The Klipsch Image S4i earphones are nearly identical to their sibling, the Image S4. They not only provide the same comfortable fit and stellar sound quality, but also offer the added bonus of an integrated mic and call answer button, as well as volume controls and remote playback for the iPod. Call quality through the inline mic is solid, though not overly spectacular for a wired headset. At $99, the Image S4i costs $20 more, which is probably worth it for those with an iPhone. For more information, read our full review of the Klipsch Image S4 headphones.
On Sale Now: $99.00 - $99.99
View the latest prices for Klipsch Image S4i earphones with mic
On Sale Now: $79.00 - $79.99
View the latest prices for Klipsch Image S4 earphones
If you've flown on a commercial airline since 2000, you've probably seen people wearing Bose QuietComfort headphones. They're expensive and large, and I don't like them.
Their noise-cancellation circuitry actually generates noise of its own, and my ears are good enough to hear it as long as I'm not seated too near the engines.
I started wearing earplugs on airplanes in the 1980s when I discovered the squishy memory-foam type. They block noise better than headphones ever could, and they don't make any noise themselves.
But when I bought my first iPod, that strategy didn't seem quite so perfect anymore. The ear-bud headphones that came with the iPod never fit me at all; they just fell out. After some experimentation with small folding travel headphones, I decided I was happiest with in-ear headphones. They gave me most of the noise reduction of the foam earplugs along with the ability to listen to music.
The problem with in-ear headphones is finding a model that fits me. I gather that this is a common problem with this type of product. I went through several low- and mid-priced models before settling on the old Apple In-Ear headphones--they just worked the best for me. (Interestingly, I had the same experience as CNET's Steve Guttenberg when he reviewed them: they only fit well when inserted upside-down.)... Read more
There's nothing like good, old competition to keep tech prices in check. Case in point: earphones. The headphone market is heavily saturated, and that's why there are so many worthy earbud contenders in the sub-$100 price range. Klipsch is one company in particular that has impressed us with earphones in this price range, and its latest entry is no exception. The Image S2m is a stereo headset with an integrated mic and call button that sells for a very reasonable $60. Like its Editors' Choice award-winning sibling, the Image S4, these 'phones offer impressive sound for the money, though audio is not quite as crystal clear.
One speaker can do it all
(Credit: Klipsch)Mono was the one and only way to listen to music and movies for decades.
But it's not ancient history. Mono's on something of a comeback, and the upcoming remastered Beatles catalog will be offered in an all-mono box in September. You can listen to mono over just one speaker, or with two or more speakers. But mono at its purest is a single-speaker deal.
A fringe segment of the audiophile community still buys mono phono cartridges to get the best sound out of mono LPs. Over at BuyMeGetMe they're listening to an all out single speaker mono system with a mighty 175-pound, all-American Klipschorn speaker ($3,999).
Yes, you could use any speaker, but since you're paying half the price of a pair of speakers, you might as well get a nice one. The Klipschorn was originally introduced some 60 years ago. It's still an amazing speaker.
As a reviewer I get to hear lots of speakers, and I immediately forget most of them.
It's not that they're bad, just unexceptional. Here's a Top 10 list and photo gallery of the very best-sounding speakers I've heard for less than $3,500 per pair. The brands may be unfamiliar, but each speaker is a stand-out winner. I will at some point do a Top 10 without price constraints. For now I want to highlight more affordable speakers that you can buy new.
Generally, I ignore company promotional e-mails that spout promises of wonderful prize giveaways. There are two reasons for this. Either the "wonderful prizes" are actually not so great (read: cheap), or there is some irritating catch buried within the rules (like you have to sign up for a yearlong subscription to Home & Garden magazine).
But when I woke up this morning to discover that Klipsch is hosting a contest in which one prize is the Editors' Choice award-winning Image S4 earphones, well that is just something I can't ignore. Plus, the action required--writing a caption for a product photo--is one that inspires creativity, of which I'm always a big fan.
To enter the contest, visit the Klipsch Web site.
In this episode of the MP3 Insider, Donald and Jasmine weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the rumored iPod camera. Plus, Jasmine has a pair of Editors' Choice earphones, Donald rates the Samsung U5 $40 MP3 player, Pandora goes premium, and touch-screen MP3 players band together to challenge the iPod Touch.
Listen now:
Download today's podcast | Subscribe in iTunes | Subscribe in RSS | Watch on CNET TV
... Read more
Scosche's upcoming VoiceOver compatible earbud line.
