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Klipsch Custom 3 Review

post #1 of 91
1/4/09 at 5:11pm
Thread Starter 
This past month I received my Klipsch Custom 3. Got them half off, but I could see spending 250 on them, not three hundred like their msrp.
First thing comes to mind is sound quality. If sound quality sucks you might as well get a different IEM. I gotta say too I'm a fan of Klipsch Speakers. Love the home theaters and the ipod docks.

By the way my source for the review is my Ipod Classic 80 gig, and my Sony Vaio, and are apple loseless files.


Sound Quality
(Everyone has different tastes) I like my music with a good amount of bass, but not over powering, and I love clarity. I think everyone wants clarity.
I have always been a artist. I've played piano, cello, guitar(acoustic and electric), bass, bass-guitar, harmonica (when I'm bored) , and now fooling around with FL on my computer.
Now I was a little worried because I understand that a triple driver will sound better then a dual driver and klipsch is new to the market. But my fears flew out the window so quickly.
I clicked on Go by Pearl Jam, and it blew me away. I noticed rifts I've never noticed.
I put on Gold Digger by Kanye West, and the bass was great and didn't cover up anything.
[Edit I just listened to Ne-yo, the Sound Signature compliments R&B the best I've heard anywhere.]
This is still not a full review on SQ, but very pleased with it. I will be hitting up a studio to test the IEM's. I've only listened to a few other IEM's with dual drivers, the Shure se310 ( couldn't compete with the Custom 3), the Westone Um-2 (only thing I would get if I couldn't get the Klipsch Custom 3) and the Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 pro (which can't compete, but respectively do have a cheaper msrp). So out of all Dual Drivers I've heard, these are without a doubt the best sound signature and sound quality from Rock to Rap to Classical these sound great.



Build Quality and Materials
The quality is top notch. I like the feel of the earphones better then the Shures, and Ultimate Ears. I don't like the cable though. It is an annoying cable. Doesn't get tangled, but it just gets into crazy shapes. It has a sturdy Y though. As you see the cable below, its always like that. It doesn't curve like a normal cable, its hard to describe.

But the best thing about the cable is it's weight. I hate the Shures cable too. Its too thick and crazy. The best cable was the UM-2 without a doubt. But the earphones themselves, Overall I liked the Klipsch the best.

The Memory Wire Is great!

Comfort
I really wanted to show how comfortable they are, but I couldn't get a good picture to post up. I will try again, when I can get a tripod. But I've put these IEM's in for over an hour, and forgot I was listening to earphones, thought my Igroove was just blasting. I like the form and the fit, which surprised me because a lot of people had problems getting a good fit. I think they were putting them on wrong. I'd put them in and then do a little clock wise twist, so little, and bam, it's perfect. The medium's fit me well, which klipsch say's should fit 60 percent of the people, so maybe my ear is similar to one of the moldable ears they used.


Isolation
Great Isolation, isn't as great as my dad's etymotic er6i's but still does it's purpose, and I still do worry when I cross the street in Queens and Manhatten with them on.

Microphonics
Has some microphonics, which due annoy me, but after putting the cable under my sweatshirt, I don't notice any microphonics.

Conclusion
Comfort is great, and easy to get on.
Isolation is good to great.
Sound Quality from Hip Hop to Classical, is great to amazing.
Build Quality is great
Materials is good to great due to cable material that I wasn't so fond of. Memory Wire is a huge plus.

What Klipsch Should Improve on...
1) Cable Material
2) Detachable Cable
3) Triple Driver ( Would probably be the best IEM EVERRRRRRRRRRR)

I would easily get this over any other IEM other then Westone 3, because I've heard some great things about it, but thats a huge difference between money and number of drivers. If Klipsch comes out with a triple driver, and a new cable it'll OWN THE IEM MARKET.
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post #2 of 91
1/4/09 at 5:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zhdude View Post
If Klipsch comes out with a triple driver, and a new cable it'll OWN THE IEM MARKET.
i doubt it.

but hey nice review and thanks for writing it up. can i ask what other IEM's you have tested to come up with the conclusion that you would choose these over anything apart from the westone 3??

have you actually tried the big 4, triple fi, se530, IE8 and westone 3??

