Following on from its previous headphone effort, the X10s, come Klipsch’s newest in-ear monitors, the Klipsch X5s. The X10s were lauded for their miniscule design; while the X5s aren’t quite as diminutive as their older brother they are still some of the smallest headphones on the market right now. Klipsch, while not being a big player in the headphone market, is known for its high quality audio systems. These headphones continue the trend by providing impressive audio at a competitive price.

The overall sound of these headphones is quite balanced and fairly neutral; no single register is greatly emphasised over the others, which gives them a slightly more analytical sound. However there is enough warmth to ensure the listening experience is still fun.

The bass has a good level of punch and a somewhat slow, resonating tone. However it doesn’t extend quite as deeply as on some competing units. We could have done with a little more control in the lower register notes, but there was a nice level of detail and things never really got out of hand.

We found the mid-range sounded quite airy. This was particularly evident in some passages with heavy guitar riffs, where everything sounded more distant and spaced out that normal. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it will irritate users who prefer a more full on, in-your-face style presentation.

Treble notes have nice extension and a fairly smooth presentation. There is no harshness or shrillness and they are well balanced against the mid and low ranges. We found our piano-based tunes were rich and sweet, while high-pitched acoustic guitar strings rung out nicely without too much twang like you’ll hear on some cheaper units.

There was a small amount of distortion at times in passages of heavy riffing which was a little irritating but it didn’t occur enough to be a real problem. We found the separation and detail to be excellent across the entire sound spectrum. Every instrument was well defined and lots of details were brought forward rather than being lost in the background noise.

As they have a fairly tiny design the X5s are incredibly comfortable to wear, even for long periods of time. We’d go so far as to say they’re the most comfortable IEMs we’ve ever had in the office. That isn’t to say, however, that they don’t provide adequate isolation. They slip easily into the ear canal and do a good job of blocking out external noise. The 50in cable will also be appreciated, particularly by taller users who want to keep their media player in their pocket.