Klipsch Image S4?

[mythless]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XAlexander /img/forum/go_quote.gif I find that the only time they sounded boated or muddled was when I was listening to a sub-par source. Try some Yo-Yo Ma Cello and also check out the song 6:00 from Dream Theater off of the Awake album. Those will really show you what the S4's can do.

Well, they have less than 10 hour burn in, so I don't have much to work with as of yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawrster /img/forum/go_quote.gif i actually liked the strain relief on the plug..its very different than most strain reliefs you see today. i think i would have worried about the place where the wire meets the enclosure if the only tips i used were the gels. in a sense they reminded me of the ER6i in that in was very difficult to remove from the air and they are small so go pretty deep in your ear. i used olives on them and it made it much easier removing them. i do wish i didnt sell them but no point in keeping something just taking up space in your desk

lol, I have so many IEMs I don't know if I will keep the S4. If the muddyness doesn't clear up at 100+ hours it's gone. But, I am gonna to a comparative review before I let them go. They are pretty damn comfy though, unlike my RE252.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XAlexander /img/forum/go_quote.gif These phones are built in a solid manner. There is a nice L-joint at the bottom (as opposed to a straight connector) which is made of a durable rubber. Seeing as this is where most wire issues occur, you won't have to worry about it getting yanked on and ruining the phones. The speaker enclosures themselves are made of a very hard plastic with (I assume) aluminum accents. These won't break unless you hit them with a hammer or something. Now, about the wire its self. Most people argue that this wire isn't durable compared to the standards of other IEM's, but I argue that most other IEM's aren't as small as this, and Klipsch would have been ridiculous to make the wires any thicker. The wires suit the IEMs perfectly. They are small but durable, with a nice and thick rubber coating. I've been working with cables and wires for a while, and I can tell when the rubber on the outside is of poor quality, and that is not the case with the Image S4's. Remember, thicker does not mean better or more durable. Also (FYI) there is a hard plastic reinforced Y joint where the phones split, so there should be no issues there either.

I agree somewhat with the wire. Personally, for the price and for other IEMs in the market, the wires aren't impressive. I think my PL50 have better wires. But, I am not an expert in that field. To me, the overall feel of the wires remind me of my NE-7m. If the wires are weak, that would be the only flaw in it's build quality. I know it's cheaper in the US, but I would expect somewhat better cables for something I paid over $100CAD for.

 

[jonhapimp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judge Buff /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm still waiting for evidence that s4s have a "common" wire problem. I use my s4s daily and generally need to get them out of my pocket or the floorboard of my car. I've never had a problem with anything. I can tell you that if I had any problem such as a wire stress going out after a month, I would have asked for warranty work and also would have examined how I had contributed to the problem. I see students mistreating earphones routinely. The most "common" mistreatment I see is pulling the wire to get the phone out of the ear. The second is wrapping the wires around the player tightly and shoving the phones into the tightly wrapped wire to hold them.

I Didn't say it gave out in a month i said 4 Months you think i would now since i had them longer than you, i know how to treat my Iems just use the search function if you don't believe me. for what i know they could have improved the cable since i got them. to recap both stress reliefs broke on both earphones and the one for the headphone in doesn't seem like it's doing it's job, i think the rubber is too hard

 

[Andrew_]

Just picked up a pair of these after reading about them on here. Oh my god, these little devils are awesome. I guess my ES7's breaking was a blessing in disguise. Electronic music à la Autechre is mind blowing.

 

[SactoMan101]

I do highly recommend using the Comply Foam Tx-100 ear tips if you have the Image S4/S4i. Unlike the oval ear tips provided Klipsch, I've never had issue with the IEMs falling out of my ears with the Comply tips.

 

[Judge Buff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonhapimp /img/forum/go_quote.gif Nope I'm sure Where one of the earphones give out i'm not the only one that had the problem, i actually expected it to go out earlier because the wire stress on the left side gave after a month

Nope you said the stress gave out after a month...

How do you know you've had them longer than me?

Still waiting on proof of a common wire problem.

 

[jonhapimp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judge Buff /img/forum/go_quote.gif Nope you said the stress gave out after a month... How do you know you've had them longer than me? Still waiting on proof of a common wire problem.

I said the stress relief gave out not the sound, how about you learn to read before making assumptions, Like i said before use the search function if you don't believe me it's at the top of the website
i also know i had these longer because i already looked at the point you said you received them in this thread

 

[Judge Buff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonhapimp /img/forum/go_quote.gif I Didn't say it gave out in a month i said 4 Months you think i would now since i had them longer than you, i know how to treat my Iems just use the search function if you don't believe me. for what i know they could have improved the cable since i got them. to recap both stress reliefs broke on both earphones and the one for the headphone in doesn't seem like it's doing it's job, i think the rubber is too hard

I did a search. I posted on 7/19 about my S4s in the original S2/S4 thread. You also posted in that thread on 7/30 that you couldn't find any because they were sold out:

07-30-2009, 01:02 AM
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jonhapimp jonhapimp is online now
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i'm so angry the s4 is sold out, from the reviews i'm seeing they got the balance i want and i can't find anywhere for the price


I'm pretty sure now that you don't know what you are talking about. Since punctuation is free, try using some. Still waiting on that "common" wire problem evidence...

