Klipsch 349 User Manual
R
ecommended
Playback
R
ecommended
Pl a y b a ck
2008
ELECTRONICALLY REPRINTED FROM MAY 2008
For Single Use Only. For Multiple Reprints Contact Wright's Reprints at 877-652-5295.
Accessories: Three sets of ovalshaped single-flange eartips
(sizes S, M, and L), two sets of
oval-shapped double-flange eartips
(size S and L), ¼” jack adaptor,
airline adaptor, cleaning tool,
small carrying pouch, and a larger
carry case that can hold the Images plus an iPod.
Weight: 10 grams
Sensitivity: 110db/mW
Visit klipsch.com/headphones or call
1-800-KLIPSCH for more information.
equipment
iListen
Klipsch Image
[$349]
f you are in the “bigger is better” camp, then
Klipsch’s Image in-ear headphone will come as
I
only the rm’s agship earbuds, but also—by a signicant
margin—the smallest in-ear headphones that Klipsch (or
anybody else) currently makes. But spend a few hours
listening to the tiny Images and you may nd yourself convinced that in their case less is denitely more.
sonic character
Although a bit less sensitive than Klipsch’s Custom-3s (also
reviewed in this survey), the Images also sound extremely
pure, transparent, and open-voiced. Two differences, however, are that the Images provide slightly warmer tonal balance
and offer somewhat more powerful bass. This combination of virtues may make the Image as close to a “perfectly
voiced” earbud as anyone has yet built (though you could
build a good case for a few others, too). One of the Image’s
greatest strengths is its ability to convey low-level sonic
information in a pure, believable, cohesive way. Harmonics,
overtones, and other small details always sound like natural,
organic extensions of the voices from which they originate.
It’s a subtle quality that quickly becomes addictive.
quite a surprise. The Images, you see, are not
Posted with permission from the May 2008 issue of Playback. Copyright 2008, NextScreen, LLC. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized duplication of this article is strictly prohibited.
For more information on reprints or web postings from Playback, contact Wright’s Reprints at 877-652-5295.
46737-12: 0509
iListen
For Single Use Only. For Multiple Reprints Contact Wright's Reprints at 877-652-5295.
musical exam ple
One of the real beauties of the Images is that sound
great on audiophile-grade material (as you would
expect), but also make the most of not-so-perfect
records. On “You Have Loved Enough” from Leonard Cohen’s Ten New Songs [Sony], the Images not
only captured the dark weight and gritty textures of
Cohen’s voice but also contrasted them against the
much lighter, yet still decidedly earthy, overtones
of Sharon Robinson’s voice (Robinson co-wrote the
song with Cohen). What impressed me was the Image’s ability to let me follow even the smallest and
most subtle inections of either performer’s voice—
just as I often do at live concerts. It’s that ability to
invite listeners to relax and lose themselves in the
music that sets the Images apart.
comfort factor
Klipsch Images are, hands down, the most comfortable and easy-to-use in-ear headphones we’ve
ever tested, and comments from rst-time listeners
show why. “Man, these things are a revelation,”
one listener said, “I can’t believe how easy they
are to insert and remove.” Another listener added,
“They slip into your ears so easily, and then give
you instant delity; you don’t have to ddle around
with them to get great bass.” And yet another test
pilot observed, “They’re so light and comfortable
you may forget you’re wearing them.” Credit goes
to Klipsch in two ways. First, the drive mechanisms
of the Images are incredibly small and light, yet
capable of top-shelf performance. Second, Klipsch
has developed patented, soft-rubber eartips that are
oval-shaped, and that t your ear canals much bet-
ter than round eartips typically do. They work like a
charm, and feel terric.
Bottom Line: The Images are superb in
terms of tonal balance, openness, top-tobottom coherency, and attention to small
sonic details and nuances. While Klipsch’s
Custom-3s might offer a hair more resolving power, the Images offer even smoother
highs, while their slightly warmer tonal balance works better with a broader spectrum
of records. In terms of long-term comfort,
however, the Images are in a class of their
own. PB
Tonal Balance
Clarity
Dynamics
Comfort/Fit
Sensitivity
Value
KLIPSCH IMAGE
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
poor
excellent
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