I found this thread because I purchased some used S4s on eBay, and the first thing I noticed was the logo on them was coming off. They came only with the tin and a single pair of (large?) tips. These are clearly used, and the logo issue isn't so much that you can rub it off but it definitely can be scratched off with a fingernail.
Waited until my order of Comply T-100 tips came in to form a final judgement. I purchased these strictly for travel. I have Bose QC2 phones, but I'd much rather take the compact S4s. I also have Sennheiser over the ear phones that are my mainstay and some old Koss too. I work with audio and have some faith that I can differentiate between gradations of quality. I wouldn't call myself an audiophile by any means. I can do a side-by-side comparison with other better and worse (ipod earbuds) headphones though.
From what I've read here in this thread, the fakes suffer from a few common afflictions: (a) not only does the logo rub off, but so does the underlying chrome paint, eventually; ( the back V logo is larger; © sound suffers including over-compensated bass, lack of much room in mid and high range, sibilation.
I'm not finding any of that and I've tested these now with a wide variety of music: reggae, drums & bass, steely dan, neko case, jazz, acoustic ... and the biggest problem is that bass is a bit weaker than I'd like it ... but they are earbuds after all. Everything else sounds good with excellent clarity and decent noise reduction (airplane will be the real test). Not the best audio I've ever heard, but I doubt fakes could sound this crisp. I paid $30, but they're worth $80. A bit loud, if anything.
What would help people in this situation, Amy, is to know:
Is there a large stream of fake S4s now currently on the market? Given the company stance of only supporting qualified vendors, it suggests you are aware of the counterfeit problem.
Do any legitimate S4s suffer from logo peeling, either immediately or over time?
How do customers identify real ones from fake ones, besides purchasing from an approved vendor?
I need my buds for a trip coming up, but I'd be happy to send them into Klipsch after, in July, if it helps the investigation. I think there is a Q/C issue there with the logos peeling eventually, but you're having a hard time with counterfeits too.
