Klipsch X10 earphones: iPhone accessory review

iPhone/iPod Accessory Review: Klipsch X10 earphones
Reviewed by: Bill Henderson
http://www.klipsch.com
Price: $$349.99

In a previous review of the Klipsch S4 earphones ($80), I stated how they are made for the “rest of us,” the ones who cannot afford to drop a cool $350 for a pair of earphones, no matter how good they may sound. And Klipsch managed to make the S4s one of the best-sounding earphones I’ve used regardless of price.

But this is a different review.

For people who can either afford earphones at any price or who demand the best sound available, Klipsch has the X10 earphones, earphones that seem to be made without compromise and without excuses.

First, they are practically weightless. When I first held these, I couldn’t believe how they felt like . . .  nothing. Really. They are that light. The cord weighs more than the earphone itself. Put these in your ears and you feel no pull. The only heaviness you will feel will be in the bass in your music. I am still amazed by this.

The X10’s comfort is also without equal. Klipsch went to a lot of trouble pretty much re-inventing silicon tips to produce hours of stress-free wear. To be fair though, these same tips are available across the entire price range of Klipsch earphones.

As for the design, simply put, they are stunningly beautiful. The trademark Klipsch copper metal housing is classy and elegant. The build quality is as good as the looks. And the pack-ins are numerous. Two cases, silicone tips in three sizes, airplane and 1/4 inch adapters and cleaning tool.

But, lets get to the bottom line: Are these phones worth the extra money?

Well, yeah, but with some explanation. The improvement in sound between stock earbuds and the S4s is dramatic. But comparing the S4s and X10s side-by-side, the difference is not as noticeable. However, the difference you do hear is an effortless, transparent quality to music, much like an actor with so much talent, he makes it look easy. Thats the difference in the X10s.

Take the bass, for instance. It’s not like, “Oh, wow, what bass!” Not at all. The bass is there to support the music, not thump your eardrums. But keep in mind that music that has a thumping bass will, well, thump. But its not artificial. That’s the key difference. What’s there is there and what isn’t, isn’t. It’s that simple.

The same goes with the mid-ranges and the highs. The music plays on and on without wearing you down like some cheaper earphones can do with extended listening. It’s hard to quantify without actually trying it out for yourself.

Despite everything the X10s have, please understand that they are not for casual listening. If you rip your music into 128-bit mp3 files, save your money. These earphones will instantly reveal just how bad your music sounds.

However, if you rip music at 256 or 320 kbps or better yet, lossless, then you will be rewarded. I re-ripped some CDs into Apple lossless files and I could hear subtleties I had missed before. Old favorites, like Jeff Beck’s “Truth” album, showcases Rod Stewart’s gravelly voice with more character and emotion. The horns from Blood Sweat and Tears’ “Child is Father to the Man” album no longer produce a brassy wall of sound but instead separate into individual brass instruments that are harmonizing. It’s little things like that which make the X10s worth the price difference.

If you value the quality of your music listening over the quantity of songs you possess, and can appreciate subtleties that only premium earphones can showcase, and have the means to satisfy these aural cravings, then the Klipsch X10s are all the justification you need.

Score:
10/10

Tags: Accessory, app, Apple, case, earphones, iPhone, OS, review

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