, and also because the classic Klipsch logo is, well, classy. Regardless the built quality was excellent.

Again like the other two Customs, the enclosures are connected to 50" fabric cable which terminates to a gold plated right-angled 3.5mm plug. The fabric cable is both a joy and curse. It is sturdy, but is microphonic like hell. This can be fixed by running the cables through the back and tightening it with the adjuster, or getting a shirt clip. It also tangles easily, though untangling isn't a hellish experience as you would get on a low-end Sennheisers or Sonys. On the upside the Y-split is reinforced and seems to be able to withstand some abuse.

While the outside might look almost the same, the Custom-3 is an altogether different beast on the inside. Like the Custom-2, each speaker is powered by dual balanced armature drivers. However unlike the Custom-2, the Custom-3's armature drivers is a two-way design, meaning a dedicated woofer and a tweeter through a crossover system. This may seem insignificant in comparison to the Westone 3 with its three-way system - but then again it does not cost nearly as much. Still, all these are just bullshit if it doesn't perform. More doesn't always mean better just like the best shaving experience still comes from a good traditional cut throat.

With a low impedance of 32 ohms, the Custom-3 is relatively easy to drive using my Walkman S639. I can listen to it at a comfortable level and portable amp is needed to run this. It is a less sensitive headphone compared to the Custom-2 which exhibited a slight hiss during silent passages, where as on the Custom-3 it was very difficult to detect any - if at all. Compared to the fuller sounding Custom-2, the Custom-3 is noticeably more refined, analytical and tight. Personally I think it is less fun in comparison to the Custom-2.

One thing I noticed about the Custom-3 was how alike the sound is to the Custom-1 - with better defined and forwarded mids and overall brighter less aggressive with a slighter warmer sound signature. The top-end could have been better, but the clarity is still amazing and isn't fatiguing and does not suffer from sibilant. Sound stage wise it is similar to the two Customs - in that they deliver a more 'in-head' sound than you would get with a traditional headphone, though it is evidently more spacious than the other two. Another area where the Custom-3 really does improve upon was its performance in regards to instrumental separation.

The bass is defined and sharp, though the dedicated woofer does very little to increase the bass quantity. This is good as I am beginning to appreciate a more neutral less-bassy sound, though Jennifer did scoffed at it before throwing it back and immediately switching to her trusty Sennheiser CX 95. Regardless, bass response is tight and the quantity an improvement over the muddy low-end escaping the Custom-1. Listening to Master of Puppets on the Custom-3 revealed wonderfully textured bass lines by the late Cliff Burton. Overall I have to say that the Custom-3 is a well balanced IEM that performs well with many genres.

Like the Custom-1 and Custom-2, I found the Custom-3 to be extremely comfortable. Despite wearing glasses, the memory cable is unobtrusive. It is fatiguing and I can wear it for a couple of hours at a time. I can even sleep on the side with it, though I would not recommend doing so with such an expensive pair of headphones. It doesn't isolate as well and you can definitely hear people talking when the music is switched off, though once music is player you will be happy to read that ambient noise isn't that noticeable at a moderate volume level. Very little sound escapes the headphones, which is ideal when listening to music in a semi hostile environment like the London Underground.

As much as I love the Custom-3, I seriously can't recommend the headphones at the suggested retail price. Do not get me wrong the Custom-3 is a great IEM, the best I've ever owned, but for US$299/£199 I would expect a bit more frills - for example having the cables replaceable like the those on the cheaper Sleek Audio SA6. Microphonics is still an issue with the Custom series, though it does disappear if you run it through the back. And not everyone will appreciate the mandatory over the ear fit either. At least with an IEM like Sennheiser's IE8 you get a choice between over ear or traditional earbud (cord hanging down) fit.

Remember that the Custom-3 is an IEM geared towards audiophiles and musicians. It isn't as 'fun' or 'emotional' (though I have to street it isn't 'boring' either) like other consumer-orientated headphones like Klipsch's own Image X10 or Ultimate Ears Super.Fi series. The best thing to do would be to try to audition as many as possible. I really do love mine, and would heartily recommend it if you can find it was readily available within the US$200/£150 mark or it gets marked down like during that recent Klipsch sale.

+ wonderful SQ with great all around performance and tight bass response
+ unique stylish design
+ very comfortable with the right tip
+ fabric cable
- expensive RRP (street and online price is far cheaper)
- excess packaging (this issue is being addressed by Klipsch)
- cumbersome to put on and remove

9/10

You can buy now from Amazon.com

Klipsch Custom-3 IEM headphones review

Kamis, 25 Desember 2008

Klipsch Custom-2 in-ear monitor headphones review

Klipsch's Custom-2 is a mid-range in-ear headphones, just a step up above the Custom-1 which I reviewed here. The two model share the same design cues, of which primary difference is that the Custom-2 is driven by dual KG 534 balanced armature drivers instead of the single balanced armature driver in the Custom-1. It has the same elegant housing though the Custom-2 does feature a silver accent that while signifying a slight premium over the Custom-1, which I personally did not care much for. I honestly actually prefer the more understated black finish of the Custom-1.

