Custom-3 announcements and impressions

[Amy]

Originally Posted by PeterDLai

Interesting, my package was picked up by FedEx in Anaheim, CA which is so very close to where I live. I'm not sure how that relates to Indiana-based Klipsch, but I don't really care right now.

Expected delivery date: tomorrow! Nice!

One of our warehouses is in Buena Park, CA. Indianapolis houses our corporate headquarters and engineering center.

If you don't receive tracking within 2 days of placing your order, please email me your invoice and I'll look it up for you: amy.unger@klipsch.com

[onlychild]

I had mine shipped overnight and FedEx tracking says I should have them in a couple hours.

The main reason I ordered the Custom-3's without hesitation is because I was so wowed by the sound from the Image, that I had to hear what Klipsch could do with more drivers and a bigger housing. Especially after Professor Thump said that the custom-3 will sound better than the Image's

[cn11]

I have a feeling that this thread will become massive, once all the impressions and comparisons start to roll in. Buckle up the seat belts.....

[Trager]

Originally Posted by PeterDLai

Interesting, my package was picked up by FedEx in Anaheim, CA which is so very close to where I live. I'm not sure how that relates to Indiana-based Klipsch, but I don't really care right now.

Expected delivery date: tomorrow! Nice!

Wait they have a batch here in Anaheim? Wonder if I can cancel the shipping and just head over to pick them up. I'd wager a 20$ that they are within a mile of where I'm sitting (in the middle of the industrial park section of Anaheim).

[Trager]

Check that. Amy says they're in Buena Park... 5 minutes up the freeway. Still makes me wish I could swing by to pick 'em up instead of waiting for the Fedex thing (moreso since I haven't received a shipping email).

[cisland]

Looks like Custom-3 is also avalible on Ebay now. Good news for us none US resident?

Seller indicate 20 avalible. He must had took quite a big chunk out of every custom-3 shipment that was send to klipsch.

KLIPSCH Custom 3 Earphones Earbuds Monitors Headphones - eBay (item 290204926032 end time Mar-08-08 13:17:24 PST)

[onlychild]

Getting impatient. Should be here any minute now.

Hopefully I'll have enough time to get a critical listen on them before my flight this afternoon. If not the 3 hour flight will give me enough time for some A-B comparisons with the Image.

[Amy]

Originally Posted by cisland

Looks like Custom-3 is also avalible on Ebay now. Good news for us none US resident?

Seller indicate 20 avalible. He must had took quite a big chunk out of every custom-3 shipment that was send to klipsch.

KLIPSCH Custom 3 Earphones Earbuds Monitors Headphones - eBay (item 290204926032 end time Mar-08-08 13:17:24 PST)

No one purchased 20 units at once from our webstore, and he is not an authorized dealer. I don't know where he is getting his stock... Be leery of this seller.

[Amy]

Originally Posted by Trager

Check that. Amy says they're in Buena Park... 5 minutes up the freeway. Still makes me wish I could swing by to pick 'em up instead of waiting for the Fedex thing (moreso since I haven't received a shipping email).

Send me your invoice, and I'll see if they shipped.
Thanks!

[onlychild]

Just got them. Here are my first initial impressions, but first couple things to keep in mind : I am new to head-fi and probably do not have the trained ears most of you do. I will try to answer all questions to the best of my knowledge. If there is something in particular you would like to know, please do your best to try to describe to me what you are asking.

1. Great build quality!!!!!! I do like the over-the-ear flexible loop, but it is something I will have to get used to.

2. More effort to put on and take off then the Image, but you probably knew that already by looking at the pics.

3. I hear a lot of microphonics from the cable when the music is off, more than the Image. This is probably due to the fact that the wire goes over the ear.

4. Once you get them on, they are comfortable and the loop will help keep them in place when working out or running.

I do not want to directly compare these with any other IEMs besides the Image right now because I have not had a chance to burn them in and I don't know how much of a difference, if any, it will take. Amy/Professor Thump, any suggestions on burn-in time??

Right off the bat, it seems that the Image are warmer and have a little more bass, but where the Image fall short (the highs/treble), the C-3 perform very well in (highs are a lot crisper). Again, I am new to head-fi, so I don't know if what I am hearing from the C-3 is more of a neutral sound (same amount of bass, mids, and high), where the Image were definitely more warm and stronger in the bass and mids.

This is not to say the bass is lacking in the C3, there is definitely bass, but just not the overwhelming bass of the Image.

SOUNDSTAGE IS INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!! Just like the Image, but a little better.

One thing I did notice right away is that the C-3 sound alot cleaner than the Image. Not sure if this due to the Image being 50omhs and C-3 being 36ohms. I am using a 5.5 Gen Ipod with no amp.

Vocals seem more up front on the C-3 than the Image.

Please take my review with a grain of salt since I have only had them for 1/2 hour now, once I get more time with them I will post my other thoughts.

[slwiser]

Originally Posted by PeterDLai

Hmm, I'm not sure what's up then.

I just check it this afternoon and it is there now. They shipped this afternoon from their warehouse. FedEx has yet to pick them up. Must have lost it until someone check I think.

Thanks for checking up on these whoever did.

[HipHapa]

Onlychild.. So, as if you could decide already within 30 minutes, which are you keeping? Image or C3?

[PeterDLai]

Originally Posted by onlychild

3. I hear a lot of microphonics from the cable when the music is off, more than the Image. This is probably due to the fact that the wire goes over the ear.

Yikes, that's ironic. Usually the over-the-ear designs tend towards eliminating microphonics.

Perhaps the IMAGE is just very good at reducing microphonic effects? It does seem to come out of the ears at a slight angle, which may prevent the cable from making a big impact.

[onlychild]

C-3 all the way!!!!

Wow, I am doing more A-B'ing and am just falling in love with the C3s.

The Image do not have the detail the C3 does. I was just listening to Crush (Dave Matthews) and the guitar into the 2minute mark sounds simply amazing. When I switched to the Image and played the same thing, I could hear the guitar but no where near as crisp and loud as on the C3s. Again, the Image are warmer but not as detailed and crisp as the C-3.

The more I listen to them, the more I like them. Can't wait till they are burned in all the way.

I don't know how to describe this properly, but "S"s in the vocals don't sound as crisp in Image as they do on the C3s.

Also, instrument placement is ALOT better on the C-3s then Image (but not to take anything away from the Image, just that C3 is better with instrument placement).

I would really like to hear what a Senior Head-fi'er thinks about them. I am having a hard time trying to describe the differences I am hearing as I am not to keen on all the vocab yet.

[Amy]

Thanks for the comments!
My first thought is you might not have an ideal seal yet with the Custom-3s. Keep trying, they do take some time to get them "just right."