Klipsch is one of the best-known manufacturers of headphones in the US, so when it launched a range of in-ear headphones, we were obviously interested. With five models on offer, its has one of the widest selections on the market, and these Custom-3s are at the very top of the range.

What's in the box?
Klipsch ships the Custom-3s in its usual packaging, mixing plastic with a golden box, which gives a luxury finish without falling into the trap of looking like cheap bling.

Inside, there's a whole host of accessories. As well as the huge case (15 x 9 x 3.5 cm), there are five pairs of tips--three in grey silicon and two more double-flanged offerings--, a mini-jack to 6.35 mm jack adaptor, a cleaning tool an aeroplane adaptor.

A smaller case would have been great, but given their size and the shape of the cable, the Custom-3's would never have been able to fit. It's a shame though, as the three Custom models are all more or less the same shape, and the case for the smaller Custom-1s was more manageable.

The cable is finished with a solid exterior, and the ear-wires around the headphones are also robust. This not only makes wearing the Custom-3s more comfortable, but it also makes the ear-wires far less likely to slip off than other headphones.

The Custom-3s look pretty good, and are a little more reserved than the silver Custom-2s. The combination of black and orange is a lot classier, but it's nothing like the distinction of the Q-Jays.

Finally, it's worth pointing out that these headphones sit very deep inside your ears. If you're not used to it, it can be a surprise at first, and even if you are, it takes a little while to get the fit right, especially with the double-flanged tips.

The ear-wires pass over the top of the ear, which is by no means a bad thing, as when headphone wires come down the front, they can often rub against your chin or even a jacket producing irritating interference.

Sound Quality
Playful is the best word to describe the sound of the Custom-3s.  You certainly hear the classic V-shaped resopnse curve, but it's generally under control, without shouty treble or loud, clunking bass.  Although each end of the spectrum is very strong, the mid-range is there, too.  The sound is very clear and well-defined.

The Custom-3s are most at home with classic pop and rock music.  Whether it's live or an a studio recording, with a home-made feeling or an old-fashioned transistor-based amp with their creaking, dirty sound, the warm analog glow is what the Custom-3s do best. 

With funky jazz, orchestral music or acoustic pieces, it's the Q-Jays that do better, despite being part of a less prestigious range.  That isn't that surprisng, as these types of audio are where the Q-Jays really excel, and, to be fair, the Custom-3s aren't awful at them either.  In general, they're more than good enough for the majoirty of audio sources, although we do wish they were better at some.  You still need to spend a little bit of time playing with the equaliser to make sure you don't tire your ears out too quickly.