Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)As an owner of all of Klipsch' IEM's, I was extremely pleased to hear Klipsch would soon be releasing an actual Headphone model, and couldn't wait to get my hands on a pair. Well the day finally came (A little over a month ago, but Amazon didn't yet have the product available for review) and I've put 'em through their paces. FIRST IMPRESSION
The box is pretty unassuming and the Apple store even had it hanging from a peg, right next to the Dre Beats and Skullcandy's. Say wha??? But fret not. It's whats inside that counts, and these count in a big way. Accessories include a nice zippered pouch, the typical 1/8" to 1/4" headphone adapter, an airline adapter, the manual, the warranty card, etc. Pretty much what you'd expect to find when de-boxing headphones. But you're not reading this to hear about accessories, so let me get right to it. BUILD QUALITY
The Image One's are quite nice looking and are seemingly well built. Although plastic is the primary material, it's quite sturdy and unlike the "creaky" Dre Beats. The leather patches on the outside of each 'phone are a nice touch and when mixed with the "chrome" accents, such as the Klipsch name, look really nice. The cable is actually thicker than most and seems to be quite sturdy. These aren't quite what I would call a work of art, but are still something you'll feel proud wearing and feel as if your money was well spent. AUDIO QUALITY
Audio quality is very good. I've got probably 30 pairs of earphones/headphones floating around, and the only pair I like more than these, are the B&W P5s. But then again, those are in a completely different class.
BASS: If you're looking for a super-flat set of headphones, these aren't it. These have a VERY NICE bass response, but without sounding like a "fart cannon" and/or disturbing the rest of the spectrum. This is in contrast to a lot of other 'phones that can't seem to quite get it right. They're either all bass and trash the mids and highs (Dre Beats), or they are super clear from 800Khz on up, but have very little bass response(Etymotic HF3). It seems as if Klipsch finally got it right.
MIDS and HIGHS: The mids and highs are ultra smooth and there weren't any noticeable spikes, which could lead to audio fatigue. The bass seems to be the only aspect that is a bit "colored". I listened to several genre's of music from Dubstep to Classical and was equally impressed with the performance on them all. I could literally pick out the instruments being played and I felt as if I was right there in the studio.COMFORT AND OPERATION
COMFORT: These are closed-back, supra-aural headphones. Meaning they sit on the ear, instead of over it. That being said, the soft leather pads and the design make them quite comfortable. I was able to listen for extended periods of time (2hrs+) without any major discomfort. My ears were, not surprisingly, a bit warm after use, but that's about it. Very nice.
MIC/IPOD CONTROLS: The control "stick" is located down on your chest, right where the "Y" splits off (I have uploaded a close up and added it to the image gallery). Some may not like this as much as having it up by your ears, but I actually prefer this design. To me, it's just easier to reach and control. The downside to having the stick lower is the mic is now further away from your mouth. That being said, I found mic clarity to be a bit muffled, and a heavy wind would cause the typical "audio-blowout", but neither were bad enough for me to consider a major negative. I don't use these on my iDevices much anyway.
SOUND LEAKAGE: The leather and foam pads do a nice job of keeping the sound in your ears, where it belongs. In fact, with a perfect "seal", I heard no leakage at all with my Fuze full-throttle. However, once the seal is lost, you do get some leakage (to be expected), but it's still nothing to be overly concerned about. I would feel comfortable using these in a library, as long as I didn't have the volume full-blast.CONCLUSION
I simply cannot recommend these enough. I read somewhere that these were designed to be the Image S4's in a full size form factor. This is not the case. These sound very different from the S4's, and in a good way. The clarity, bass response and soundstage is pretty amazing. If you've been primarily an IEM user, and aren't going to the gym everyday, you owe it to yourself to try a pair. You'll be pleasantly surprised. They're priced right, look right and most importantly, sound right. A winner in my book.
Recommended.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Klipsch Image ONE Premium On-Ear Earphones with Mic and 3-Button Apple Control (Black/Gloss)
The Image ONE brings high-performance Klipsch sound to people who prefer an on-ear design, and is also one of the first on-ear headphones to feature an Apple-based mic and three-button remote for taking calls and controlling music on iPods, iPhones or iPads. These compact headphones are extremely comfortable and offer the same powerful, detailed sound reproduction that has made Klipsch a popular choice among discriminating listeners since 1946. The Image ONE covers a wide frequency range with dynamic detail and delivers strikingly realistic sound with a moving coil 40mm speaker. Each lightweight, pivoting ear cup features premium leather and a special high-density memory foam for hours of listening pleasure and superior passive noise-isolation, which blocks out ambient noise and provides enhanced bass. And unlike noise-canceling designs, the Image One does not require batteries. Just plug them into any device with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and you\'re ready to enjoy the full impact of your tunes. The mic and remote functionality support select Apple products, and the mic is a highly intelligible 360 degree design with echo cancellation, so your voice will be heard crystal clear without having to talk down, or directly, into it. The Image ONE cables feature improved strain relief for extreme durability and also minimize unwanted tangling