Frequency response: 10Hz – 19kHz
Sensitivity: 112 dB SPL/mW (1mW)
Nominal impedance: 16 ohms
Drivers: KG 534 dual-balanced armatures
Headphone weight: 13 grams
Bundled accessories: Large carrying case, airplane adaptor, five pairs of ear gels, ear wax tip cleaning tool

With a retail price of £110, Custom-2s is in direct competition with the Super.Fi 5 EB, Future Sonic Atrio M5, Sennheiser IE 6 and Shure SE310. It had a lot to live up to. As with the Custom-1, the Custom-2 performed very well within the mid-range. Vocals were forward. Rather expected from the price, the Custom-2 also outperformed its lower range brother in bass. While the bass on the Custom-1 seems restrained, the Custom-2's bass response was punchy though with slight distortion. The quantity is still lacking compared to dynamic driver based headphones or even the Super.Fi 5 EB (Extended Bass for a reason), but it should still be sufficient to all but the most ardent basshead. Performance on the highs is a tad better than the Custom-1. The separation of instruments is more noticeable and the sound stage a bit wider (though still more 'in-head' than other IEMs I have tried).

I kinda liked the Custom-2, but they do sound a lot different from the Custom-1. While the Custom-1 sound more like a budget monitor, the Custom-2 has a more fun and warm sound signature - obviously aimed at consumers. There are obvious improvements but they just do not sound alike. It would be interesting to compare them to their high-end Custom-3 IEMs (it is still on its way), which has its own dedicated woofer and tweeter. I personally would not recommend them for the usual £110 but price has recently dipped to about £60-£70. At that price level the Custom-2 is a worthy of your consideration particularly if you are keen on replacing that disgustingly awful free bundled earbuds.

+ great SQ with improved bass response
+ unique stylish design
+ very comfortable with the right tip
+ fabric cable
- excess packaging (this issue is being addressed by Klipsch)
- cumbersome to put on and remove
- microphonics

8/10

Buy now from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

Klipsch Custom-2 in-ear monitor headphones review

Senin, 15 Desember 2008

Klipsch Custom-1 follow up

As promised, here is a follow-up post regarding the Klipsch Custom-1. I have been experimenting with different fits and have found that the large single flange gels works best on my ears. The double flange works good as well, but they go so deep I found them uncomfortable. Also, the Custom series works well with glasses, but then again I never had problems with other over the ear headphones anyway.

In my previous post I lamented on the lack of bass response, but have since discovered that it does exist. They are not more forward like what you tend to get with Sennheisers, and are more restraint. I can actually 'feel' the bass, perhaps surprisingly as I was led to believe this was not possible on balanced armature headphones (due to the lack of moving parts). Still the bass isn't as strong as the Sennheiser CX 95. Overall, the Custom-1 has good bass, but I still stand on my belief that bassheads or those who are into trance/dance music will be better off with Sennheiser or Denon.

Treble wise, the Custom-1 is a bit better than my CX 95 and considerably better than the Shure e2c's muddy highs. They are still pretty weak compared to the performance on the mids (which is awesome). This can be fixed by upping up the highs on your player's EQ. In my case boosting the 16kHz range helped a lot with the S639. This fix is only needed for complex music, where the single driver design works against it. As I mentioned before the Custom-1 highlight the mids more than others, which works rather well on instrumental solos. On the other hand instrumental separation seems to be rather average and can get a mid muddy...

The sound detail is amazing on such a cheap headphone and while the sound stage could have been better (they tend to go straight into your head), the clarity is amazing. The sound isn't as warm as other headphones, and no where near as 'fun' as the CX 95. Microphonics was initially a slight issue, but running the cables through the back all the way up will help a lot. Again, definitely worth £50 if you like this kind of sound, or whatever you paid for it during the recent sale ;). But then there's the Custom-2...

The Custom-2 is a considerable improvement over the Custom-1, and the list price of £110/US$199 highlights this fact even if the model number doesn't. At this list price its competitors includes Ultimate Ear's popular Super.Fi 5 EB, Shure SE310 and the new Sennheiser IE 6. It shares the same housing, cables etc. with the Custom-1, but the primary difference is its dual balanced armature drivers which offers greater frequency response particularly on the lows compared to the Custom-1.

As I have only recently tried the Custom-2 (and have a Custom-3 coming in from the US soon) and I haven't given it much listening, so I won't go into much detail. But my initial impression so far goes like this: warm, great mids, better bass and good highs - though still not as fun the cheaper CX 95, though definitely offering greater SQ. I probably won't give the Custom-2 a dedicated review, but I'll most likely write something about the Custom-3 and give an overall comparison between the three Custom models later during the New Year.

