Klipsch Image S4i [2009]

Suddenly, it seems the market is full of earphones intended specifically for the iPhone and recent iPods—most of them even have the letter "i" in their names, but it would be a mistake to assume they're all "i"dentical. Klipsch's new Image S4i ($99.99 direct) is one of the first products to offer full control for the "voice-over" feature on the latest iPod shuffle, as well as iPhone controls and a mic. What makes it a true stand-out, however, is the S4i's sound quality and price: For $100, you get excellent bass response and overall performance.

Part of what makes the Image S4i a winner is its secure fit—essential for providing quality bass response and an accurate stereo image. In the box you get four sets of silicone ear tips in various shapes and sizes, ensuring all ears can find a tight fit. Everyone's ears are different, but the tips that came attached to the earpieces worked perfectly for me—they blocked out external noise significantly and created a comfortable seal that stayed in place for long listening periods. Also included with the black-and-silver Image S4i: A velvet, snap-close carrying pouch and a cleaning tool for the earpieces. The black cables that connect each earpiece become one just above the slender black rectangular controller that houses the microphone and the buttons for iPhone and iPod control.

Klipsch keeps the button array simple—three total, for music playback and call answering. Depending on how many taps or how long you hold a button, you can fast forward, skip tracks, answer calls, and even activate voice controls. And if you have the latest shuffle, you can use it to contol the robot voice telling you what song and artist you're listening to. To learn the button taps, the user manual is a must—at first, that is, but once you start using them, they're easy to remember.

It should be noted, however, that the S4i, like all earphones that include the Apple chip for iPhone and iPod controls, might not work seamlessly with all phones or MP3 players. You'll definitely be able to listen to music, but you can't expect full call support or device control. All of the functions of the the S4i are guaranteed to work with the iPhone 3GS, the second-generation iPod touch, the fourth-generation iPod nano, and the iPod classic 120GB.

The iPhone isn't known for top-notch call quality and there's nothing even the excellent drivers on the Image S4i can do about this. Still, answering and placing calls is a snap—a streamlined, one button process—and the mic and earpieces are clear enough for you to hear and be heard by others intelligibly.

Where the Image S4i truly shines is audio performance. While not flat, the frequency response that Klipsch has sculpted is complimentary to most musical genres. Rap, electronic, and hard rock all benefit from the excellent bass response—the S4i covers the subwoofer range that so many earphones skip, but without sounding muddy or exaggerated. At nearly full volume, the Knife's Silent Shout sounded spectacular; the low-end pumped articulately with zero distortion. On more fragile and subtle pieces, like the orchestral works in Jonny Greenwood's There Will Be Blood score, the drivers brought out the beautiful low-end resonance of larger stringed instruments. And in all genres, the earphones were crisp in the high frequencies without being too harsh.

Shure's SE102MPA is another fantastic-sounding $100-range option, but with control for the third generation shuffle's voice-over features, along with support for the iPhone 3GS and latest iPods, the S4i has a slight edge. This kind of sound quality at this price is rare, so the Klipsch Image S4i wins our Editors' Choice for the best earphones with built-in mic for iPhone users.

Specifications

Type
In-Canal
Sealing
Sealed
Noise-canceling
Passive
Sensitivity
110 dB SPL per 1 mW
Frequency Range
10Kz-19kHz
Impedance
18 ohms
Weight
0.42 oz