Klipsch has announced the release of their Image S2m in-ear headset. Compatible with virtually all phones that have a 3.5 mm headphone jack, the Image S2m features a compact in-line microphone that lets you answer or end calls with the touch of a button. This button also lets you track forward and track back as well as play and pause songs on the iPod classic 120GB, iPod nano 4th generation (video), iPod touch 2nd generation, iPod shuffle 3rd generation and iPhone 3G S.
“Not only do you get our stunningly precise sound and stellar comfort with the S2m, this affordable headset simplifies busy on-the-go lifestyles-”you can take calls while commuting or exercising without skipping a beat,” said Don Inmon, Klipsch director of marketing and product development for personal audio. “And with Wi-Fi access, you can even use the S2m to place free Skype calls-”a really great benefit for iPhone and iPod touch users.”
Durability is a major concern when it comes to headphone and headset cables so Klipsch has gone to great lengths to ensure the S2m cables are robust as well as discreet. The company has added strain relief at every cable connection point to help prevent wire damage, while also putting them through extensive “real world” testing. And because many phones have side-mounted headphone jacks, the S2m employs a right-angled plug that swivels to avoid the damage that’s often associated with straight plug designs. It’s also a feature that lets your phone fit comfortably in your pocket.
The Image S2m utilizes the company’s exclusive oval ear tips that are designed to provide comfortable long-term wear. Unlike circular-shaped designs that put stress on the pressure points inside the ear, Klipsch’s oval ear tips naturally fit the contours of the ear canals. These ear tips also offer superior passive noise-cancellation, blocking out almost all ambient noise and providing excellent bass.
“Once you have the right fit and seal, these headsets are virtually impossible to feel,” said Mark Blanchard, senior acoustic design engineer for Klipsch and inventor of the company’s oval ear tips. “When we began studying three-dimensional ear impressions, it was discovered that nearly everyone has an oval-shaped ear canal. We couldn’t believe that no one else had yet considered the anatomical shape of the ear canal when designing in-ear headphones.”
Blanchard also mentioned that when you wear Klipsch headphones or headsets, you don’t need to turn up the volume as loud because a good seal dramatically reduces background noise-”a feature that could definitely help preserve your hearing.
Available in a piano black finish, the Image S2m comes with a two-year warranty and includes a cloth carrying pouch as well as small, medium and large ear tips. Priced at $59.99 (U.S. MSRP), the S2m will be available for purchase at klipsch.com, InMotion and Amazon in August.
Klipsch is also realeasing the Image S2 headphone. The Image S2, priced at $49.99, is the company’s most affordable pair of headphones to date, with the most expensive design being $349.99. The S2 uses the same proprietary oval ear tips as its pricier predecessors, continuing the company’s extreme comfort with superior noise isolation story.
“People have less discretionary income these days. Therefore, we felt it was necessary to develop reasonably priced, high-performance headphones that go above and beyond what you’d expect from the stock earbuds that come with your MP3 player,” said Don Inmon, Klipsch director of marketing and product development for personal audio.
The Image S2 is a moving coil design with controlled damping, allowing it to deliver smooth, full-bodied sound that is similar to a balanced armature. From heart-pounding bass to spine-tingling guitar riffs, the S2 delivers strikingly realistic sound through the use of a customized 5.8 mm moving coil driver in each ear piece. According to Inmon, these drivers, which were optimized by the Klipsch engineering team, dig deep into the musical spectrum with a level of dynamic detail that many loudspeakers can’t produce.
“We’ve been in the audio business for over 60 years and are continuously finding ways to value engineer our products without compromising our audiophile heritage,” said Inmon. “And our S2 is no exception-”it is a superior performer at an everyday price point.”
The Image S2 features a piano black finish and includes three different-sized oval ear tips (small, medium and large) and a cloth “Snap-tit”carrying pouch. It carries a two-year warranty and works with the iPod, iPhone and other portable devices that feature a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. It will be available for purchase at klipsch.com, Amazon and InMotion in August.
