[jfsebastian]

I was planning on upgrading from Shure E4Cs to Sure SE530s until I heard about the new Klipsch Image earphones. After looking for them on the Web I saw the Custom 3 model as well. I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts or opinions on Klipsch earphones, especially compared to Shure's top-end range?

I would like to invest my hard earned cash in a pair of earphones that have excellent sound (of course) but are also well made and durable, with good noise-isolating capabilities and a good fit.

I know that Shure are generally perceived to be the best for top-end earphones but I know very little about Klipsch's products and reputation. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[asimm]

Originally Posted by jfsebastian

I was planning on upgrading from Shure E4Cs to Sure SE530s until I heard about the new Klipsch Image earphones. After looking for them on the Web I saw the Custom 3 model as well. I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts or opinions on Klipsch earphones, especially compared to Shure's top-end range?

I would like to invest my hard earned cash in a pair of earphones that have excellent sound (of course) but are also well made and durable, with good noise-isolating capabilities and a good fit.

I know that Shure are generally perceived to be the best for top-end earphones but I know very little about Klipsch's products and reputation. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Can't comment on the Klipsch's but if it helps the Shures offer fantastic sound, noise isolation is great (they beat some noise cancelling headphones on the Gadget Show the other week) and are incredibly well built and feel built to last a very long time.

[Reano]

Another vote for the 530's... You may be able to find the e500 (which is the one before the e530) but some have said it's the same phone but repackaged.... Not sure if thats true as having found the e500 I have stopped searching for now.

[spl23]

Another vote for the Shure E500 / SE530s from me - the best headphone I've heard. They sound great driven by an iPod, and even better driven by a decent hi-fi system. They're in a different league from everything else I've tried - well worth the money.

[mpw2081]

these seem very good from reviews i have read

Denon AH-C351 £39.00 ish

Sennheiser CX300 noise-isolating earphone £34.00 ish

hope this helps

mark

[Reano]

Originally Posted by mpw2081

these seem very good from reviews i have read

Denon AH-C351 £39.00 ish

Sennheiser CX300 noise-isolating earphone £34.00 ish

hope this helps

mark

But they may not be an upgrade from his Shure e4c

[whitesnake11]

Originally Posted by jfsebastian

I was planning on upgrading from Shure E4Cs to Sure SE530s until I heard about the new Klipsch Image earphones. After looking for them on the Web I saw the Custom 3 model as well. I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts or opinions on Klipsch earphones, especially compared to Shure's top-end range?

I would like to invest my hard earned cash in a pair of earphones that have excellent sound (of course) but are also well made and durable, with good noise-isolating capabilities and a good fit.

I know that Shure are generally perceived to be the best for top-end earphones but I know very little about Klipsch's products and reputation. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have the SE 530's, stunning is the only word to use.

[boardingdan]

Originally Posted by whitesnake11

I have the SE 530's, stunning is the only word to use.

I have to agree, I haven't heard the Klipsch Image earphones your asking about, but to be honest the SE530 are that good you won't regret it if you just bought them and never looked at the other ones. the clarity of the sound is amazing so natural, you'd swear the they we playing inside your head. Plus they are the best noise canceling headphone.
I have to admit that I had to modify the in ear plug to fit comfortably by cutting off the the first of the 3 rubber flanges, but now they fit so good I can lie in bed with my head on it's side on the pillow and it's conformable to even sleep with.
Doesn't really answer your question but just saying you won't go wrong with the SE530.

An play.com have them for £199.99 at the moment

[mikes1]

The Shure Se 530's are excellent but as an alternative have a look at Westone Um2's slightly lower spec but also comfortable and easy to use.

Lower cost too if you acquire some via the US

triple fi 10 pro is very good...i have a pair and they sound great

[Steven]

I have a pair of Shure E4G's (black gaming edition of E4C) and bought Westone UM2's

Post here

To update on that post, I have since bought the black shure foam tips. The new style ones that came along with the new line. The tips are great comfort and fit wise and really help make the bass more pronounced in the Shure's. But everything I made in that post still applies and the UM2s are my choice of IEM

Of course I have largely ignored the Shure SE series so it is worth doing research on that front

[psikey]

Shure SE530's. Second to non for comfort & quality but if your used to cheaper base heavy ones you may think the 530's lack base even though most reviews say they have great base. Its what your used too I suppose.