BTW, son, I teach people to read... You might want to reread some of your drivel on this page because it's pretty messed up.

 

[the search never ends]

-

 

[Judge Buff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew_ /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just picked up a pair of these after reading about them on here. Oh my god, these little devils are awesome. I guess my ES7's breaking was a blessing in disguise. Electronic music à la Autechre is mind blowing.

Electronica and trance gets better and better with burn in.

 

[tjpark1111]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judge Buff /img/forum/go_quote.gif I did a search. I posted on 7/19 about my S4s in the original S2/S4 thread. You also posted in that thread on 7/30 that you couldn't find any because they were sold out: 07-30-2009, 01:02 AM jonhapimp's Avatar jonhapimp jonhapimp is online now 100+ Head-Fi'er Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 245 Default i'm so angry the s4 is sold out, from the reviews i'm seeing they got the balance i want and i can't find anywhere for the price I'm pretty sure now that you don't know what you are talking about. Since punctuation is free, try using some. Still waiting on that "common" wire problem evidence... BTW, son, I teach people to read... You might want to reread some of your drivel on this page because it's pretty messed up.

rofl kid you got called OUT!

 

[SactoMan101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judge Buff /img/forum/go_quote.gif Electronica and trance gets better and better with burn in.

I agree 100%. Tiësto's Just Be album (I ripped the CD using 256 kbps variable bit rate AAC encoding for my iPods) sounds really good with my Image S4i.

 

[TheRH]

I would re-rip the album in 320, I think you will notice the difference. Then again all my music is 320cbr MP3.

 

[Monkeytamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRH /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would re-rip the album in 320, I think you will notice the difference. Then again all my music is 320cbr MP3.

I have to cringe every time that I read statements such as this. A larger bitrate does not necessarily equate to better sound quality. Most music files will sound transparent to most listeners at 128 kbps VBR, while 256 kbps VBR is perhaps a bit (no pun intended) excessive. Therefore, 320 CBR often represents wasted space for no apparent increase in perceived sound quality. I urge you to research the purpose of a lossy encoder. Such an encoder, such as LAME, is designed to reproduce the audio as accurately as possible within the limitations of our hearing. A lower bitrate file will have sonic differences to a higher bitrate file, but whether that is audible is a completely different issue.

From an engineering perspective, it is desirable to reduce the bitrate as much as possible while preserving the audible integrity of the original recording. Any increase in bitrate from transparency represents wasted bits that manifest in the form of wasted space; hence, the purpose of variable bitrate is to maintain accuracy by using extra bits for passages in the audio that are more difficult to approximate, while using less bits for passages for the opposite scenario.

Granted, transparency is a non-distinct point; it varies per individual. However, many self-proclaimed "audiophiles" overestimate or are uncertain of their perceived frequency capabilities, which leads to cycle of ever-increasing bitrate that serves no further function than the proverbial "placebo effect".

My point: "more" is not always better. There must always be a compromise when "more" is desired. If you can attain the same results by using less, why would you ever use more than what's necessary? This usually emanates from a lack of understanding, which we as people must strive to teach.

 

[TheRH]

Each to their own but personally I can hear the difference.

 

[Monkeytamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRH /img/forum/go_quote.gif Each to their own but personally I can hear the difference.

If that is the case, you should really consider applying for some research projects that could exploit such "golden ears". The hydrogenaudio community would certainly welcome you, as many lossy encoder developers frequent their forums to collect user feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of their product. You may have to become familiar with the ABX procedure, if you have done so already, but many would envy your hearing.

Offering advice or claims without justification is baseless and without merit. While I am certainly speaking sarcastically, I seek not to be condescending. I know this thread is intended for good-natured exchanges and overall goodwill, but baseless claims have a way of calling a certain, perhaps undesirable, form of attention. If you consider something to represent fact, justify yourself, or it's worth nothing more than a personal belief.

Perhaps in your select case, you hear a difference between a 256 kbps VBR file and 320 CBR. This may result from any number of sources, including the encoders used, the emphasis on accuracy for the respective setting, the player's ability to properly decode each file as designed, the user's hearing, the user's environment for each test, etc. In other words, correlation does not equate to causation. So, even if you did hear a difference, that may not be a result solely of an increase in bitrate, but any number of factors. Until you investigate under standard conditions whether you truly perceive a difference among high bitrate files, your claim is nothing more than faith.

Though, as you said, "to each their own".