iListen

musical example

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 Leon- ard 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 Im- age’s ability to let me follow even the smallest and most subtle inflections 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 com-

fortable and easy-to-use in-ear headphones we’ve ever tested, and comments from first-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 fidelity; you don’t have to fiddle 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 fit your ear canals much better than round eartips typically do. They work like a charm, and feel terrific.

Bottom Line: The Images are superb in terms of tonal balance, openness, top-to- bottom 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

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Klipsch Image

Tonal Balance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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