Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

This is a really exciting time at Klipsch! 

Now that we have launched Image S4 headphones, they have taken the public by storm.  So much so that we can't keep up with orders.  This is a nice problem to have these days, and hopefully we will be able to keep up with the demand.  

Everyone is special and sometimes earphones don't fit you well.  To avoid this issue, let's look at a case with some of our co-workers at Klipsch.

 

It seems like Klipsch has evolved with these new headphones, and this means workers have also evolved.  Some of them are stars!  Well, at least their ears are going public as we post there pinna's on websites all over the world.

Here is a picture of my friend and co-worker Andy.  While wearing the S4, Andy didn't think the product was comfortable for him.  We knew this would be an issue for some because the dual magnet driver in S4 is larger than anything else we have ever done.  Notice the red arrow showing the compression from the tragus of his ear and the S4 chassis:

You can see that the S4 fits him quite tight.  The tragus (flap of skin to the right of the headphone) is in the way of the headphone chasis, thus this is an uncomfortable fit with the proper ear tip.

In this picture of Sara you can see that the S4 fits quite nicely.  The tragus (flap of skin to the right of the headphone) is not in the way of the headphone chasis, meaning she has a good fit with the proper ear tip.

 

A user writes... 

"I also am having this problem.  I was wondering if I simply had disproportionately large ears!  Apparently I do!  :)

How should I go about accurately measuring my ear canal diameter?

 ... I am happy with my recent Image S4 purchase (though I wish I didn't have to wait so long to finally receive it via Amazon).

Thanks!"

The photo above with Andy is an example of how you measure your ear canal.  You can use a ruler also to get the width of the ear canal.  Your ear tip should be slightly wider than this dimension in the horizontal axis.  

Here is a picture of my ear with the wire down mode. 

For my ear, the tragus slot is a more undercut shape which allows the headphone to nest comfortably.  You can see this same calculation modeled below in 3D CAD with the cable going over the ear. This data was taken by creating an impression of my ear canal geometry, scanning it with a laser, and importing that laser data to a Computer Aided Design program (CAD).  This allowed me to move the headphone around in the 3D model to understand what angles are needed for the geometry of the design.

Klipsch has taken over 100 ear impressions to review the range of sizes and shapes of ear canals to understand what our customers need in their headphone design.  If it isn't comfortable, it doesn't matter how it sounds - you are not going to wear it if it hurts.

The next view shows an ear pinna 3D model in reference to the side view of the CAD model.  As you can see, the 3D CAD picture below is a much smaller ear (concha) than my own.  That is actually my daughter's ear.  Smile

 

Reviewing a solution for Andy, I had him try the design with the wire wrapped over the ear and the headphone rotated up 180 degrees.  Now the angle of the nozzle has shifted allowing him to nest the entire body inside his ear concha.

This cured Andy's fit issue by wearing the ear phone in the wire up and over the ear.  You can see that the changing the way he wore the S4 eliminates the problems with the tragus being in the way.  

If you are having issues with the body of S4 interfering with your ear try rotating the body 180 degrees by wearing the wire over the ear as in this picture. 

I hope this helps you to enjoy the full wonders of Image S4!

Published Thursday, July 09, 2009 11:32 AM by Professor Thump

Comments

Thursday, July 09, 2009 12:56 PM by blsamuel

# re: Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

Nice write up and pictures Professor Thump!  

Be sure to link to this over in Headphones if you've not already done so.... I think the 1st 3 pics made it there first.

The Image S4 sound awesome considering their very modest price...

hmmm  dual magnet, I thought it was dual driver?  Confused again.  

The Image S2 coming out in August should also do extremely well as they're even less expensive.  

I'd think the S4 and S2 should go a long way towards introducing the masses to the Legenday Sound of Klipsch.

Owners of these might then think doesn't Klipsch make speakers too when they otherwise might not of known about or thought they could afford Klipsch.    

Thursday, July 09, 2009 1:50 PM by INDIAN

# re: Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

I tried all the eargels and according to your instruction I followed and did the 180 degree experiment, still cant get the right fit ,

due to my big ear canal even large gives 90% of fit and isolation.

Do you have large double flange eargel ???????

I THINK IT CAN HELP ME

I NEED YOUR HELP < PLEASE >

raghu135raghavendra@gmail.com

Monday, July 13, 2009 4:06 PM by Professor Thump

# re: Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

We have two sizes of double flange ear gels...sm/med and med/large.  These can be purchased from our website in the headphone products page.

www.klipsch.com/.../exclusive-oval-ear-tips-overview

Thursday, July 16, 2009 11:51 PM by Jim Forney

# re: Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

A good example of how to properly fit and adjust the fit the C3's like this would be great

Saturday, July 25, 2009 5:31 AM by Sinusoidal Sinister

# re: Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

hi..

I am planning to gift the S4 to my girlfriend and she has like baby size ears. The smallest size silicon tips from other manufacturers were like oversized for her canal and I guess its a pain for her to push them in her canal.

what would you advice regarding the S4.

Thanx

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 12:45 PM by Art Wright

# re: Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

Have you added additional shifts yet?  I've been enjoying my Sony X-1051, but I have been waiting a month for my S4's through B&H!!!

Saturday, August 29, 2009 10:08 PM by Photojoe

# re: Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

I got my S4's this week. They are a cut above the Sennheiser CX300's I've had for a while. That is once they're in place properly. I have ears that only allow me to wear them upside down using the small flanged tips to achieve the proper seal. This makes them too uncomfortable for me. I've ordered the small eartips to see if they will aid in the comfort and fit. Dropping another $12.95 to see if they will fit comfortably isn't something I should have had to do. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they'll help or the S4's will have to go back.

Sunday, August 30, 2009 7:57 PM by Roger

# re: Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

I just got the S4s at the Tucson Apple Store. They were so new that there was no price sticker on them yet.  I am on a Delta flight with WiFi trying to get the right fit. The sound is tinny unless I hold them a certain way. I will keep expermenting. Without your pictures and explaination I would have already given up. Thanks!

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 9:16 PM by Ajay

# re: Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

Instead of rotating it 180 degree over the year. i tried just swapping the 'L' and 'R'. I used 'L' for my right ear and 'R' for my left ear. it fitted fine too.

Thursday, September 03, 2009 8:54 PM by Photojoe

# re: Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

Oddly, it is more comfortable for me reversing L+R, but that drives me crazy having the channels reversed.

Friday, September 04, 2009 1:38 AM by Roger Harmon

# re: Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

I found the correct ear gels for my ears, and the sound has improved greatly. I have the IMAGE S4i and I really like the 3 button control. The mic seems to work well as I used it in several airports with lots of back ground noise.  The only problem is the control stopped working. The mic and the ear phones still work, but no control functions.  I am taking them back to the Apple Store under their 20 day exchange policy and trying again.  I think the cable needs to be reinforced on both sides of the control.

Friday, September 04, 2009 6:17 PM by Photojoe

# re: Getting The Most Out Of S4 Headphones

Got the small eartips today. They did the trick! S4's are now as comfortable as all the claims say. Great fit and comfort. I can do some serious listening now.

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