[Incredible Custom 3 Price On Amazon - WARNING NOT AUTHORIZED]

I really wish Klipsch would release a new version of the C3's. I loved the sound and unfortunately the nozzle on the left side just broke [:'(]. I am considering a set of the new Image One's but would love to see a resurrection of the C3 IEM's with different cabling.

I hear ya! =D

[Quality assurance discussion]

Culled from another thread to avoid going off-topic.

I respect your opinion. However, if my experience was so unique, many of the older threads in this forum should not have occured.
For the record, I purcahsed my Klipsch Custom 3s from a local authorized dealer in my area (BC, Canada).

Unfortunately, when I attempted to have my concerns dealt with through official warranty channels, I was unable to even get a response from the company that Klipsch had subcontracted their Canadian business to.

I appreciated that when Amy on this board was made aware of my predicament, she attempted to make my situation whole. The tipping point was when I received a replacement set, and out of the box, it had a worse kink at the headphone plug than the set I returned under RMA. I would have expected that a replacement product under RMA would at least have been even cursorily examined to ensure the item is in a condition worthy of the Klipsch name.

What that demonstrated to me is a lack of care for the end user. I understand that Klipsch prides itself on being a smaller company with strong community ties. That is why I found my personal experience so in congruous with what I understood Klipsch stood for.

While I understand you may not desire to have negative threads posted in the 'official' Klipsch forums, I feel this is a matter that needs to be presented to Klipsch in order for them to learn from. I think most would agree that $299 is no small amount of money for an average consumer, and if nothing else, it entitles me to an opinion.

I have never been asked by a Klipsch representative what my experience was with the process, nor was I given the opportunity to present feedback. I have taken my time to present my observations in a respectful manner in the hopes of educating others.

I do find it ironic that you mention that your own images are experiencing what appears to be a fairly common strain relief issue, yet you appear to have no concerns dropping hard earned money for a product that in my mind obviously requires further investigation into.

It's too bad there's no such thing as recall legislation like there is in the automotive industry to force companies to make whole consumers suffering from a manufacturing defect.

In response to:

No long term experience with the Custom 3 but have had Custom 2 since when they first became available. Absolutely no problems with the cabling or sheathing though after a lot of use over 13 months I was able to get the Image x10. The Custom 2 are pretty much as the day I took them out of the packaging.

My image x10 on the other hand have developed the dreaded splitting of the strain reliefs but not severe and have not gotten worse. Didn't notice any problems until I'm sure well after a year. I probably need to send them in while still under warranty but frankly have been a bit paranoid that I'd get a set not as good as the one's I have.

I've wondered a couple of things abou the problems with the cables. Klipsch I think had said they did not change the cable design. I've met the audio engineer who did the acoustic design work. Even got to try the Custom and original IMAGE as prototypes. I have no reason to believe they'd cover up a change.

But people have had issues. And here's my totally unofficial wild speculations what might have happened.

• Potentially suppliers supplying compenents not quite up to spec or changing the spec. I'm sure Klipsch does a better job of most companies of keeping an eye on their manufacturers in China but it's possible things slip through the cracks.
• Maybe a bad batch or two of cabling that didn't meet specs got through quality control
• Maybe factory shipped out a few of the rejects.

Other things and I think this would be very unlikely to occur for items obtained directly from Klipsch or authorized retailers unless they obtained some stock from unauthorized sources.

• B stock goods (those with defects) making it into the distribution channels. Maybe tossed out or sold instead of being destroyed.
• Counterfeits. Copyright and patent laws at best seem to be rather loosely enforced in China, if at all.
• I would be very leary of buying the Klipsch 'phones from an unauthorized retailer or distributor for these reasons.

I think in testing the only thing the engineers have found that would cause problems with the x10 (and x5) cables is gasoline. I've noticed with my x10's they appear to have a very fine seam but maybe the strain relief was supposed to be a solid molding. (my theory of suppliers cutting corners without Klipsch's approval).

Just my very humble opinions but even with my splitting strain reliefs on my x10's they are very well built. Cables remain nice and flexible.

Unfortunately, however it has happened, some people have gotten some 'phones that just aren't up to standards. And gotten replacements that were bad. I suspect that the percentage of bad 'phones is relatively small or maybe limited to one or two production runs? Or somebody was asleep somewhere.

