Klipsch Image S2

After aiming high with its Custom and Image X headphones, Klipsch has returned to more traditional consumers with the new Image S range.  That starts with the S2s, which come in two different versions, one for audio players and the other for mobile phones.

Handling: just like the rest of the family!

It turns out the S range has more than just taken its inspiration from the Image X family.  Once you remove the gold/silver/copper exterior, you're left with a very standard pair of black headphones: less classy, but still refined and well-designed.  The other advantage, of course, is how they fit into your ear, with the earphones sliding right into the ear canal.  They're not likely to prove uncomfortable for anybody, even if you've never worn in-ear headphones before.

We also liked the sliding clip on the headphone cable which brings the two halves together.  That means you can choose to wear the S2s with the cable running down your back, for instance.  The ration of accessories is very stingy though: three different sizes of ear tips and a soft case really isn't very much and we were disappointed.

Audio Quality: we've heard worse from entry-level headphones

Although the S2s have all of the usual problems of in-ear headphones with membranes, Klipsch does well at managing them.  There is clearly an emphasis on the bottom end of the spectrum, but it isn't the sticky, stifling mess it sometimes is.  Low notes are all reasonably even, too.  The treble is a little less impressive, with a very noticeable lack of shine that gives the sound a jumbled quality.

When you actually use them for listening to music though, the S2s are great and produce a warm, generous sound.  They would go very well with an iPod Touch or an iPhone as they go some way to correcting for the weaknesses of both devices.

As a standard-bearer for the rest of Klipsch's offerings, the S2s offer a very reasonable introduction.  We have seen better headphones, but the S2s clearly have a solid advantage: their form factor makes them almost as easy to wear as a pair of Q-Jays.