(Credit: Scosche )Apple said it would have third parties developing accessories for the new third-generation iPod Shuffle, and sure enough, they are. First out of the gate: Klipsch and Scosche. And by the end of the week--if not the end of today--we should be hearing about more.
As Engadget notes, Klipsch's press release was pretty weak--the company only said that it would have VoiceOver-compatible Shuffle 'buds by summer and that they would cost $99.99.
Scosche was a lot more specific. It plans to have three earphone models--the IDR350M, IDR450M, and IDR650M--that feature an integrated control surface and range in price from $49.99 to $99.99. Interestingly, the release also notes that a miniature microphone built into the back of the control surface will allow users to record voice memos on the latest iPod Touch, iPod Nano, and iPod Classic 120GB.
Scosche has a VoiceOver-compatible headphone adapter in the works as well.
(Credit: Scosche)Scosche is also developing an inline control adapter kit that will allow you to use "any standard set of headphones and enjoy all of the advanced features of the third-generation iPod shuffle." The inline control will also allow you to plug your third-generation Shuffle into any vehicles' auxiliary input and maintain full control of the iPod. No word on how much the dongle will cost but we have a call into Scosche's public-relations agency, and we'll let you know if Scosche gets back to us with a price (apparently, the dongle was literally designed in the last couple of days).
As I said, we expect to see a lot more companies announcing just these types of headphones and accessories--so stay tuned.
Anybody else think this is kind of ridiculous? Why couldn't Apple just equip the new Shuffle with a VoiceOver headphone adapter of its own? Oh, yeah, it probably collects a licensing fee from these guys. Genius.
Via Engadget.
Let's face it, setting up a home theater with five speakers and a subwoofer is a hassle.
Home-theater-in-a-box systems ease the pain somewhat, but you still have to run wires to five speakers and a subwoofer. Single-speaker sound bar systems? Sure, they eliminate the tangle of wires, but they're just glorified stereo bars and never really sound all that good. You can get much better sound from a decent set of stereo speakers.
You could put together a much better sounding system with Integra's DSR-4.8 DVD/AV receiver ($600) and a nice pair of speakers and possibly a subwoofer. It's a stereo receiver with 50 watts per channel with a built-in DVD/DVD-Audio/SACD player; video connectivity includes a 1080p HDMI output, one HDMI input, and two composite inputs. (You can multiply the usefulness of that single HDMI input by adding an inexpensive HDMI switcher that multiplies the number of available outputs.)
(Credit:
Integra)
Let's compare and contrast an Integra DSR-4.8 based system with Yamaha's YSP-4000 single-speaker surround system ($1,800). The Yamaha is self-powered so it doesn't need an AV receiver, but it doesn't make much bass. So, you'll need to add a subwoofer, like Yamaha's YST-FSW150 ($280) and a DVD or Blu-ray player.
Fifty watts may not seem like much, but Integra components sound pretty good; pair the DSR-4.8 with efficient speakers you'd get a big sound. Klipsch's RB-61 bookshelf speakers ($499/pair) would be ideal and make better and more powerful bass than the YSP-4000, so some of you won't have to get a sub. But if you're thinking about going whole hog, I like Klipsch's Sub-12 subwoofer ($500). That's all together a $1,600 MSRP system, so it's at least $500 less expensive than the Yamaha system.
The Integra/Klipsch system would be way, way more dynamic, with vastly greater clarity for movies and music (single-speaker systems never quite sound right for music). To be fair, the Yamaha big claim to fame is its ability to produce a facsimile of surround sound from the single speaker, and it's the best of its type (I've reviewed a ton of single-speaker surround systems for CNET--both units with built-in video connectivity and those without--so I should know). The Integra/Klipsch is strictly stereo, but it'll be really good stereo. Big and wide, with a great sense of depth and spatiality.
... Read more
The Klipsch Custom line delivers glorious sound for your oddly shaped ears.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)While Jasmine was busy freaking out over the Klipsch Image X5 earphones last week, I found myself bouncing back and forth between the company's line of professional earphones: the Klipsch Custom 2 and Klipsch Custom 3.
Unlike the lightweight and delicate design of the Image series, the Custom series is built for abuse. The earphones include dual-balanced armatures, braided cloth cables, five pairs of ear tips, flex wire ear fittings, and a zip-up softshell case.
Quality doesn't come cheap, however. The Custom 2s cost $199 and the Custom 3s will set you back $299. But are they worth it? You'll need to read our reviews to find out.
Read the reviews of the Klipsch Custom 2 and the Klipsch Custom 3 earphones.
