Klipsch Image S4 Review
I recently bought a pair of Klipsch Image S4 headphones based on seeing them on a CNET review. I pay close attention to CNET so was fairly impressed to say that these had hit #1 on CNETs Top 5 choices for Best Earbuds Under $100. I was eager to see if theyd live up to their expectations and am happy to report that they have done just that.
Great Sound Quality!
I've had more expensive headphones and I found that the sound quality of these little Klipsch S4s to be absolutely comparable, which was a pleasant surprise. It leaves me seriously questioning whether or not I would ever be happy paying more than $100 for earphones again since it is obvious you really can get great quality at a great price. I was a little surprised to hear how light they were on the bass until I realized I was just hearing the music as it had originally been produced: that the bass I was so used to was actually an artificial sound! Once I got a handle on that I found myself way more excited by hearing every single instrument and even the softest of sounds that I didn't mind losing that constant thumping bass beat.
I Love The Privacy
I find that I like to use earphones to block out sounds around me, particularly as I ride the bus to and from work. From time to time, in the past, Ive had people get my attention and ask me to turn my music down. That's always been a source of annoyance for me since turning it down any more meant listening to all of thembut of course they didnt want to listen to my sounds either. With the Klipsch Image S4s I didn't even have to turn the music up so loud to block everybody out and nobodys stopped to ask me to turn my music down at all. This cuts both ways, however. I'd be wary about putting these in while running or biking as Id have a hard time hearing the sounds I actually need to hear! However, it's nice to avoid cranking up the volume as I know I'm not endangering my future hearing by using these headphones, either.
The Cords Seem Very Durable
I'm not conducting stress tests or anything I want to keep my headphones. But the cords don't typically get tangled up and they don't bend and twist like other headphones Ive owned. You actually are going to need to be aware that it will take you some time to straighten out the wires once you have them out of the box simply because of this durability: they want to hold the shape theyve been put in, not get twisted and turned this way and that. It's kind of like the noise isolation: a great feature that kind of cuts both ways. One of my friends suggested hanging them up overnight to solve the problem and I found that worked well enough.
I Enjoy The Style
The style is simple, basic, and classy. Honestly I sometimes plug these earphones into my computer at work so I can focus and give my coworkers the silent message that it's not a good time to disturb me with office chatter. I would feel fairly self-conscious plugging in ear buds with freaky colors or designs all over them: the basic black and silver is professional and adult. I don't really buy earphones for how they look or anything but the clean design is still worth mentioning.
Yes, I Would Recommend Them
I find this was $78 well spent. It's the first pair of earphones this inexpensive that have lasted me for over a year and so even if they fall apart sometime this year I feel like Ive gotten my moneys worth. If they finally do fall apart Ill probably replace them with another pair: they have earned my loyalty.
