onlychild
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2008
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the Klipsch Image.
Note : Source is Sony A818 and I listen to alternative, hip-hop, rock, pop.
Before I found head-fi, I was happy with my V-moda vibes. After finding head-fi, I decided to purchase my first good pair of IEMs ($200 - $500). Instead to buying one at a time, and then trying to remember what the last one sounded like, I decided to get all the IEMs at the same time, then sell or return the ones I did not want to keep.
Now that I have been on head-fi for close to a month, my views have changed on what I need where. For example, before head-fi, I was content with owning one IEM to use everywhere (work, plane, home, gym, walking outside, etc). Now I have come to realize that I want a good set of headphones (HD650 maybe) for home, and an IEM for work/gym/outside.
My reasons for keeping the Klipsch Image over the others may not be the right reasons for you. I wanted something that sounded great, but at the same time it had to be comfortable to wear all day at work, not too big that it made me look like a geek wearing it, and I had to be able to take it on and off without much hassle if someone came up to talk to me (at work). The Klipsch Image fits that bill perfectly and then some.
Ok, now the SQ comparisons (to the best of my knowledge and junior head-fi ear).
The Klipsch Image is everything I have been looking for. I would describe the sound as warm with incredible bass. They sound more like the SE530s then any of the other IEMs I tried. I would say the Image are about 80%- 85% of the SQ of the 530s. Not quite as detailed as the 530s (I can place instruments a little better) and the bass doesn't hit quite as hard as the 530s (then again what other IEM does compared to the 530s in this price range), but the Image has better highs (e.g. they are not rolled off). Other Image owners have complained that they are a little harsh, but I did not find that to be so. But when it comes to comfort and ease of use, the Image blow the 530s out of the water (IMO).
I truly do love the sound of the 530s out of all the IEMs I have tried, but for me they are not practical for where I use them. They are to hard for me to put on and take off with the black fomaies (can't get a seal with any of the other tips). And they start to become uncomfortable after 2-3 hours.
Now I don't want you to think I have just settled for the sound of the Image just because they are comfortable and easy. The Image sound incredible. The bass coming out of these little things is amazing. The soundstage is something you have to listen to believe. The highs could use a little more refinement and the mids are also incredible. Again, very close sound to the SE530s. If you like the 530s, you should at least give the Image a try.
The Klipsch C3s have been a little more difficult to review for the fact that I could not get a good seal on my right ear (even with the Shure black fomaies). A few other people have had this issue as well. The first day I got them, there were a few hours when I did get a good seal. The C3s and 530s are two different sounding IEMs and you sort of can't compare the two. The C3s are really really really detailed (especially in the highs). You can hear EVERYTHING. There is also good bass, but not as much as the 530s or Image (based on the very few times I did get a good seal). I would say the C3s are probably for people who listen to classical or music with a lot of guitar and violins. I did not spend much time with the C3s because my ear stated hurting from trying to get a good seal.
I did not like the sound of the Denons. I am a person that likes up-front mids and vocals with good bass impact. The Denons highs are a little too harsh for my ears. Now my opinion on the Denons might be totally different from other people, because I did not burn the denons in at all (only put about 6-8 hours on them). I have read that their sound changes a lot after 20 hours of burn in, but I did not even give them a fair chance because that same day I had gotten my Image and I was hooked on their warm sound and up front mids and vocals from the first minute of putting it on.
If you like the sound of the 530s, then you will probably like the sound of the Image. I have not heard the Er4p, but from what I have read, the C-3s seem to fit their sound but probably with more bass.
Again, this review (if you want to call it that), may seem a little biased towards the Image, but they fit my needs perfectly. For how comfortable they are and easy to put on and get a perfect seal almost everytime, the sound that comes out of these little things is truly amazing.
Note : Source is Sony A818 and I listen to alternative, hip-hop, rock, pop.
Before I found head-fi, I was happy with my V-moda vibes. After finding head-fi, I decided to purchase my first good pair of IEMs ($200 - $500). Instead to buying one at a time, and then trying to remember what the last one sounded like, I decided to get all the IEMs at the same time, then sell or return the ones I did not want to keep.
Now that I have been on head-fi for close to a month, my views have changed on what I need where. For example, before head-fi, I was content with owning one IEM to use everywhere (work, plane, home, gym, walking outside, etc). Now I have come to realize that I want a good set of headphones (HD650 maybe) for home, and an IEM for work/gym/outside.
My reasons for keeping the Klipsch Image over the others may not be the right reasons for you. I wanted something that sounded great, but at the same time it had to be comfortable to wear all day at work, not too big that it made me look like a geek wearing it, and I had to be able to take it on and off without much hassle if someone came up to talk to me (at work). The Klipsch Image fits that bill perfectly and then some.
Ok, now the SQ comparisons (to the best of my knowledge and junior head-fi ear).
The Klipsch Image is everything I have been looking for. I would describe the sound as warm with incredible bass. They sound more like the SE530s then any of the other IEMs I tried. I would say the Image are about 80%- 85% of the SQ of the 530s. Not quite as detailed as the 530s (I can place instruments a little better) and the bass doesn't hit quite as hard as the 530s (then again what other IEM does compared to the 530s in this price range), but the Image has better highs (e.g. they are not rolled off). Other Image owners have complained that they are a little harsh, but I did not find that to be so. But when it comes to comfort and ease of use, the Image blow the 530s out of the water (IMO).
I truly do love the sound of the 530s out of all the IEMs I have tried, but for me they are not practical for where I use them. They are to hard for me to put on and take off with the black fomaies (can't get a seal with any of the other tips). And they start to become uncomfortable after 2-3 hours.
Now I don't want you to think I have just settled for the sound of the Image just because they are comfortable and easy. The Image sound incredible. The bass coming out of these little things is amazing. The soundstage is something you have to listen to believe. The highs could use a little more refinement and the mids are also incredible. Again, very close sound to the SE530s. If you like the 530s, you should at least give the Image a try.
The Klipsch C3s have been a little more difficult to review for the fact that I could not get a good seal on my right ear (even with the Shure black fomaies). A few other people have had this issue as well. The first day I got them, there were a few hours when I did get a good seal. The C3s and 530s are two different sounding IEMs and you sort of can't compare the two. The C3s are really really really detailed (especially in the highs). You can hear EVERYTHING. There is also good bass, but not as much as the 530s or Image (based on the very few times I did get a good seal). I would say the C3s are probably for people who listen to classical or music with a lot of guitar and violins. I did not spend much time with the C3s because my ear stated hurting from trying to get a good seal.
I did not like the sound of the Denons. I am a person that likes up-front mids and vocals with good bass impact. The Denons highs are a little too harsh for my ears. Now my opinion on the Denons might be totally different from other people, because I did not burn the denons in at all (only put about 6-8 hours on them). I have read that their sound changes a lot after 20 hours of burn in, but I did not even give them a fair chance because that same day I had gotten my Image and I was hooked on their warm sound and up front mids and vocals from the first minute of putting it on.
If you like the sound of the 530s, then you will probably like the sound of the Image. I have not heard the Er4p, but from what I have read, the C-3s seem to fit their sound but probably with more bass.
Again, this review (if you want to call it that), may seem a little biased towards the Image, but they fit my needs perfectly. For how comfortable they are and easy to put on and get a perfect seal almost everytime, the sound that comes out of these little things is truly amazing.