Klipsch Custom-1 follow up

Minggu, 07 Desember 2008

Klipsch Custom-1 in-ear headphones review

I bought on impulse the Klipsch Custom-1 from Amazon UK two weeks ago when they reduced the price from £70 to £18. The deal is now over, though Amazon UK has since reduced the price of the slightly better Custom-2 (oh, so tempting - someone better buy one for me from my wishlist!) from £105 to £49.99, which is a great price for a mid-range dual-balanced armature headphones from a reputable company.

The Custom-1 is the headphone that I own that uses balanced armatures drivers instead of dynamic drivers (the Custom-2 has dual-balanced armatures instead of single as the Custom-1). Balanced armatures are said to offer higher resolution, clarity and cleaner sound compared to the 'fun' and 'emotional' sound gained from dynamic drivers. Dynamic drivers are also cheaper to make and tend to require more space to fit inside the headphone enclosure in order to achieve great performance. What you prefer may depend on what you intend to get out of your music and what genre you are into. There are hybrid IEMs with dynamic drivers for bass and balanced armatures for treble, but those are ridiculously expensive. Read here and here for more pros and cons regarding the various headphone technology.

Included in the sales package are five pairs of ear tips (two of which are bi-flange) in various sizes. You also get a vinyl carrying case and an ear wax cleaning pick. The Klipsch Custom-1 itself is powered by a single balanced armature with a low impedance of 30 ohms, so it is great for people like me who wants to avoid carrying a portable amp. Even the relatively low powered Sony Walkman are capable of driving the Custom-1 with no problem (volume around halved). The Custom-1 is well designed and housed in a sturdy and attractive triangular enclosure featuring an over the ear design (which is coated in rubber like material). It is connected via a 50" cloth cable which terminates to a gold plated 3.5mm plug. A memory wire system is used to hook the cable over the ear. This does take some getting used to, and it may take a number of tries to get the correct fit (I eventually settled for the largest single flange tip).

Coming from the CX 95 and Shure e2c, the bass is noticeably less from the Custom-1. In fact it is almost none-existent, due to the narrow frequency response plus the lack of airflow in a closed system. They do exist, but you'll have to work on getting a perfect fit in order to obtain them. On the other hand the clarity is amazing. I have to admit the Custom-1 sucked the fun out of the vast majority of my music library. LCD Soundsystem's 'Get Innocuous!' without bass, sounded not only wrong but fatiguing. Still what I got in return was further enjoyment to my sizeable collection of rock, classical, acoustic and instrumental music. Joe Satriani's 'Love Thing' sparkled with the guitar solo amazingly sharp, clean and refined. Often details that are 'hidden' by dynamic driver headphones due to more emphasis being placed on the bass and treble. Put it simply, the performance on the Custom-1 on the mids is fantastic and will work great on instrumental and acoustic music. Instrumental separation could have been better though.

Considering I paid only £18 for this, I have to say I am reasonably pleased by the Custom-1. You could do a lot worse even with £50 headphones. On the downside the isolation is poorer in comparison to the Shure e2c and Sennheiser CX 95, though it is still much better than say a Sony EX082. It does seal well though. If you are a bass-head or is into bass heavy music (i.e. dance music), I suggest you give the Custom-1 a miss and go for a dynamic driver canalphones like the those made by Sennheiser instead. However if you already have one of those and is keen on trying out an in-ear headphone that emphasise mid-range clarity and resolution, then the Custom-1 (or Custom-2) is a great budget introduction into just that.

+ bargain (at the time)
+ great sonic detail and clarity with excellent mids
+ unique stylish design
+ very comfortable with the right tip
+ fabric cable
- excess packaging (this issue is being addressed by Klipsch)
- lack of bass response
- cumbersome to put on and remove
- microphonics

8/10

You can also buy now from Amazon.com in addition to Amazon.co.uk

Klipsch Custom-1 in-ear headphones review

Kamis, 04 Desember 2008

An example of excess packaging

I've just received my Klipsch Custom-1 canalphones today. Have been listening to it for around an hour. So far so good, it definitely isn't for bass head, but it is still a great entry-level introduction to the world of balanced armatures in-ear headphones. A review will be posted once I have more time with it.

Anyway what I want to write about now is the excess packaging that came with the Klipsch. First up, the Amazon box is a bit too large in relation to the product, with a huge amount of plastic and brown paper strewn around to protect the product. Not that the product needed much protecting anyway! The Custom-1 itself is packaged in no less than three separate boxes, two of them made of hard plastic. This is probably some misguided attempt to prevent opportunistic theft... I really do hope the fine people at Klipsch will understand the concern voiced here regarding such wastefulness.

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An example of excess packaging

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