Klipsch Image S4 impressions
By Darren Murph 
posted May 3rd 2009 9:33PM
posted May 3rd 2009 9:33PM
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For starters, we can't help but remark that these are small -- really small. The original Image earbuds were called the planet's smallest by Klipsch (much to the chagrin of JAYS), and these certainly follow in that lineage. For $79, you get the earbuds, an ear tip cleaning tool, three sets of different-sized ear gels and a swank aluminum case to carry them to and fro. Compared to the $49 Image S2, the S4 has angled nozzles and larger housings, while the S2 has straight nozzles and smaller housings. The 3.5 millimeter input jack is connected to a rubberized, grip-resistant cable that's around three feet long, with an even left / right cable split hanging around a foot beneath the tips.
For $79, these are definitely well built. From the durable cable to the massively comfortable ear gels, each component screams mid-range despite the price tag. Unlike most earbuds, these boast oval gels -- compared to the perfectly round ones elsewhere -- and we must say, we dig the difference. The seal on these buds were perfect for us, even mitigating surrounding noise quite well. We were able to listen for a few hours straight with no discomfort to speak of, and generally speaking, we were stoked with the quality of sound. Furthermore, gym rats and runners alike will adore the fit here; unlike most rounded gels, these managed to stay put regardless of activity / sweat. In the past, we've found ourselves readjusting the fit every ten minutes or so while jogging, but the Image S4s sat in place during extended motion. Kudos, Klipsch.
The tight seal ensured that bass response was magnificent without being overly punchy, and the heralded "Klipsch sound" is definitely captured here. Of course, that does mean that some of you won't appreciate the occasionally fatiguing highs, but there's always (er, sometimes) an equalizer to compensate, right? The bottom line? These are leaps and bound better than the stock earbuds that are tossed in with any portable media player these days, and we'd argue that these are superior to other 'buds in the $80 to $100 range. So, should you snap a pair of these up when they start shipping en masse this month? If you've already set aside $79 for a set of some kind, absolutely. If you're looking to stay in the $40 to $60 range, we'd still argue that the unique oval gels and fantastic overall sound warrant at least a look. For those with $150 or more waiting for a set of Ultimate Ears, don't bother laughing as you pass these by, cool?
by the way, they have a mic and pause, play, skip button for the iphone
Well, it the honda is going at 120KPH, and the Ferrari at 100KPH, the Honda would win, every time!
I I I I I I I I I I I I
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sucks.
kthxbye
I had the Etymotic ER-6i before some bastard broke into my car. So I got the ER-6. I also have a pair of Shure I2CM.
I definitely prefer the even frequency response of the ER-6 over the bass bias ER-6i and Shure I2CM.
Since my ER-6 is wearing out, I might pick up a pair of these if it has even frequency response.
I like to listen to even frequencies, but also like the odd frequencies... it just doesn't sound the same without them...
Can Hondas go that fast though?..
You're a complete clown! I love my iPhone as much as the next guy, but even I have to admit that the stock iPhone headphones are absolutely shit! That's why I replaced them with the Etymotic Hf2.
Honda competes in F1 too, you know.
Wrong I'm afraid. Try Brawn GP.
Yeah, it was sold recently.
But (i think) they still use Honda engines?
I am still confused. I am looking for < 100$ headphones and i dunno what to buy