The Klipsch Image S4i earphones are nearly identical to their sibling, the Image S4. They provide the same comfortable fit and stellar sound quality, but also offer the added bonus of an integrated mic and call answer button, as well as volume controls and remote playback for the iPod. Call quality through the inline mic is solid, though not overly spectacular for a wired headset.
There's nothing like good, old competition to keep tech prices in check. Case in point: earphones. The headphone market is heavily saturated, and we can all thank that fact for the existence of many worthy ear bud contenders in the sub-AU$150 price range. Still, despite having come across plenty of decent ear buds with reasonable pricing, nothing prepared us for the Klipsch Image S4i. These super-comfy noise-isolating earphones offer shockingly stellar sound quality, certainly much better than their AU$150 price tag suggests. If you've been on the market for a headphone replacement for your MP3 player, look no further.
The Klipsch Image S4i earpieces do not feel as high-end as those of its sibling, the X5, but then the S4i only costs half as much, so we won't knock them for that. More important is the fact that the 'buds are ultra-small and offer a tapered, bent shape that fit our ears perfectly. This combined with the soft, oval ear-tips gave us a super-comfortable fit that sealed out external noise. Klipsch includes two sizes of standard tips and one double-flanged model, but all of them are on the small side, so those with larger ears may have some fit issues. The package also contains a metal box for storing the earphones and an earwax cleaning tool (for cleaning the headphones, not your ears).
Our only real design concern about the Image S4i earphones is the cable. It's very thin, from the Y section descending from each earpiece to the gold-plated 3.5mm plug at the end. This raises some concern for durability, though this is allayed slightly by Klipsch's inclusion of a two-year warranty. Also, the reinforced L-plug should help prevent breakage that typically happens where the wire connects to the plug. The thinness also makes the cable quite tangle prone, though a slider at the Y helps this a bit.
Truly, the Klipsch Image S4i headphones inspire little complaint, especially when it comes to sound quality. Straight up: these earphones sound stellar. Each earpiece contains a set of dual-magnet microspeakers, and although one would not suspect it given the price point and specs, our ears had trouble telling the difference between these 'buds and Shure's AU$300 SE310s. In fact, we'd go so far as to say we prefer the sound from the Image S4i, thanks to its boomier but still not overpowering bass. Certainly, the S4i earphones are the best we've heard in their price range.
Despite the forward, ultra-thumping low-end, the Image S4 earphones do not fail to deliver an excellent amount of clarity and detail throughout the high-end. This set will surely appeal to a wide variety of listeners, from those who demand massive low-end response to those who prefer a bright overall response. The balance offered by the S4 is truly exceptional, with warm, buttery mids that stay right where they should.
We tested the earphones across a variety of genres and were never disappointed. LCD Soundsystem's "Something Great" sounded spectacular, with an encompassing bass line that came nowhere near overshadowing the tinkling digital triangle notes or the mellow richness of the vocals. Similarly, Outkast's super fast dance track Hey Ya came through firing on all cylinders, with not a single sound lost in the shuffle. Even classical music sounds great, with the rich violins and bright trumpets from the London Symphony Orchestra underscored perfectly by the deep cellos.
In all honesty, we have trouble believing that the Image S4 earphones only cost AU$149. Klipsch somehow managed to create an exceptional sound space for very little money, and we'd be very surprised if anyone was not impressed by what these have to offer for the money. Despite potential durability issues, we recommend these heads above competitors in the price range.
Via CNET
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