TJ Max

No I haven't tried the S4, those are a little too low-end for my taste. I've really spoiled myself over the years with more higher-end IEMs. I can only compare the Custom 3 to the X5. Yes heavy bass can ruin your hearing in those lower frequencies for extended periods of time. Deep in your ears are tiny hairs, they are responsible for capturing and transmitting the frequencies to the ear drum by electrical signals from thier vibrations, the thick hairs handle the low frequencies, the further back, the thinner they get and handle the higher frequencies. These hairs can get worn out when they become over worked for an extended period of time. Imagine a grassy lawn that you walk across. When you step on the blades of grass they are forced to lay flat. But after a minute or so they slowly start to stand up agian. However if you repeatidly walk on the grass at the same place, those blades of grass will not stand back up, and eventually die. Then you get these patches of dead brown grass on the green lawn. The hair in the ears are the same way, when they are exposed to frequecies at high volumes for long periods of time the hair becomes damaged, You're hearing either becomes numb or you make develope tinitus or ringing in the ears temporarly. When the hairs are no longer able to function, you will no longer be able to hear anything with in the frequency range of the damaged hairs.

Oh you're not kidding, I never did like the fit the oval shaped ear tips on the Custom 3s. I used the Shure E4 tips. And for my Image X5 I'm going to be using simular tips that came with my Phonak Auedos PFE. Rounder tips in my ears seal better, allow a more balance of frequencies, and feel better. As for the Bass, I am really surprised. The bass quantity is a lot stronger than the reviews lead on. If the X10 has more bass then I'm glad I didn't get them it would have been too much for me. Where it does fall short is the Bass 'quality', but any how the bass is a smaller issue for me. I prefer the clarity which I'm not too thrilled with right out of the box.

Oh ok, thats good. Because I really am not feeling those detailed highs that are advertised. On the Zune HD.

I just got mine today and was wondering if the sound will change over time.

From what I understood. With ear buds you should never exceed %70 of the total volume level of the MP3 player. This should put you at about 65-75 db-spl. There is no exact number because of so many variables involved. In other words if your MP3 player has a max volume level of 30, go no higher than 21. This should allow you around 4 hours of safe listening. With In Ear phones, IEMs like the Klipsch. You should not exceed %50 of the total volume level of the MP3 player. Because of their isolation and in ear design %50 should also be within 65-75db-spl. Also its a misconception to think that just because you have -26b isolation with IEMs that you can go into a "louder" environment and be safe. If the outside noise is still audible over the IEMs at 70db-spl then your ears may be taking in around 90-100db-spl which is dangerous. So even with IEMs you should assume the isolation is for a "normal" environment -50db-spl. http://www.sengpielaudio.com/TableOfSoundPressureLevels.htm

This was a good question as I'm waiting on my X5 to arrive in the mail. I plan on pairing them with the Zune HD and and Samsung P3. Has anyone any experience with these combinations?

I'll buy from whom ever gives me the advantage.

I'm thinking of purchasing the Image X5. I see a seller on Amazon named Electronica Direct that sells for a good price. Will Klipsch support the warranty if I bought the X5 from them? EDIT: Nevermind I found the answer on the Head-Fi Forums. The Answer is No.

Hey guys I have a question about using different sized ear tips for each ear. Does the mismatch affect the over all balance of the sound? Like if I have a larger tip in my left ear than my right, would I get more bass in my left ear than my right?

I should have said Thanks long ago to Amy and LaToya who helped me to get a replacement pair. The new set's cables are just as stiff, and starting to show signs of a kink at the jack, but still sound awesome. So basically after sending you a defective pair the first time, they didn't even bother to double quality check the replacment pair to ensure it would'nt happen agian? And it has already starting to show signs of suffering the same fate as the first pair right out of the box?

Yeah the earphones are great, but the wires were a failure. Even if the "Prototype" managed to survive since 2007, a good portion of its copies proved undurable enough to be fit for normal use, even by experienced heaphone users.

Mine also has 2 kinks straight out of the box, and gradually they got worse and more appeared. I for one am in San Diego, CA, there a shortage of extreme coldness here, but even if it were cold I'm sure the IEMs would be in a place that was warm enough like in its case or in a pocket. I hope Prof. Thumb was'nt suggesting that someone would store it in a block of ice!

To Prof. Thump Let me know if either one of these is being stored incorrectly.

Thank You for your reply, I just wanted to add some clarification. This particular pair of C3s already had some kinks when I first took it out of the box1 They gradually became worse as months went on and new ones appeared. I don't use any Twisty ties, and I don't make tight loops when storing them (these are'nt my first pair of IEMs, but the first ones to have this probem). And I don't own an iPod, instead I used a 80GB Zune. However I don't store the C3s in the same case as that Zune, since they don't fit. I used the metalic carring case from Ultimate Ears to store them seperately. I never carried them in my pocket. I only recently started using the Klipsch carrying case when I started using a Cowon D2, its a much smaller device, so the C3s and the D2 fit together in the same case. It is good that your pair are in prestine condition, I which I could have had the same luck. What is the missing varible? I don't abuse or mishandle them. The fabric on them is splitting and the wire underneath is rising to form a small loop. Its better seen in my first and third picture.

No, my first pair shorted out a few months after I got them and my replacement pair has become really bothersome, after some months they have become stiff, and there are *6* places where the fabric has slpit open and wire underneath has risen to form a small loop forcing the cable to bend at a 90 degree angle. I've uploaded some pictures.

Simply returning the Klisch is not going to be possible for everyone. I bought mine directly from Klipsch and I'm already on my replacement pair. We can request that Klipsch make revisions to thier IEMs with improved cables. I have become convinced that a replaceable cord is the way to go. That way if something happens, I can just replace the cord instead of being out of $300 earphones.

Well my experience with the Customs 3 isn't new. I bought my Custom 3 directly from Klipsch. The first pair I had the cable wore out and lost sound in one speaker. They replaced it several weeks later after I returned it to them. Now I'm on my second pair and the cord is starting to decay it seems, there are no audible problems yet, but I have 0 piece of mind about it. I was originally going to post my own thread with my suggestion to Klispch about this cord issue, but I figured 'd post it here since you were haveing the same problem, and already created a thread. They seriously should reconsider replaceible cords, I can't imagine it being too much of a challenge. As for the eartips, you are absolutely right , I was using a trimmed down Shure ear piece on my Klipsch, and they fit perfectly and make them sound great! Thats what I was also suggesting to Klipsch.

The exact same thing has happened to me on 3 different places on the cord! in fact the pvc coat has started poaking out a bit exposing itself even more and I can't get it to lay back down. I must make a request, to Klipsch. If there is ever to be a Custom 4, or perhaps a revision of the previous models. Please, please, please include replaceable cords on them! This should be a must for any earphone over $100. $300 is just too much to spend for a replacement set just because the cord wore out on the last one. I would not mind paying an additional $20-25 on an extra cord included in the box or from Klipsch's store. The IEMs are great, but there is little piece of mind about thier lifespan right now so please consider this. Also can you consider foam and round shaped eartips just for the remainding %40 who have trouble finding the perfect fit with the oval shape. Thanks