Ordered Klipsch Image and Custom-3 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

rhyx · #1 (**permalink**) 04-28-2008, 08:46 PM

Well I took the plunge. I ordered both the Image and the Custom-3 headphones. A coworker ordered the Custom-1 headphones. Should be interested to compare all of them.

Hopefully I'll like at least one or the other. My only current comparison is the Bose in-ear phones which I received as a gift. I know the reputation Bose has on this site, but they seem to meet my needs. Hopefully these higher end headphones will shine.

Edit: Well the Image arrived today. Surprisingly I opened the package and the Custom-3 were nowhere to be found. After a call to Customer Service I found out they have not shipped yet. I'm a bit annoyed because when I called for tracking information two days ago the rep did not indicate that only the Image shipped. I guess I have a few more days to wait for the Custom 3 to arrive before I can make comparisons.

rhyx · #2 (**permalink**) 05-05-2008, 05:24 PM

Here's my review comparing the Klipsch Image to the Klipsch Custom-3.

Sources: Directly from the headphone port of my Mac Pro
Also used directly from the headphone port of my Cowon D2

Comfort:
image clearly wins the comfort contest. They are easy to put in and take out. I establish a seal in about 5 seconds of putting them in my ear. If I notice the phone ringing in my office I can have them out and answer the phone by the third ring.

Custom-3 has the ear hook which might make it better during strenuous exercise. However they are fairly uncomfortable for me. I have very small ears and it feels that the piece with the Klipsch logo presses too hard on the bottom part of my earlobe. The angle that the nozzle goes into my ear feels like it curves too much and puts pressure on one side of my canal.

I am able to maintain a seal with Custom-3 but it is not very comfortable. I have only had them for a day but I'll keep trying. I have had the Image for about a week now. I use the small double-flange inserts.

One thing that I wish the Image phones had is the same cable as the Custom-3. I absolutely love the nylon/cloth like cable.

Sound:
Honestly, I expected there to be much more of a difference. Perhaps it is related to the fit of the Custom-3 but I like the sound of the Image phones much better.

Microphonics are a concern with the Image. If I am sitting down and not moving it isn't a problem. If I start walking with the cord hanging against my shirt then I can definitely hear it.

If you have any questions or want pictures please let me know. I'm new to headphones that cost more than $20 so consider that when reading my review. For me comfort ranks higher than sound quality.

ZARIM · #3 (**permalink**) 05-05-2008, 06:56 PM

Finaly Klipsch IEMs are coming to Canada(soon willbe available in London Drug Stores )

TJ Max · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 02:33 AM

I could not get a good comfortable fit with the Custom-3 until I replaced the tips with the medium sized tips from the Shure E series. I trimmed down the stem of those tips and placed them on the Custom 3s and now they feel great! The Klipch included tips are sorta wierd. I don't think that thier oval shape is really the best choice because, I could never keep a seal with those.

ZARIM · #5 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 12:53 AM

I just bought Klipsch Image today and so far these are pretty good with big bass(feels like SF5EB

).

Sovkiller · #6 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 01:03 AM

Too much bass, who designed them is without a doubt a basshead, a little more refinement on the highs will make it a very nice IEM though...

Try the Sleeks you will be surprised...

Jelle Schrijver · #7 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 02:11 AM

Uhhm, seeying the pictures of canjam, it seems there is a second image on our way with a slightly bigger barrel (silver) so i am guessing a 2 way driver. So maybe it's wise to cancel the order and just wait a few weeks.

Sovkiller · #8 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jelle Schrijver

Uhhm, seeying the pictures of canjam, it seems there is a second image on our way with a slightly bigger barrel (silver) so i am guessing a 2 way driver. So maybe it's wise to cancel the order and just wait a few weeks.

Nope it will be be the same single driver, I asked them, and also I listened them, it is a more refined audiophile oriented version of the Images, as a curious date IIRC they told me that it will be even cheaper as iti s a little bigger...it has a little more energy in the upper range...

Jelle Schrijver · #9 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sovkiller

Nope it will be be the same single driver, I asked them, and also I listened them, it is a more refined audiophile oriented version of the Images, as a curious date IIRC they told me that it will be even cheaper as iti s a little bigger...it has a little more energy in the upper range...

Strange... I thought, because of the bigger body, that it housed the "hifi" version of knowles, a 2 way balanced armature driver.

