Klipsch X11 Worlds Smallest Lightest Earphone with Balanced Armature, Black/Grey

I've been on a quest to find earbuds that were comfortable for extended wear, and would fit my girlfriend's tiny ears (she's normal-sized, but has tiny ear canals, making most earbuds uncomfortable. I have purchased/tested many earbuds by now, from cheap to expensive, and most recently have been listening to the Klipsch xR8i (extremely bass heavy, but better balanced with an EQ DAC/amp like the FiiO E17K). With that all said, let's list the pros/cons for the X11 specifically:PROS- Most comfortable earbuds I've ever tried on. These are weightless, tiny, and with the Klipsch oval tips, you forget you're wearing these.- Noise isolation (not to be confused with canceling). Thanks to the tiny size and oval tips, these actually get further into your canal for a perfect seal. These means better isolation and a maximization of the bass response (which it needs).- Cheap. This is all relative, but for the quality, these really are on the cheap end of nice earbuds.- Very neutral, clear sound. Compared to the bass-heavy xR8i, these lack the low-end growl, but after a few minutes of listening, you'll appreciate the balanced sound. Movies and music alike sing.CONS- Narrow lines = telescoping noise. My girlfriend is sensitive to that (tap the lines with the sound off and listen to the thump), but didn't notice them. I did (my other headphones have thicker, rubberized lines to reduce this). YMMV.- Bass struggles, even when amped. Be careful pushing these with heavy bass, or you'll hear distortion. Moderate listening levels should be fine though!- No volume control (if you're into that sort of thing). It's handy at the gym, but otherwise, we have volume controls on our phones/tablets anyway, right?

These have excellent sound quality, and pretty effectively block out noise with the right tips on them. However, I used these maybe four times in a few months, and they have already stopped working. Never have I spent so much on ear buds, and NEVER have I had a pair breakdown so quickly. I will never again spurge on IEMs, ear buds, anything of the sort. My Philips buds that I spent $8 on have been used countless days over the past year or two, including more days than I could count skiing and hiking in the backcountry, have comparable sound quality, and also have a design to block exterior noise, AND HAVE NO PROBLEMS. The Klipschs were pointless. I am no so happy a company with the rep they do, charging what they do, sold me such a piece of junk.

It's expensive for the quality of sound that it produces. Unlike the Klipsch Image S4 which I invested in 5 years ago, the X11 is flimsy and feels like a $20 pair of earbuds that you can pick up from Walgreens. It doesn't feel premium, and the build quality matches the vibe: bad. It comes apart pretty easily (I've had mine for only five months and the jack casing came off).Sound quality: Pretty good. Though that doesn't exactly describe anything, I will offer a few comparisons that hopefully let you estimate what it sounds like: Yamaha EPH-100, RHA t10, and Bose IE-2.X11 against Yamaha EPH-100: Yamaha takes this one. The x11 has a very similar sound signature to the eph100, but the eph100 extends down to the lows with greater richness. When it comes to bass, the X11 almost hits the spot, but just not quite. It is definitely more comfortable than the X11 though, and warmer in the mid range. If you're looking for an earbud for acoustic music, then the X11 might be for you.X11 against RHA t10: X11 takes it. The t10, in my ears, sounded too muddy and dark. The X11 has a pretty balanced sound that reaches up into the highs with much more clarity than the t10s. If you're a supreme basshead, the t10s might be better, but you'd be losing out on the highs.X11 against Bose IE2: Not even a competition; X11 takes it by a landslide. Seriously, the IE2s are like the X11, but much worse.Overall, it's a very comfortable, but flimsy earbud with great balanced sound. Don't expect it to last more than a year (which is conveniently when the warranty runs out).

Why are people bitching about the build quality? The build is acceptable. The sounds is outstanding. The fit and comfort is the best you will probably ever find. What, you think for $100 you should get $200+ sound AND $200+ build? They're $100, and frankly, I think that is a steal. Yes, you need to handle these with a modicum of care. Don't just shove them in your pocket like some lousy set of Beats. They're too good to be treated like that. If you can't keep from trashing earphones, then go with the Shure 215s. Same price, great sound, extremely durable, BUT...in no way are they as comfortable. Then you can decide if you what you wanted was superior comfort or superior durability.

Update: These earbuds come with a straight headphone jack and that design is highly susceptible to damage if anything should tug on the already thin cable. I used these gently for three months and then one side stopped working. I called Klipsch support and they do not stand behind their products unless you purchase from an authorized seller - which means list price. I found a "deep insertion" style earbud from a competitor and the difference in material quality is night and day.Original review: Tried several competitor products and I came back to the Klipsch X series because of their sound reproduction and comfort. I upgraded these with Comply tips for better noise isolation. If I'm being critical, the cable could be a little more sturdy.

Best sound isolation and most comfortable stock tips on any in-ear monitor I've had. Even when no sound is playing, having these in your ears blocks a significant amount of ambient sound. The sound is pretty neutral with a slight focus on mids, and has great depth for an IEM. The build quality is great. The headphones themselves are nicely weighted and attractive, and the included case is of pretty good quality.On the downside, these did not include a mic and volume controls, and they are best suited for sedentary listening, as the cable noise can be ridiculous, even with fairly slight movements.