Klipsch debuted the T5 True Wireless a few months back. It rocked a modern high quality charging case, with an elegantly designed earbuds and a nice neutral sound signature that had highly detailed mids.
But users who are more accustomed to an energetic sound signature wished that the T5 had more boom and brighter highs. Also, the T5 wasn’t built for exercise use.
And hence, Klipsch launched the S1 True Wireless – targeted towards active users who want to use a Klipsch for their exercise and workouts. They are rated and tested at IPX4 to resist sweat, moisture and rain. And they come in much cheaper than the T5, at S$219.
Unboxing
The packaging of the Klipsch S1 is beautiful, and unboxing it you will get:
- Klipsch S1
- Ear tips x2 (M, L)
- Charging case
- Wireless charging pad
- Mirco USB cable x2 (short, long)
- User manual
Tech specs
- Driver Size: 10mm dynamic driver
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Bluetooth version: 5.0
- Charging time: 1.5 hrs from empty
- Music playtime: 5 hours (16 hours in charging case)
- IPX4 waterproof rating
- Weight: 5g (each earbud), 26g (charging case)
Build quality and features
Let’s start with the charging case. It is made from plastic and has a tinted clear cover on the top with the Klipsch branding. If the Klipsch branding wasn’t on the case, it may have just looked with a cheap China earbuds. Honestly, I hoped the cover had a matte finish to give it a modern touch.
Earbuds are also made from plastic and have a smooth texture (which can sometimes slip off my fingers when trying to remove it from the case). Build quality of the earbuds is pretty good – small but tough. The best part about these tiny earbuds is that they are very light. At only 5g, they feel like nothing in your ears.
The Klipsch S1 employs touch controls and you can see the below:
One thing you’ll find missing in the control sheet is volume control.
Some people prefer touch controls as they are you do not need to jam buttons into your ears. But I still prefer physical buttons as I dislike dealing with unwanted touches. When wearing the earbuds in my ears I usually push the earbuds into my ear, but with the S1, I will trigger the play/pause control. Small thing, but can get a little annoying. But this is not a con in any way because it really depends on personal preference.
Battery life
The Klipsch S1 gets 6 hours of playtime per full charge and rocks another 15 hours from the charging case. It is a good amount of time – should last you for your daily commutes to and fro.
As you can from the charging case, it charges via micro USB which is really a surprise given its S$219 price tag. But at least there is a consolation – the case supports wireless charging. So if you are already using a wireless charger then you can just plop this on and charge it without the burdensome micro USB cable.
Fit
The Klipsch S1 also has the patented oval ear tips that is designed for reduced ear fatigue, comfort and good seal. The ear tips only come in two sizes – medium and large. And to be honest, you really don’t need the small size. I’m using the large because it provides a greater seal than the default medium.
The way the Klipsch S1 was designed is different from the T5. For the T5, the ear tips and the stem does most of the work of keeping the earbuds in your ears. But for the S1, it has a slight contoured stem that aligns to your ear shape, much like the Creative Outlier Air. Because of that, the S1 is able to fit snuggly in your ear and provide greater seal in your ear.
However, as the earbud is quite small, it doesn’t rest as much as the Outlier Air in my ear, so the ear tips still have work to do in order to provide a good seal. People with larger ears may find the earbuds a little too small to provide a secure fit. Personally, the fit of the S1 is still pretty good and is comfortable. The 5g weight also makes it feel like there is nothing in your ears.
The oval ear tips do dislodge a little for me when I’m wearing them during runs, probably because of the silicon nature of the ear tips. For S$219, Klipsch should have added in a pair of comply foam tips especially since they are targeting active individuals.
How about Comply foam tips?
Comply foam tips do work, at least for the ones I have. However, I believe the ones I have are not meant for the S1 as the S1 requires a more oval shaped comply foam tip than the flatter ones I have.
Pairing and connectivity
Pairing the Klipsch S1 to your phone is fairly easy. You remove the both earbuds and the name ‘S1’ should appear in your Bluetooth settings. It would have been nicer to see the full name ‘Klispch S1’. The earbuds are seen as one unit in your Bluetooth, unlike the T5 which appears as two units – L and R, given their use of QualComm aptX chip.
Having Bluetooth 5.0, the connection was really stable and I barely experienced any audio dropouts.
If you want to use the Klipsch S1 on one ear, you can only the right earbud as it is the master earbud.
Sound quality
If you’re not a fan of the Klipsch T5’s neutral tuning, and prefer more exciting V-shaped sound signature, you’ll be pleased with the sound of Klipsch S1. Klipsch seemed to specially tuned the S1 for workout enthusiasts who prefer more bass in their songs.
Let’s start with bass. Bass on the Klipsch S1 is impressive. It delivers large boomy bass. Bass response especially from the sub bass is very prominent and full – you can feel the reverberations in the low end sounds. Midrange performance is pretty good, not as impactful and detailed as the T5 but the forward midrange gets the job done. As for highs, the Klipsch S1 gives off a warm and controlled treble that gets bright enough but not too much that you’ll experience fatigue. This is apparent with “Paths by Finding Hope (feat. Nevve)”, where the female vocals sound warm with good presence but not grainy.
Soundstage is slightly wider than average but not as wide as the Outlier Air or the Klipsch T5 to give you a sense of comparison. Instruments are distinct and when listening to tracks such as “Papa Was A Rolling Stone”, you can slightly feel the backup singers being positioned more left and right rather than dead center which is a good thing.
Klispch S1 vs Klipsch T5
Both of them sound very different. It seems as though Klipsch tuned them differently for people with different audio taste. Also, it really depends on the kind of songs you listen to. The Klipsch S1 definitely registers more bass response especially in the low end frequencies. But when it comes to midrange, the Klipsch T5 is fuller and more detailed, bringing about more definition to instruments such as trumpets and strings. Treble wise, both offer a nice warm highs without sounding hazy, but the S1 comes across as more forward sounding. When it comes to soundstage, the T5 is wider and deeper offering more details than the S1. If you’re like listening to more pop and EDM, the S1 may well fulfil the exciting and dynamic sound balance that you’re looking for.
Klipsch S1 vs Creative Outlier Air
Both earbuds have similar sound signature – energetic and punchy with boosted bass. For bass, the Klipsch S1 has stronger sub bass response, bringing out deep low end frequencies that Creative Outlier Air cannot. Both earbuds still manage to deliver strong punchy hits. As for mids, Klipsch S1 sounds ever so slightly more forward than the Creative Outlier Air. And for highs, the Klipsch S1 delivers a warm treble while the Creative Outlier Air bright treble which on certain songs may get a little pushy. When soundstage is concerned, the Creative Outlier Air feels wider and more open.
Conclusion
If you ever tried the Klipsch T5 and wished for more bass and treble, then the Klipsch S1 is tuned the way you want. I’d describe the S1 as a V-shaped profile but with slightly subdued mids. With thumping loud bass and and warm highs, the S1 produces a very enjoyable dynamic sound that I like. It feels well balanced on all ends of the spectrum.
The S1 also has an earbud designed that is meant for fitness use and the IPX4 rating should give you a peace of mind when using them. The charger may employ micro USB but the option of wireless charging it up is simply a great asset that future TWS makers should do.
Where to buy
You can buy it online at TC Acoustic or Hachi.Tech. If you prefer to head down to a store, visit any Challenger outlet. Be it on Hachi.Tech or Challenger, ValueClub members get a S$20 discount, so S$199 for Klipsch is a pretty good deal.