Coming from Sony cheap (£40 max) type ones the Shures are supremely clean & sharp but I've had to use EQ to get more base on my W960i & iPod purely because I'm used to base heavy Sony ones even though I now realise the Sony heavy base dulls out everything else.

Other problem I had was top quality ones highlight imperfections in 128kbps files I originally based my iTunes library o & I'm now re-doing them all in 256-320kbps Talk about time consuming

[heavysoul]

Hi, my first post here!

I came across this site when searching for reviews on earphones to replace my Shure E3Cs which have seen better days!!

So... I've ended up ordering the SE530s and am eagerly awaiting delivery this morning!!

Come on postie!!

...... hang on, a bright red Royal Mail van has just pulled up outside!!

[Steven]

Originally Posted by psikey

Other problem I had was top quality ones highlight imperfections in 128kbps files I originally based my iTunes library o & I'm now re-doing them all in 256-320kbps Talk about time consuming

Just to point out you should either be starting from scratch by ripping from CDs or from lossless files

Converting files into a higher bitrate will not help at all and actually makes the SQ worse as you are adding in another layer of distortion

Why? You cannot put back in what you have already lost

[andyUK101]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Just to point out you should either be starting from scratch by ripping from CDs or from lossless files

Converting files into a higher bitrate will not help at all and actually makes the SQ worse as you are adding in another layer of distortion

Why? You cannot put back in what you have already lost

Agreed,

If you are using the SE530s you really wont be doing them justice with 128kpbs mps/aac

I would definitely rerip all the music you intend to use as 320kpbs or consider an alternate player such as Sony

I have an Ipod Touch and an old Sony HD5 and the sound quality is miles better on the Sony, despite the quirkyness of the firmware

[whitesnake11]

Originally Posted by andyUK101

Agreed,

If you are using the SE530s you really wont be doing them justice with 128kpbs mps/aac

I would definitely rerip all the music you intend to use as 320kpbs or consider an alternate player such as Sony

I have an Ipod Touch and an old Sony HD5 and the sound quality is miles better on the Sony, despite the quirkyness of the firmware

I have a Cowon D2 and convert music using FLAC files, the sound is superb through my SE530's

[andyUK101]

Originally Posted by whitesnake11

I have a Cowon D2 and convert music using FLAC files, the sound is superb through my SE530's

Ive been thinking about a new audio player to replace the HD5 but hadnt looked at Cowon

I used to have an Iriver 140 and it was superb but didnt last very long - flac playback would be excellent as i really notice the different between different quality encodes on the shures

At home i use a set of UE superfi 5.pro with a creative Xmod and they sound fantastic

[psikey]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Just to point out you should either be starting from scratch by ripping from CDs or from lossless files

Converting files into a higher bitrate will not help at all and actually makes the SQ worse as you are adding in another layer of distortion

Why? You cannot put back in what you have already lost

Cheers, I know that bit but thanks anyway.

Most of my tracks are 320kbps mp3 in WMP11 but I created iTunes Library at 128AAC for the limited memory on the Nano. I'm mostly recreating the iTunes library now from the 320kbps mp3 files but I also have to re-rate them again which is the time consuming bit (I make big use of star rating playlists).

[psikey]

Originally Posted by andyUK101

Agreed,

If you are using the SE530s you really wont be doing them justice with 128kpbs mps/aac

I would definitely rerip all the music you intend to use as 320kpbs or consider an alternate player such as Sony

I have an Ipod Touch and an old Sony HD5 and the sound quality is miles better on the Sony, despite the quirkyness of the firmware

Yes my Walkman W960i phone sounds better than my iPod Nano and am now using clean 320kpbs mp3's

[whitesnake11]

Originally Posted by andyUK101

Ive been thinking about a new audio player to replace the HD5 but hadnt looked at Cowon

I used to have an Iriver 140 and it was superb but didnt last very long - flac playback would be excellent as i really notice the different between different quality encodes on the shures

At home i use a set of UE superfi 5.pro with a creative Xmod and they sound fantastic

Cowon are well worth a look if your thinking about a new player, it uses SDHC memory cards as well, capacity depends on your pocket