Klipsch Image X7i review: Ceramic beauties

Over the years, Klipsch's Image S4 line of sub-$100 earphones has received very positive reviews from CNET editors. The newer S4 II, S4i II (for iOS devices), and S4A II (for Android devices) look and sound the same as the original S4 but have a new flat cord that's both tangle-resistant and more durable.

7.3

Klipsch Image X7i

The Good

The comfortable <b>Klipsch Image X7i</b> in-ear headphones have sleek and durable ceramic earpieces, offer good, clean sound with lots of detail, and feature the same tangle-resistant flat cord found on the step-down S4i II model. An integrated Apple-friendly remote/microphone and a nice, compact carrying case are included.

The Bad

Bass lovers probably won't be satisfied by the amount of bass; inline-remote features aren't compatible with most non-Apple smartphones.

The Bottom Line

While their price is a little too steep, the X7i earphones are slick-looking and comfortable, and deliver clean, detailed sound.

So what about the step-up X7i, which lists for twice as much at $199.99? How much better an earphone experience do you get for that extra dough? And more precisely, is it worth paying for?

The answer to that will most likely depend on how good a deal you can get on the X7i earphones, which come in white or black. I liked them better than the S4i II model -- they have a swankier ceramic design, as well as cleaner, more detailed sound. But they aren't twice as good as the S4i II model, which is why the price is such a factor.

Polished earpieces
I reviewed another pair of ceramic in-ear headphones recently, the Moshi Keramo. The design gives the earpieces a polished, onyxlike look, and both companies claim ceramic is very durable (presumably, it's more durable than plastic).

The Klipsch X7i earpieces are a little smaller than the Keramo earpieces and slightly more comfortable to wear. But the $119 Keramos arguably sound as good. Both have more of an audiophile sound profile, as neither model overaccentuates the bass.

In terms of added features, the X7i model incorporates the same new flat, linguine-style cord found in the S4 II line, as well as a three-button Apple-friendly inline remote/microphone that won't fully work with most (if not all) Android mobile devices.

The compact protective case you get with the X7i earphones is different from the S4i II case. Both cases are good, though the X7i case has faux microsuede styling and is slightly more luxurious. It actually looks a lot like the case that comes with the Etymotic HF5 earphones, which also feature an audiophile sound profile. That model costs less but doesn't have a microphone for making calls.

Performance
One of the keys to what makes Klipsch earphones good is the angle of the earphones' post (what the eartip attaches to) and the conical shape of the silicone eartips, of which four sizes come included. The combination creates a comfortable fit and Klipsch arguably makes the best-designed silicone eartips, giving a tight seal, which is crucial for maximizing bass response.

Comparing the X7is with the S4 IIis, I found the X7i earphones had cleaner, more detailed sound, with slightly tighter bass. Again, neither of these models really pumps out the bass the way the V-Moda Remix earphones do, for example, so if you're a bass lover, you'll probably be disappointed.

I liked the sound of the X7i. Similar to the S4 IIi's sound, it's well-balanced and pleasant -- but clearer at the same time. I also found the earphones comfortable to wear for long periods.

My only problem with the X7i earphones is that when you get into earphones that cost more than $150, you start expecting a lot, and they didn't deliver quite as much as I was hoping. They're quite decent, but I was just left wanting a little more; for the money, they could have been a touch more dynamic and little bit more open.

Conclusion
If you've read this far, you've probably noticed I have mixed emotions about the X7i earphones. On the one hand, they're very slick-looking noise-isolating in-ear headphones that are comfortable to wear -- and they sound good. But if you came to me and asked whether you should buy this over the S4i II or another $100 model, I'd have some reservations.

The Moshi Keramo earphones, which also feature ceramic earpieces, offer similar sound for around $120, though they're arguably not quite as comfortable. And there are plenty of other options in the $50-to-$150 range, including the Phonak Audeo Perfect Fit Earphones PFE 022 + Mic.

The long and short of it is that the Klipsch Image X7i earphones are a very good in-ear model that would be easier to fully recommend if they cost about $50 to $75 less. If you find them for that price, they're certainly worth considering.