Klipsch Image IEMs ongoing review

[james444]

X2 have not been happy with fit & feel of original eargels.

I now use Shure soft flex tips modded by shortening to about 1/3:



Greatly improves comfort and seal for me

[baglunch]

Are they as securely attached as the Image-native gels? Since the Image ones have the locking ridge built in, they seem like they'd be the ones best suited. Also, those look HUGE... but they're more comfy for you? I assume you wear them pressed up to your ear canal, like the Image single flange, not going into the ear canal, like the double flanges... Can you maintain a good seal?

[james444]

Attachment is secure, even without the locking ridge. Obviously I have large ear canals, because I need L sized tips, regardless of brand. And you're right, I don't have to jam the flex tips into the ear canal as deep as the eargels. Seal is perfectly easy to achieve and maintain for me, though this may greatly depend on the shape of your ear canal.

Isolation and microphonics are also slightly better with the flex tips IMO.

[baglunch]

Cool, I might check em out. Thanks for the suggestion.

[dr dougie]

Nice series. I agree on the microphonics being my only complaint with them. It's not a horrendous problem but maybe about double the microphonics I get with other IEMs.

I also am good for about 3-4 hours with the gel tips. They feel pluggy by then. I did like the Atrio big foamies that are designed for smaller nozzles but fit the Images ok. They get dirty and wear out though. Maybe I'll work on tips again.

The nice, musical and addicting sound signature makes them a keeper. Great bass. The treble will never be that sweet, airy, transparent stuff and instead goes for the thick honey treble - much like my DT880s. The better the source the smoother it gets and they compete well with the DT880s as a different yet comparable thing. I think there's maybe something about single driver IEMs having a more cohesive sound than the multi armature ones too.

[baglunch]

Thanks!

I guess I agree about the highs, my classical stuff isn't as nice with the Images as on the 595s, but it still really does it for me for everything else, and I don't listen to classical all that much anyway.

Here's to hoping this cures the upgrade bug for awhile.

[aBc.CaN]

Great review, I don't believe I've read an ongoing review before!

[baglunch]

Thanks, seemed to make sense for me, since I don't have the breadth of experience to know what I'm likely to encounter beforehand, and my impressions were bound to change as I went along. It would have been unfair of me to post just my first thoughts as they were when I first got my Images. And maybe my tribulations will reassure someone else new to IEMs.

If nothing else, it now looks like I had a ton of thoughts to write about.

[jude]

I just received my Klipsch Image, and I'm impressed so far. So far, I like the eargel that came installed, and find it comfortable--and it provides a good seal.

I'll say more about the Image soon.

[KUNFUCHOPSTICKS]

They look good and apparently sound good too!