Amazon Current's Blog

Unfortunately, neither Amazon nor Klipsch post details of the earphones' performance, such as sensitivity or frequency response, leaving a potential customer completely in the dark as to what you're getting in the most expensive model, or giving up in the cheapest.

Sensitivity is posted at klipsch.com http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/custom-3.aspx. From what I understand, there is no way to accurately measure frequency response inside of an individuals ear since they are all shaped differently.

While frequency response does change based on chamber acoustics there are standard measurement systems in place. These frequency response tests and standards allow for relative comparison of the sonics of a particular head/ear phone. It would be helpful to be able to review these curves to understand the relative experience of a particular source like the Klipsch listed in this posting. The frequency response of the source is still important to reproduction. Other than "buying and trying" or doing A/B testing there would be little guide to selecting earphones. Frequency response curves are still relevant since even thought the acoustics of the ear vary from person to person. Each person will always be evaluating sound within the experience of their ear geometry.

Regarding fit - yes, it is important - and no I don't want someone drilling out my ear canal. But the idea that oval is inherently better does not really fly. Nor does it mean that the ear pieces are inherently more comfortable. I have used insert type earphones from Sony, Etymotic, and Sure. Sony and Sure offer similar seal designs. The Sony 71's are extremely comfortable and a great value under $40. the seals are good, the fit is good, the comfort is amazing... the sound of Sony's is pretty great for a something in the $30-50 range. But clearly the ear pieces (seals) are not the deciding factor in sound.

The Etymotics have great sound. They use a deeper seated harder sealing ear plug design for their seals. The comfort is reduced until the ear pieces "break-in". What this means is they end up softening and forming themselves to the shape of the inner ear. It would be great if they were a little softer from the beginning - but there are no complaints about the sound the 4p's and 4s's are reference quality monitors and have great sound and accuracy of reproduction.

But what no one mentions in these posts is preference of the listener. I know folks who are all about highs. I know folks who will not be satisfied if they do not get lots of bass. I know people who want bass but it has to be percussive - really sharp in its attack. And for others still the mid-range is where music is at its best. The type of music you listen to, the way it is reproduced, and the experience you want is still what it is all about... that AND comfort is what's going to mean the difference between liking your head/ear-phones and hating them.

One of the things that is not mentioned in any of these postings (the etymotic folks had one a week or two ago regarding sound reproduction and accuracy) is "microphoning". Mircrophoning is noise transferred to the inner ear by the wires attached to the earphones. Sure and Etymotic have tried in various ways to address this. it is a real problem for earphones. The listening experience is much like the effect of tapping on a mic attached to a PA system... ("testing one two three tap tap tap - can you hear me")... it come out like a big thumbing sound. the sony mdr-ex71 (and similar sony designs) have some of the lowest microphoning around, based in large part on the incredibly thin and supple wires going to the inserts (even though these are thin they are pretty tough).

One final note. The best headphones in the world are going to be a disappointment if your source is poor quality. Most MP3 files are over compressed and horrible to listen to. Most MP3 player internal amps are terrible! iPod internal amplifiers are pretty poor too. If you want great sound not only do you need good headphones - you need good headphone amplification and source files. On my iPods I save my source files in Apple Lossless Format (they are big files but they sound great). To get the best sound I pull the line out from the dock (or PocketDock from Sendstation) and route that into a Ray Samuels hornet headphone amp. This gets around the mediocre internal amplification of the iPod. The sound a amazing. I just wish I could get a pure digital out so that I could run the ipod to a DAC and then amp the sound. Ray Samuels is going to be releasing a micro amp with a DAC. that will be great for folks listening to files on their computer - or those of us who collect old Sony Discman players with optical digital line outs. Too bad Apple wont make a digital out for their iPods. Headroom (headphone.com) makes some great little amps - the bit-head includes a DAC for USB hook up to a computer. My best "portable" set up is an old Sony discman D555 optical out to a headroom DAC then to a RaySamuels hornet amp... amazing sound.

Stereophile magazine (online) has some great detailed reviews of earphones. Also headphone. com has some excellent information on headphones and earphones - as well as response curves and excellent descriptions of the sonics of different headphones. Their sales reps are really good and helpful too.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-EX71SLA-Fontopia-Bud-Style-Headphones/dp/B000JKHXPQ/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1199312642&sr=8-1

http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/in-ear-monitor/

http://www.raysamuelsaudio.com/

http://www.stereophile.com/headphones/

Interesting video. Professor Thump is a basshead :D

I've only experienced the Image x10 for a few short minutes on a couple of different occasions and have owned the Klipsch Custom 2 since it first became available.

I have no basis for comparison to other brands or earphones but my experience with the Image x10 and newer Image x5 is that besides sounding phenomenal, they are incredibly easy to use and insanely comfortable.

Just stick 'em in and you're rewarded with the legendary Klipsch sound that fits in your ear. I don't think it could get much better.

And the bass, especially with the Image x10, can literally be felt in your head.