Klipsch Image S4i

Before we go on with the review, I think it’s a prerogative that I give a head’s up first that when I mentioned that the Image S4i is meant for the iPhone, it really means that. The S4i will not work with smartphones other than the iPhone due to the volume controller and built-in mic that is made to work specifically with the iPhone. Fret not however, as there is also the Klipsch Image S4A for use with Android-based smartphones. The S4i technically should work with standard MP3 players as well, but if you’re

Review Continues After The Jump!

*Apologies for the stock images, we have had some technical difficulties on our end. We will be appending the review with some photos as soon as we can!

The S4i’s earpieces are packed with what they call Dynamic Moving Micro Coil Speakers and patented oval silicone ear tips that ensure a nice tight fit when the S4i is in your ears. Don’t fret if your earhole sizes are too big or too small because Klipsch has also included ear tips of different sizes for people with different needs.

As mentioned earlier, S4i comes equipped with a microphone, call answer and volume control buttons that make it a great mobile handsfree kit as well.

Trying out the S4i for the first time, I’ve found out there are two ways one can put on the earphones. One of which is to just push them in as you would any other earphones until you can’t hear the sound outside. Whilst convenient, the earpiece sticks out and it just doesn’t feel very comfortable wearing it that way.

The second and correct way to wear it, as I found out is to actually coil the top portion of the cable around your ears, and slot it in from the top of your ears. This ensures a properly snug fit, and looks less awkward than the first method.

Listen To The Song of My People

Where sound quality is concerned, the S4i is spectacular for its price tag. Without the new of any amp or DAC, the S4i projects a pretty decent soundscape, with excellent treble, audible lows and decent highs. Paired with any USB DAC, the lows and highs get bumped up a few notches, which works both ways good and bad depending on the kinds of songs you’re listening to.

With the S4i, we tested it with songs by the likes of Alex Clare, Ellie Goulding and Deadmau5, noting that the bass levels were thumpy, but not headache inducing. Instrumental bands that use a lot of percussions like Safri Duo sound stellar when listened to using the S4i, making me tap along to the music as if I was actually there listening to them perform.

Now you may ask, is it good with movies? Long story short, yes and no. Yes if the source material is HD, not so much if the audio has a low bitrate, which causes sound to muddle up, which gets annoying after some time. This is by no means a Sennheiser or Stax headset, so don’t go around expecting rainbows to go into your ears.

Wear and Tear

There is, however one criticism I have of the Image S4i. The cables on the earphones are pretty thin, and as such, may be prone to snapping if not handled with care. That said, Klipsch is pretty generous in providing a padded metal case for the S4i, so that the headphones stay safe wherever you bring it to.

Conclusion

The Klipsch Image S4i isn’t by any means the newest and greatest pair of IEMs out there, but for its price and the sound quality that it offers, it’s certainly one of the most bang-for-the-buck pair at RM399.

Contributed by our on-call audiophile Mr Shah Shah-ington

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