Bose In-Ear and Klipsh S4

bigaudiofanatic

I decided to do a comparison with me two and a half year old bose in ear headphones, model “In-Ear”, and my new Klipsch S4’s.



First up is the bose. Bought retail for 106 after tax.

First hour, from what I remember from the first hour after taking out of the package; was the treble seemed low and muffled the bass seemed a bit overwhelming as well.

By the end of the night with the drivers flexing a bit and listening to them at a normal listening volume, they were sounding good. Mind you this was 5 hours after purchase.

The quality of the overall bose headphones were nice and I was happy with them even knowing their other products were junk. The case was nice to use and showed little wear up until I lost it. The drawback to these is it is nearly impossible to workout with them. They do not like to stay in when you rapidly move around and can sound weak if not fully inserted properly. I did lose one of the silicone inserts and was at the bose store. i asked them if they had them in stock they did. Sold me 3 sets for 8 bucks which is not bad at all.

Two years later I am still happy with them. No big problems, the gold plating on the plug is showing wear and they like to keep the forum that you fold them into.

Which brings me to my next purchase. A set of klipsch S4’s when the first arrived I decided to not rush into them and let them break in as well.

First hour, after taking them out and started playing music they were scratchy and did not have much detail. After that hour was up and still playing them I hardly notice they were in my ears. Matter of fact as I write this I have them in. When they are inserted your surroundings fade out a bit, you do not hear a lot of background noise, even in the local Starbucks.

Back to review, after about 2 hours the scratching was gone the bass became more precise and even on songs that I have heard a hundred times I heard very faint things in the background, such as hotel california by the eagles I heard chimes.

With my using them into the third day now I am very impressed with them. I bought them open box on ebay for 50 dollars. The case is a pain to use but once you actually get them in there they fit well.

The silicone inserts hold well in my ears and feel less, forced in like the bose were. A big plus is they stay in not matter what I do.

The outcome, I see that the bose can go higher but require more power to run them as where the klipsch seem more efficient. S4’s have a smoother more tame sound than the bose where as the bose seem to go deeper with the bass but more defined.

My next review might be of the 100 dollar shure’s but will see.

BeRad

I have the S4i's and absolutely LOVE them. I listen to them for hours on end, but only while on vacation so I had no desire to spend much more than $100 dollars.

I got the comply foam replacement tips and find them much more comfortable than the silicone. They also help the s4's seal better. 5 hours of straight listening and I still can't tell they are there (by feel that is!)

indyhawg

Thanks for the review. I am seriously considering the S4s.

bigaudiofanatic

Not a problem, I might not be the best at reviews but I tried my best.

dorourke07

I use the S4i's on my trips between Detroit and Singapore and they have been great. They have spent more than 8 hours in on some flights. The silicone blocks out enough of the outside world to make them good on the plane and by changing the eq on my iphone I can get the sound I like. Very comfortable. Also, the simple controls work with the phone (ipod) which is convenient. I have retired my bulky bose noise canceling headphones. I think the sound might have been a little fuller (bass), but they aren't as comfortable for hours on end. Its funny watching everyone on the flight pulling out these big cases to get out their headphones, like an ipod on a plane is a great listening experience.