[Upgrade from S4. Confused C3/X10]

I would caution against the Custom 3.

When they were manufactured, the cable sheath used has a tendency to kink, and my original set and the RMA'd set I received right from Klipsch suffered from BAD kinks right out of the box. This resulted in an extremely shortened service life, and I felt I got an extremely poor return on investment.

Strangely, a set of Custom 1 I still use were manufactured with a looser weave cable sheath. Although it is more prone to 'fuzzing', it doesn't suffer from the kinking issue the Custom 3s had.

Once again, I do want to state that the Custom 3s sounded amazing, so Klipsch got that part right. I just can't get the stick out of my behind about how shoddily they were made.

[S4i cable meets jack - Klipsch you must redesign it]

Heh... I forgot I registered for this forum a while back, and recently I received a notification about activity in a thread I had subscribed to long ago.

At least you're not out $299 like I am for a set of Klipsch Custom 3s that had kinked cabling straight out of the package. I sent them back to Klipsch at my cost, and they sent me out a brand new pair with an even worse kink right by the jack. At this point I gave up. It was clear Klipsch simply doesn't have the quality control over their manufacturing/shipping.

It's a shame too, considering the Custom 3s were the best sounding IEMs I had ever heard. I put away a set of MB Quart QP240 cans after taking the Custom 3s for a test drive. As a geek and an audiophile, I really wish Klipsch was able to do more. I have a reasonable amount of disposable income, and I spend the money when I know what I like. The sound quality of their products is superb. I simply have zero faith in their quality assurance and build quality for me to drop any more money on their products.

[registering on line = free ear gels]

Hi guys, After reading about these free ear gels, I went to register my S4's and the website is giving me an "Internal Sever Error" and thus won't let me even attempt to register them. Help anyone? Thanks

Yes, I am having the same issue. They are aware and are working on the problem. Sit tight. They should have it up and running in a few days!

[Custom 3 cables]

So, an update for those of you that follow this thread. I have been asked to send my IEMs into Micron Canada. I have been notified I will probably get my hardware back at the end of the month.

I'm heading out of town next week and I intended to take my IEMs. Stupidly, I forgot to mention that in my communication to Klipsch, so I picked up a pair of Custom 1s to tide me over... I am happy to state that the cable sheath on this set is not kinked like my Custom 3s, and it also seems to be made of a less dense weave than the Custom 3s. They also don't sound like the Custom 3s, but I knew that already... =P

[Custom 3 cables]

E-mail sent to you today, Amy.
Thanks for looking into this for me.
M.

[Custom 3 cables]

Even better?

As a Canadian, after completing a support request through promedia@klipsch.com, I was redirected to www.microncanada.ca whom never even responded to my request for assistance.

Needless to say, if no one gets back to me before the warranty period expires, I will be boycotting Klipsch and dissuading anyone in all of the online/local communities I frequent to support Klipsch at all.

I personally don't feel like I have unrealistic expectations, and so far, it has been an extremely disappointing ownership experience.
I hope if anyone on this board actually has pull within the Klipsch organization, that s/he will find the time to bring our concerns to the attention of someone who can do something for us.

A very dissatisfied customer,
Michael

[Custom 3 cables]

I purchased my set of Custom 3s in July 08. Out of the box, the cable was kinked because of the very tight wrapping by the packager.

I had given it time to try to unkink itself, but I too am not very happy with the fact that I paid $300 plus local taxes for a set of headphones that have a permanently kinked cable which is leading to premature wear.

If I was a Klipsch Quality Assurance manager, I would visit the Custom 3 packaging warehouse to correct this problem before they get indunuated with RMAs for worn/broken cables.

On a positive note, these headphones are like manna from heaven. I never thought I would find a set of in-ear phones that actually sound better than my MB Quart QP-240 open air monitors (bearing in mind I'm comparing these things without a headphone amplifier on my portable player versus plugged into my home audio setup).

Noise isolation is excellent, and the over the ear design has been what I have been waiting for. As a motorcyclist, I have tried all manner of earphones, and when I discovered the Custom 3s, it was almost as if the designers were reading my mind!