im not questioning your opinions by the way, im just wondering what you have tried? and if you have tried the westone 3 why would you review these and not the westone 3? hey maybe you have reviewed it i dont know just wondering?
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post #3 of 91
1/4/09 at 6:02pm
Thread Starter 
You shouldn't doubt it. Klipsch doesn't have the respect that it should have from the average consumers, but every person who has been in a studio, or done anything with music and heard klipsch speakers, give them respect. I had a New Years party where I used my Klipsch Igroove and Ipod, and people were astonished with how loud and clear it played. It reached to all four rooms (which are airy and open) and played clear. (All hip-hop and dance music) My friend who has a smaller apartment with a Bose Sounddock, was amazed how this system ripped apart his sound that he had in his 1 room (which was smaller then 1 of my rooms that the party was taking place in) Just proves that Klipsch is amazing.
If Klipsch brings out a triple driver IEM with a new detachable cable for a price that competes with Triple.fi and Se530, it'll own the market. The Custom 3 has the best sound I've heard from a dual driver, so I would expect it to be the same with a triple driver.

Out of the triple drivers, I've had about half an hour with the Triple.fi. The triple.fi's were great. Had a balanced sound.
But the Custom 3's are a dual driver, thats why they should be compared to dual drivers, in their price range too. Thats why the Ultimate ears Super.fi don't really compete with them. The msrp has too much of a gap.

The Triple.fi were amazing though. But just my opinion if Klipsch came out with a triple driver, they will rock. I love the crossover system they have going in the dual driver, don't know how it will work with a triple driver though, but if it does...
I was just not blown away by the Triple.fi. And most reviewers who compare the triple drivers out there say the triple.fi has the best overall sq, thats why I didn't waste my time with Se530. The only reason why I want to hear westone 3 is because it is said to have the only true triple driver, with which each driver cuts up their own section, lows, mids, highs.
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post #4 of 91
1/4/09 at 6:05pm
these are so on my want list
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post #5 of 91
1/4/09 at 6:18pm
After one week of listening to the Custom-3, I can honestly say I can't wait for a three driver version with modular replaceable cable system. I hope they keep the design as the Custom series are by far the most comfortable over-the-ear IEM design I've ever tried. Bizarrely the large tip (both single and bi-flange) works best on my ears. With other brands I always have to use the bundled medium tip.
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post #6 of 91
1/4/09 at 6:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zhdude View Post
You shouldn't doubt it. Klipsch doesn't have the respect that it should have from the average consumers, but every person who has been in a studio, or done anything with music and heard klipsch speakers, give them respect. I had a New Years party where I used my Klipsch Igroove and Ipod, and people were astonished with how loud and clear it played. It reached to all four rooms (which are airy and open) and played clear. (All hip-hop and dance music) My friend who has a smaller apartment with a Bose Sounddock, was amazed how this system ripped apart his sound that he had in his 1 room (which was smaller then 1 of my rooms that the party was taking place in) Just proves that Klipsch is amazing.
If Klipsch brings out a triple driver IEM with a new detachable cable for a price that competes with Triple.fi and Se530, it'll own the market. The Custom 3 has the best sound I've heard from a dual driver, so I would expect it to be the same with a triple driver.

Out of the triple drivers, I've had about half an hour with the Triple.fi. The triple.fi's were great. Had a balanced sound.
But the Custom 3's are a dual driver, thats why they should be compared to dual drivers, in their price range too. Thats why the Ultimate ears Super.fi don't really compete with them. The msrp has too much of a gap.

The Triple.fi were amazing though. But just my opinion if Klipsch came out with a triple driver, they will rock. I love the crossover system they have going in the dual driver, don't know how it will work with a triple driver though, but if it does...
I was just not blown away by the Triple.fi. And most reviewers who compare the triple drivers out there say the triple.fi has the best overall sq, thats why I didn't waste my time with Se530. The only reason why I want to hear westone 3 is because it is said to have the only true triple driver, with which each driver cuts up their own section, lows, mids, highs.
yeh i actually owned a pair of RF-82 speakers which were terrific, i only had a fairly weak technics amplifer to run them tho so i sold them on. its silly to dismiss the se530's due to people saying the triple fi were better, klipsch is known for a smooth warm sound and always has been and thier range of earphones from what i hear is not much different, and neither is the shure se530's, they offer a similar warm smooth sound with a high range similar to the klipsch horn sound. really if you like klipsch you should not have dismissed the shures. but thats another matter for another day.

and your say the klipsch is dual driver and should be compared with other dual drivers which it beats in your opinion, so why are you saying that you would recommend them over anything but the westone 3, considering you havnt tried the se530, IE8 and westone 3, its a pretty rash statement.

but again kudos dude its a decent review i enjoyed reading it.
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post #7 of 91
1/4/09 at 6:24pm
My only problem with the phones was the darn cable... it kept tangling nonstop no matter what I would do

For 150 dollars, I felt that the only IEM that beat it for that price was the RE-0s.

