Klipsch Image X7i Ceramic Headphones Preview

We are really into headphones lately. Perhaps it's because Tom Andry (our resident fiction author and AV Rant guru) has been reviewing headphones like a madman of late. Or maybe it's because we do a lot of headphone listening - particularly when we travel. Klipsch just announced the launch of the Image X7i, the company’s first-ever ceramic headphone. Ceramic is an unusual material for a headphone, but there is a lot here that makes sense. Aside from the uniqueness of the design, the Image X7i's ceramic composition is durable and lightweight. durability. The X7i headphone also uses Klipsch's new flat cabling that is both strong and, possibly more important to consumers, tangle-resistant. The Image X7i also includes a three-button remote that is inline with the cable and houses a directional mic. For Apple users, this means you can make and receive calls with the on-board mic, and then transition to controlling your music.

“With the Image X7i’s introduction, we aim to deliver a high-design product that stands out against its similarly priced competitors not possessing the same level of build quality. By taking conscious steps to both uphold and evolve our Image series throughout the product development process, we have engineered a product that delivers our sound caliber through deep bass, clear mids and crisp highs, while delivering a never-before-seen design element from the brand.” 

- Chris Aiello, Klipsch product manager for headphones

These headphones include Klipsch's signature oval-shaped ear tips, which they designed to more naturally fit the contours of your ear canal. These ear tips also offer superior noise isolation (or passive noise-cancellation), blocking out almost all ambient noise and providing excellent bass.

The Image X7i utilizes a proprietary balanced armature driver and works with virtually any device that has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, though the phone and control features are more particularly suited for Mac products. The retail package includes four oval ear tips in various sizes, a protective carrying case, and a clothing clip for the remote and mic. The X7i's carry a two-year warranty and retail for $199.99.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.