Also peculiar that the audiophile version is cheaper, most times this marketing tag makes it a lot more expensive. Like this headphone was made in the full moon by Polynesian virgins.

Leaves us only with the question, what kind of driver is inside. Same question i still have of that "magic" MG4+ and MG5PRO drivers from Future Sonics.

Sovkiller · #10 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jelle Schrijver

Strange... I thought, because of the bigger body, that it housed the "hifi" version of knowles, a 2 way balanced armature driver.

Also peculiar that the audiophile version is cheaper, most times this marketing tag makes it a lot more expensive. Like this headphone was made in the full moon by Polynesian virgins.

Leaves us only with the question, what kind of driver is inside. Same question i still have of that "magic" MG4+ and MG5PRO drivers from Future Sonics.

It is an armature, not sure fio the same as the Image, it is indeed a little bigger, but not that that big neither (maybe an extra millimeter or so)...it is slightly bigger in diameter, honestly I do not think they can fit two drivers in that space, things have shrink a lot overtime, but not that much...

Jelle Schrijver · #11 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sovkiller

It is an armature, not sure fio the same as the Image, it is indeed a little bigger, but not that that big neither (maybe an extra millimeter or so)...it is slightly bigger in diameter, honestly I do not think they can fit two drivers in that space, things have shrink a lot overtime, but not that much...

Is it smaller then the q-JAYS? These are 2 way drivers in a very tiny space. Lock at the specs here.

there size is only 5.00mm x 2.73mm x 3.86mm (.197in x .108in x .152in) so the should fit in a tube of 5mm across, that is small!!!

Sovkiller · #12 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jelle Schrijver

Is it smaller then the q-JAYS? These are 2 way drivers in a very tiny space. Lock at the specs here.

there size is only 5.00mm x 2.73mm x 3.86mm (.197in x .108in x .152in) so the should fit in a tube of 5mm across, that is small!!!

The Image according to Klipsch (and to me) is the smalest IEM available till now, it is like 5.68 mm diameter overall, as it is cilindrical what makes things a little more tight inside, the Silver one is maybe 6 mm diameter, not more...

The specs for the Q-Jays that you post it, is for armature alone, the driver, not for the body of the headphone, I think that they ar bigger like 18.4 x 7.5 x 7.5 mm overall...

Jelle Schrijver · #13 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sovkiller

The Image according to Klipsch (and to me) is the smalest IEM available till now, it is like 5.68 mm diameter overall, as it is cilindrical what makes things a little more tight inside, the Silver one is maybe 6 mm diameter, not more...

The specs for the Q-Jays that you post it, is for armature alone, the driver, not for the body of the headphone, I think that they ar bigger like 18.4 x 7.5 x 7.5 mm overall...

I stand corrected, but the size was indeed the driver alone, and the link behind is also to the driver and not the q-JAYS. I see my mistake know and should have choose my words better.

But less then 6 mm across is pretty impressive. I could not find the dimensions of the Etymotic ER4 series, there very small too.

Sovkiller · #14 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jelle Schrijver

I stand corrected, but the size was indeed the driver alone, and the link behind is also to the driver and not the q-JAYS. I see my mistake know and should have choose my words better.

But less then 6 mm across is pretty impressive. I could not find the dimensions of the Etymotic ER4 series, there very small too.

Etys are also very small, but they are also single driver...BTW you cna introduce them completelly inside the ear channel, and you will see only the cables comming out very cool...On top the bass in incredible!!!!

Jelle Schrijver · #15 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sovkiller

Etys are also very small, but they are also single driver...BTW you cna introduce them completelly inside the ear channel, and you will see only the cables comming out very cool...On top the bass in incredible!!!!

Small size is indeed very handy. Had a change a few months ago to listen to the etymotic 4 series (comparing them to the q-Jays, icm with a ibasso t2 amp, ipod's direct) and understand the hype. Very detailed and airy sounding. But i would not see the do a lot of bass. The reach low, but it seems the low freq are a few db behind the mid's and highs, so the mid-high overwelmes the bass kinda. And read a lot of reviews where people complained that the cable sticks out to the sides. For myself, i am a big fan of over the ear cable routing, and this kinda difficult with the standard cable on the ety's.

But it's pitty that Klipsch patended the obvious flaw in tips, that our ears are ovale and not round in shape. round tips tend to buckle and create a small air duct to leak those precious lows.