Also, the microphonics were pretty bad too.
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post #8 of 91
1/4/09 at 6:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jinx20001 View Post
its silly to dismiss the se530's due to people saying the triple fi were better, klipsch is known for a smooth warm sound and always has been and thier range of earphones from what i hear is not much different, and neither is the shure se530's, they offer a similar warm smooth sound with a high range similar to the klipsch horn sound. really if you like klipsch you should not have dismissed the shures. but thats another matter for another day.

and your say the klipsch is dual driver and should be compared with other dual drivers which it beats in your opinion, so why are you saying that you would recommend them over anything but the westone 3, considering you havnt tried the se530, IE8 and westone 3, its a pretty rash statement.
Well I found the Se310 which is looks to be very similar to the Se530, not so great. I didn't like the way they were designed and the sound signature. So I didn't want to waste my time by trying the Se530's, but if I get them in my hands, I'll try them, and so will I with the IE8's. But the Westone 3's (I have had my ears on the UM-2) which I haven't tried, will probably be very good, and thats why I will probably recommend them over the Custom 3. I recommend the Custom 3 too. I haven't tried the westone 3's yet though. I can't wait to try them out. But notice everyone that has posted their experience with custom 3's agree with my experience.
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post #9 of 91
1/4/09 at 6:53pm
oh yeh man i dont doubt these are good im actually in favour of klipsch phones, i would have purchased some myself if they wasnt so ugly and big lol

but yeh man the sound im sure is up there.

oh the se530 is a whole other beast compared to the se310, honestly the jump is huge.
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post #10 of 91
1/4/09 at 6:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by younglee200 View Post
My only problem with the phones was the darn cable... it kept tangling nonstop no matter what I would do

For 150 dollars, I felt that the only IEM that beat it for that price was the RE-0s.

Also, the microphonics were pretty bad too.
Yeah, the cable tangles up rather easily. Having a memory wire, which often results in two hooks, doesn't help the matter. Still they don't get as bad as Sennheisers or Sonys, and are pretty easy to untangle.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jinx20001 View Post
oh yeh man i dont doubt these are good im actually in favour of klipsch phones, i would have purchased some myself if they wasnt so ugly and big lol
They are similar in size to the e2c, so I'm not sure what you meant by big...
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post #11 of 91
1/4/09 at 7:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by walkingman View Post
Yeah, the cable tangles up rather easily. Having a memory wire, which often results in two hooks, doesn't help the matter. Still they don't get as bad as Sennheisers or Sonys, and are pretty easy to untangle.



They are similar in size to the e2c, so I'm not sure what you meant by big...
would you not class the e2c as big, i would, as IEM's go big is e2c, triple fi 10, klipsch custom range.

medium, se530, westone 3.

small, Q-jays, audio technica ck100 (soon to be released).

dont get me wrong the se530 and westone 3 are pretty big but can be forgiven being triple driver. the triple fi 10 can be forgiven aswell but it is rather large considering. the custom 3 is not overly large but the design isnt exactly elegant for a dual driver set up, especially when you look at what audio technica and jays did with thier dual drivers.
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post #12 of 91
1/4/09 at 7:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jinx20001 View Post
would you not class the e2c as big, i would, as IEM's go big is e2c, triple fi 10, klipsch custom range.

medium, se530, westone 3.

small, Q-jays, audio technica ck100 (soon to be released).

dont get me wrong the se530 and westone 3 are pretty big but can be forgiven being triple driver. the triple fi 10 can be forgiven aswell but it is rather large considering. the custom 3 is not overly large but the design isnt exactly elegant for a dual driver set up, especially when you look at what audio technica and jays did with thier dual drivers.
You're talking about sheer size though; I think the ergonomics of the Klipsch Custom series means this isn't really an issue.
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post #13 of 91
1/4/09 at 7:33pm
Thread Starter 
I like the design and size of custom 3. I didn't want something small, if I wanted something small I would have gotten the Image.
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post #14 of 91
1/4/09 at 7:35pm
Big or not, they are light enough to be extremely comfortable. Sure it could be smaller, but why destroy the overall ergonomics and design (which I actually like) just to get it as slim as possible?

Plus they look great.

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post #15 of 91
1/4/09 at 7:43pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the picture, I couldnt get a good picture even with cropping. I wanted to get my hands on a tripod.

But the size, shape, and design is superb. I wouldn't change it. And they are light in weight too.
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