I've been secretly in possession of a pair of Klipsch Custom 2s that I bought off of Klipsch's website with the now-expired coupon code. I've had them for almost two weeks...but (besides the fact Head-Fi was down) I've been afraid to tell you guys this because I know you guys would want a review, like how I was the guinea pig who reviewed the DJ1s.
Frankly, I'm really not sure what to think of them...and since I'm the first I don't want to be unfair to Klipsch.
I've owned phones from Sennheiser, Grado, Koss, Etymotic, Ultrasone, and Stax. However, I have not really listened to any of them (except Ultrasone) in a very long time. In college I've essentially downgraded to a Ultrasone DJ1 + iPhone setup, although I have a uber-Stax system gathering dust back home, I have not heard it in over a year. I really, really, love the Ultrasone's, but I wonder if I were to re-listen to my older/ more expensive systems if I would miss them or not. I do remember briefly re-listening to my Grado SR325i's, and preferring the cheaper Ultrasones.
Basically, the $169 Ultrasone's are my reference, but they are an unusual reference given the S-Logic technology, which is kind of the opposite of IEM fire-directly-in-ear technology.
I remember liking the Etymotic ER4P's sound a lot, however, they were uncomfortable and eventually broke on me. Great sound, bad construction.
Here is one thing I can say about the Klipsch's with certainty - they are bette r built. The cord does a great job (comparatively) of handling microphonics. Also, the design makes it so you know how far to stick them, with the Ety's I never knew how far to shove. The Klipsch can only be shoved so far by design, so you know when to stop.
Also, they are very comfortable - but you have to experiment with the gels like they say. The Ety's were never comfortable. I wore them on a plane and isolation was fine.
Okay....what you have all been waiting for - how do they sound? Well...worse than I remember the more expensive ER4's being, but besides that I'm confused. I don't know....when I first heard them they sounded ridiculously BRIGHT. However, the Ultrasone's are known for rolled-off highs, so I don't know if it is simply a matter of preference/reference. I do know that, over all, I prefer the sound of the Ultasones. There sonic signatures, however, are polar opposites - the Ultrasones fire indirectly and have a large soundstage and supposedly rolled-off highs, the Klipsch's fire super-directly into the ear. I noticed a staggering difference in sibilance, the Klipsch really emphasized it in comparison. It was rather painful at first, but I don't notice it as much anymore.
I REALLY wish I had some Grados with me for comparison, because they seem brighter than what I remember my SR-325i's being. I don't know if these phones really are that crazy bright or if my ears are playing tricks on me. They seem less bright now, but it could be my mind adjusting. The Ultrasone's now seem dark now if comparison, but I still prefer them. If only I had Grados on me....then I would know.
Bass is very nice and controlled, but the quantity is less than the Ultrasone's but equal in quality to other phones I've heard. I don't think the bass will disappoint.
Midrange is hard to judge, due to the possibly over-bright highs. It sounds less open and more nasal than the Ultrasone's.
If this review sounds conflicted and awkward, that is intentional. I wish I had some de-facto bright phones (like my SR-325's) so I could see if the highs are really that out of whack when compared to highly-regarded bright phones.
Frankly, I'm really not sure what to think of them...and since I'm the first I don't want to be unfair to Klipsch.
I've owned phones from Sennheiser, Grado, Koss, Etymotic, Ultrasone, and Stax. However, I have not really listened to any of them (except Ultrasone) in a very long time. In college I've essentially downgraded to a Ultrasone DJ1 + iPhone setup, although I have a uber-Stax system gathering dust back home, I have not heard it in over a year. I really, really, love the Ultrasone's, but I wonder if I were to re-listen to my older/ more expensive systems if I would miss them or not. I do remember briefly re-listening to my Grado SR325i's, and preferring the cheaper Ultrasones.
Basically, the $169 Ultrasone's are my reference, but they are an unusual reference given the S-Logic technology, which is kind of the opposite of IEM fire-directly-in-ear technology.
I remember liking the Etymotic ER4P's sound a lot, however, they were uncomfortable and eventually broke on me. Great sound, bad construction.
Here is one thing I can say about the Klipsch's with certainty - they are bette r built. The cord does a great job (comparatively) of handling microphonics. Also, the design makes it so you know how far to stick them, with the Ety's I never knew how far to shove. The Klipsch can only be shoved so far by design, so you know when to stop.
Also, they are very comfortable - but you have to experiment with the gels like they say. The Ety's were never comfortable. I wore them on a plane and isolation was fine.
Okay....what you have all been waiting for - how do they sound? Well...worse than I remember the more expensive ER4's being, but besides that I'm confused. I don't know....when I first heard them they sounded ridiculously BRIGHT. However, the Ultrasone's are known for rolled-off highs, so I don't know if it is simply a matter of preference/reference. I do know that, over all, I prefer the sound of the Ultasones. There sonic signatures, however, are polar opposites - the Ultrasones fire indirectly and have a large soundstage and supposedly rolled-off highs, the Klipsch's fire super-directly into the ear. I noticed a staggering difference in sibilance, the Klipsch really emphasized it in comparison. It was rather painful at first, but I don't notice it as much anymore.
I REALLY wish I had some Grados with me for comparison, because they seem brighter than what I remember my SR-325i's being. I don't know if these phones really are that crazy bright or if my ears are playing tricks on me. They seem less bright now, but it could be my mind adjusting. The Ultrasone's now seem dark now if comparison, but I still prefer them. If only I had Grados on me....then I would know.
Bass is very nice and controlled, but the quantity is less than the Ultrasone's but equal in quality to other phones I've heard. I don't think the bass will disappoint.
Midrange is hard to judge, due to the possibly over-bright highs. It sounds less open and more nasal than the Ultrasone's.
If this review sounds conflicted and awkward, that is intentional. I wish I had some de-facto bright phones (like my SR-325's) so I could see if the highs are really that out of whack when compared to highly-regarded bright phones.
) but not right then while I was listening! It was like he was right there and the crowd was clapping, the bongos playing, funky guitars. Do you know how it is when your sitting at a live performance and the crowd is caught up in the moment and you can feel the atmospere. I was listening to Curtis sing Superfly and there was something that I had never noticed, but a lot of the words and phrases were improvised. Yes Curtis was ALIVE for that moment. So that is why I recommend the IMAGE earphones, simply the best IEMs I've heard.
