Klipsch IFi does not deliver HiFi

[akula]

I'm disappointed. Klipsch announces an audiophile system for IPOD users. Not so. In short, volume is good, bass is decent, mid-range ok, and treble pratically non-existent. It's not as good as a decent desktop system and grossly overpriced - as are most IPOD "accessories."

IPOD music sounds much better with good headphones. I use good canals or low impedence 595s and get much better sound and hear more instruments than with this. I use 320 bit for all I put on my IPOD.

Save your money and get good headphones instead. I happen to like 3c's and want 5c's. The IPOD is much better than the IFi.

(If this is the best, and at $400 it should be, most of the other IPOD speakers must be a bit lacking. Of course, they don't claim to be "audiophile" and many are much cheaper)

akula

Latter I strongly disagree and question you intentions. I doubt you have even heard the iFi much less heard it in a correct listening environment. I have a lot of experience with speakers in this price range and the iFi delivers and impresses.

It's not as good as a decent desktop system

Take your pick, I own most every system below:

Gigaworks S750’s ($500)
Ultra 5.1 ($400)
Logitech Z5500’s ($400)
Altec 640’s ($250)
Altec 995’s ($300)
Promedia 2.1’s 4.1, 5.1, and GMX’s and 2.0’s ($100-250)
Almost all the popular iPod systems including the SoundDock onstage and iM7 (100-300)

Those are just the sat-sub multimedia speakers off the top of my head that I have either owned or have considerable auditions with and the iFi blows them away and it would take not much more than deaf moron to agree.

You can read my review if you like. I took the liberty to write a real one.

www.bpbackup.com


I noticed you mentioned 595's I don't own them, but I do have the 590's (work very nice w/o an amp even) and I also happen to own you’re sought after Shure E5c's. Granted the Shure’s were 100 more (At full retail not including amp) It is a totally difference experience, but I'll be honest, the iFi is much more enjoyable. I simply don’t like wearing ear canals and that’s my point. They are too totally difference experiences. While the 5's can deliver sound quality that can surpass the iFi in some aspects, the iFi sub can not be matched at all. The thing is linear to 30hrz and is capable even in large rooms.

I also have heard the E3’c (broken in too) and I honestly think there’re overpriced. They have tiny bass response and can be bested by others product offers for less than 100 dollars. To even consider the E3c’s as higher fidelity than the iFi pretty much confirms your inexperience in the matter, and I advise you to reserve more time before making such accusations against what I feel is the first competent, and priced appropriate iPod exclusive speaker system. To compare headphones or ear buds to speakers is like apples to oranges. They provide different types of listening experience and it seems you don’t have much experience with the latter.

[akula]

CHILL out 007....they're only speakers... or should I say "SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED."

Sorry to seem to have shook you too much. A technically well written review, but I disagree with the conclusion. My opinion only. But the OFFICIAL Lounge review on the IFi comes closer to the truth. Klipsch claims "audiophile" --- they are not that. You do agree with that, I assume?

Wanna hear good sound on the IPOD --- try the less laid back 595s to the 590s. Get the 50 ohm version. Get a good amp with volume control. KEY --- LISTEN via line out --- SIK(sp?) and SendStation (sp?) make accessories for this --- I have the latter --- about $30 for CLEAN headphone amped sound.

We're all different. Rather than get half a dozen or more good, cheap systems I would have puchased one very good system.

I like the 3c's. They're Infinitely more portable than the IFi. By the way, available with good discounts and weren't the 3c's Stereophiles 2004 Accessory of the Year.

best,
akula

"Jettison the Cocoon" --- Thunderball

You're comparing ear buds to the iFi in terms of portability. This is why you are so off base. Compare the iFi to other multimedia systems in the 400 dollar price range as I have done and see how it fairs out. It does quite well and I have proven that. 400 dollars is not audiophile quality, we both know that, but this is much more accurate and defined than your typical PC system and even more so than any other iPod system. Klipsch also makes good PC systems for a lot less money, but its important to understand the iFi is of a totally different nature.

And to be honest, your headphones are no more porable than the iFi’s if you look at this from this perspective: You still have to have decent amp for the your can's so you’re pretty much confined to that criteria. So unless its a really small amp, you're not going to be running around with it. In that case, I prefer speakers but I know better than to compare the two.

BTW: Who said I don't prefer one good system over many cheap ones?

I tell you one more thing. I don’t use my ipod for hi fi listening, I use a real source with a real DAC. The iPod can be bested with ease. For example, just my soundcard is even worlds better.

But yes, I agree that the line-out is important for the ipod, I don’t use the headphone jack at all.

[akula]

Fair enough. We seem to agree on the non-audiophile aspect. And yeah, they're the best speakers for the IPOD.

Try an xr-71 amp --- very portable, very well made, and runs on two 9 volt batteries. Can drive 300 ohm headphones with ease despite it's diminutive size and PORTABILITY. Or leave it at home --- my 595s are only 50 ohms.

best,
akula

Yes, they are definitely NOT audiophile speakers, but I don’t think they’re overpriced. I did mention in my review that I could appreciate why they would at first appear to be overpriced. In fact the first time I heard them I did not like them at all. They were on a counter in middle of compusa store that had terrible acoustics. I was aware of the disadvantage, but I was still less than impressed with the promise of hi fidelity. Once I got em in another room I was actually surprised by the difference.

I definitely need to get a portable iPod amp, I’ll check that one out, thanks.