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Topic: Klipsch X1 In-Ear (Read 7900 times) previous topic - next topic
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Klipsch X1 In-Ear

First of all: no, I don't have any benefit from posting this. I just want to share an icredible bargain considering in-ear's. I recently purchased a pair of Klipsch X1 earphones at a large UK internet shop at GBP 18. I don't have any of those high-priced in-ears (e.g Shure) to compare to, but for me they sound absolutely astonishing - no comparision to all those Sennheiser, Creative and Sony earphones I owned so for. There's no boomy bass, the sound seems very linear to me, and incredible detailed for such a tiny device. I'd rather compare it with a big Sennheiser - maybe the HD 5xx range. For 18 bucks!, can't quite believe it yet

Klipsch X1 In-Ear

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Northpack on
First of all: no, I don't have any benefit from posting this. I just want to share an icredible bargain considering in-ear's. I recently purchased a pair of Klipsch X1 earphones at a large UK internet shop at GBP 18. I don't have any of those high-priced in-ears (e.g Shure) to compare to, but for me they sound absolutely astonishing - no comparision to all those Sennheiser, Creative and Sony earphones I owned so for. There's no boomy bass, the sound seems very linear to me, and incredible detailed for such a tiny device. I'd rather compare it with a big Sennheiser - maybe the HD 5xx range. For 18 bucks!, can't quite believe it yet


I've read about these on another website with positive feedback. Would you say they are sensitive enough to be used with a recent(ish) UK iPod? The UK iPods have an EU volume cap so I'm interested in how easy these phones are to drive. Thanks

Klipsch X1 In-Ear

Reply #2 –
They are quite sensitive, though not as sensitive as the Sennheiser. The spec sheet says 106db, whereas the Sennheiser CX 300-II are 113db. They sound quite good too (better than the old CX 300) and are more comfortable to wear than the Klipsch. If you can get them for GBP 14, they are great value as well.

Are you shure that there isn't any hack or firmware update for the iPod which disables the limit?

Klipsch X1 In-Ear

Reply #3 –
Thanks for the input.

I've not been able to find a volume hack for the current iPod Nano (5th Gen) as detailed here: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=80145

If I keep it I'll need some new headphones and some in ear (the latter being very old and need replacing)

My Senn HD 485 are rated at 110 sensitivity. Yes quite high and never a problem on my old (and dead) iPod 5g (1st gen video). The new CX-300 II sound interesting. Idealy I need to find a store that has them and will let me try them out.

The Klipsch X1 are being labelled as 'the bargain of the sentry' on several forums. Do the Sennheiser CX-300 II sound as good to you?
 

Klipsch X1 In-Ear

Reply #4 –
Quote from: ManekiNeko on
The Klipsch X1 are being labelled as 'the bargain of the sentry' on several forums. Do the Sennheiser CX-300 II sound as good to you?


Not quite as good, but it somewhat depends on your personal taste. The Sennheiser are heavier on the bass and generally sound "wamer" than the Klipsch, which are more "analytical" and reveal more details. I guess when listening to strongly produced pop and rock music the Sennheiser might even sound more appealing than the Klipsch (especially if there's much reverb laid on the vocals, the latter tend to sound sibilant).

Both are great value. Why not order both of them via Amazon, try them and just keep the one you like better (or keep both, they are just GBP 30 together and it's always good to have a backup)?

Klipsch X1 In-Ear

Reply #5 –
I bought Klipsch Image X1 from Amazon UK and they arrived today.  I find them disappointing.  OK I know they are very cheap but so are Sennheiser CX 300, and my CX 95s only cost £10 more.  The bass is nice, not exaggerated or booming but the midrange and higher frequencies are distinctly muted (or should that be muted and indistinct?).  This means a rather dull sound.  It's especially and painfully noticeable with vocals and another obvious effect is that individual sounds/instruments/singers are not so distinct or detailed, there is a narrower stereo image and zero illusion of depth.  I now understand what people mean when they say they experienced something like a mono effect or a displeasingly obvious in-the-head effect using in-ear phones.  I've been using in-ear phones for a long time, having owned Sony EX 71, Shure E2c, some Panasonics, some Razer ProTones and currently use either of my Sennheiser CXs, so I'm familiar with choosing the right tips and getting the best fit and keeping the phones and my ears clean!  The Klipschs are better than the usual fare that ships with a personal player and aren't anywhere near as bad as the Panasonics; they don't exaggerate the bass like the Sonys, but compared to the Shures and the Sennheisers they seem quite poor.  Their best features are the isolation which is up there with the Shures, and the fact that there is hardly any noise generated when the cable gets touched.  I bought them primarily because the Sennheisers offer next to nothing in terms of isolation (I left the Shures on a plane and could kick myself) but it seems the Klipschs don't really offer much except isolation. I guess I'll like them more when I'm out in town with the music competing with the noise of buses and trucks and motorbikes.

For what it's worth I listen to lots of different types of music, from medieval polyphonic chant, lutenists, baroque orchestral, chamber music, big orchestral pieces, right through to loud heavy guitar bands and sometimes electronic stuff with the kind of slamming bass that seems to turn you inside out.  This isn't a genre thing.  And when I had my ears tested for work it turned out that they both work fine 

Anyway I'd not recommend these unless isolation is the biggest priority and money is really tight.

Klipsch X1 In-Ear

Reply #6 –
Strange how perceptions differ. For me the Klipsch have a much more accentuated mid range than the Sennheiser. The Sennheiser have this typical bathtub signature to them - much bass, reduced mid range and a spike of heights around 10khz. The Klipsch seem to bee much more even - less bass, more mid range and better distributed heights - than the Sennheiser (especially there's more going on above 10khz). So maybe we have completely different HTRFs or the quality spread on the Klipsch is quite high.

EDIT: I did a test with 14 and 16khz sine waves and the Klipsch gave a louder signal at those frequencys, despite of beeing less sensitive overall. I could clearly hear a 18khz sine wave with the Klipsch, but not at all with the Sennheiser.

Klipsch X1 In-Ear

Reply #7 –
Yes, completely different experience!  I've spent several hours today listening with the Klipschs and with CX 300 and CX 95.  I found that the bass with the Klipsch phones is really nice and well defined and definitely more prominent than with the Sennheisers, which both have good bass and, for me, distinctly better midrange and higher frequencies.  I guess poor quality assurance could play a part but I suspect that a huge factor is the fit.  I've read many reviews praising the Klipschs as being extraordinarily comfortable to wear while the Sennheisers often get remarks about the buds not staying in.  My experience is that the Sennheisers are as comfortable as any I've used (I often forget to remove them after the music stops playing but the player flying off the table when I get up is quite a good reminder    and I can fall sleep easily with them in) while with the Klipschs I find I can't be unaware of their physical presence.  Taking them out is a relief.  I find them more intrusive than the Shure E2cs I used to have.  I might try some Comply foam tips, as I'm totally unconvinced by Klipsch's relatively firm oval tips,  having used lots of in-ear phones with boring plain old round tips, both foam and soft silicone, and never before had such difficulty with the comfort and fit.