Klipsch Image X5 Noise-Isolating Earphones

A good portion of my wallet goes to audio products, specifically earphones and ancillary equipment. I previously owned the Klipsch Image S4 series, but found the bass too muddy and looked for IEMs with more sonic accuracy.

So I went up several price brackets and tried these: Shure SE530, Etymotic ER4s, Klipsch Image X10, Klipxh Image X5, Phonack PFEs. Needless to say, I feel in love witht he Image X5s.


The overall sound signature is not cold and lifeless like the Etymotics. Most of you can get a decent fit with the stock tips included with the X5s, the oval shape really fit my ears nicely, and the nice bass will add just the right amount of warmth as intended by your music, drums strikes are individually discernible, the kick drum magnificently reminds you its there. Bass isn't just the obligatory "boom" anymore, now it's what the artist and mastering technician intended. Mids are perfect, you can hear the rasp and breath in a voice. There is no...Read more

Although I was once a professional bass player in a previous life, I'm going to try to tell you in plain English why these are great earphones. The bass is excellent. It is clear and defined, not muddy or boomy. The quality is such that you can tell if the bass is in tune. Indeed, you can discern the quality of the instrument. The midrange is good. Male voices are clear with no unwanted low overtones. Female voices are crystal clear. The highs have a sparkle without being harsh or raspy. What this means in real life is that you can hear each individual instrument, even when that instrument is in the background. For those of you who saved all those high bitrate mp3's, you can now hear the reason you did that. These earphones compare very favorably with my high end Sennheiser headphones. If you buy the Image X5 earphones, you will not regret it. You know you want them ....

The sound quality is orgasmic, especially when paired with a decent DAP, and the comfort is second to none. I bought and paired the X5s with a Sony Walkman and was giddy with excitement; I could hear details I never had heard before, the bass was thumping, and the isolation was very effective (I nearly got run over by a bus the first day I wore them because I couldn't hear it!) When I read the reviews on CNET, and other places, that expressed concern over the durability of the wires, I dismissed them because they seemed to be engaging in speculation.

However, about 5 months after purchase, problems began to occur. The right ear-bud would hiss, crackle, or go out completely. Granted, I was performing extreme physical activity at the time, things like walking, turning my head, or standing completely still, but those were the scenarios in which I hoped to listen to my music.

Then, 7 months after purchase, the entire right ear-bud goes 95% dead. What little...Read more