Klipsch X4i Review | 93 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£130
  • Form factor: in-ear
  • Connectivity: wired
  • Battery life: N/A hours
  • Active noise cancellation (ANC): no

Klipsch X4i review. Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among headphones and if it is worth buying.

5.4

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.

Score components:

80.0%

5.3

Technical Score

20.0%

5.9

User score

Good
5.3

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the headphones' technical performance, covering key areas such as sound quality, noise cancelling, microphone performance, battery life, comfort, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

52.0%

5.1

Sound

20.0%

4.1

Features

10.0%

8.3

Design

8.0%

6.2

Connectivity

6.0%

4.9

Battery

4.0%

5.0

Calls & Controls

Good
5.9

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.

When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.

Score components:

70.0%

7.0

User reviews

30.0%

3.5

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.5
(57)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.5
(57)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Good
  • 2.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    35.0%

    0.0

    Audio latency

    25.0%

    0.0

    Low-latency game mode

    20.0%

    10

    Can be used as a headset

    12.0%

    1.0

    Noise-canceling microphone

    8.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

  • 2.1
    Travel

    Score components:

    28.0%

    1.0

    Active noise cancellation (ANC)

    24.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

    18.0%

    10

    Weight

    16.0%

    0.0

    Multipoint support

    14.0%

    0.0

    Ambient sound mode

  • 2.7
    Calls

    Score components:

    28.0%

    1.0

    Noise-canceling microphone

    24.0%

    10

    Can be used as a headset

    18.0%

    0.0

    Multipoint support

    16.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

    14.0%

    0.0

    Companion app

  • 5.0
    Workout

    Score components:

    28.0%

    10

    Weight

    24.0%

    1.0

    Water resistance

    20.0%

    4.0

    IP rating

    16.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

    12.0%

    10

    Can be used as a headset

  • klipsch-x4i
klipsch-x4i

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Klipsch X4i is a premium in-ear headphone featuring a single full-range balanced armature driver (KG 417) housed in a lightweight die-cast zinc body weighing just 16 grams. It offers a frequency response of 10Hz–16kHz, a 50-ohm impedance, and a high sensitivity of 110dB, paired with a tangle-resistant flat cable and an integrated three-button remote/mic optimized for iOS devices. Its main characteristics include patented oval ear tips that provide up to -26dB of passive noise isolation and a near-flat sound signature favoring crisp highs and detailed mids. Major pros include its exceptional long-term comfort, crystal-clear vocal reproduction, and durable industrial design; however, it is frequently noted for lacking deep bass impact and having relatively low upper-frequency extension compared to competitors.

Technical Specifications of Klipsch X4i

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the headphones' technical performance, covering key areas such as sound quality, noise cancelling, microphone performance, battery life, comfort, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

52.0%

5.1

Sound

20.0%

4.1

Features

10.0%

8.3

Design

8.0%

6.2

Connectivity

6.0%

4.9

Battery

4.0%

5.0

Calls & Controls

5.3
Klipsch X4i has a technical score of 5.29 points, which is higher than that of 61.9% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.

When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.

Score components:

70.0%

7.0

User reviews

30.0%

3.5

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.5
(57)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.5
(57)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

5.9
Klipsch X4i has a user score of 5.94 points, which is lower than that of 94.1% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters: When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
3.5
Klipsch X4i has a popularity of 3.5 points, which is lower than 57.4% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

5.4

Overall score

40.0%

9.8

Price

6.7
Klipsch X4i has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.7 points, which is higher than 45.2% of products in this category.
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
What it is: Reduces background noise using active technology
When it matters: When blocking office, travel, or aircraft noise is a priority.

Importance: HIGH

no
Klipsch X4i does not support active noise cancellation. 27.4% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
What it is: Type of speaker driver technology used
When it matters: When the underlying sound character and driver technology matter to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

balanced armature
Driver size
What it is: Diameter of the speaker driver unit
When it matters: When you want extra hardware context behind how the headphones may handle bass weight, scale, or overall presentation.

Importance: MEDIUM

?
Number of drivers
What it is: Total number of speaker drivers per earcup
When it matters: When multi-driver designs are part of your buying criteria.

Importance: LOW

1
Klipsch X4i uses 1 drivers, equal to 96% of headphones.
Lowest frequency
What it is: Lowest audio frequency the headphones can reproduce
When it matters: When deeper bass extension matters for your music or movie listening.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=10 Hz

15 Hz
Klipsch X4i reaches a lowest frequency of 15 Hz, lower lowest frequency than 58.5% of headphones and equal to 5.7% of headphones.
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Noise-canceling microphone
What it is: Built-in microphone reduces background noise during calls
When it matters: When you take calls in busy spaces and want your voice to stay clearer.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Klipsch X4i does not support a noise-canceling microphone. 45.6% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
Can be used as a headset
What it is: Shows whether the headphones can handle voice chat and calls in addition to normal audio playback.
When it matters: When one pair needs to cover music, calls, meetings, and gaming chat.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
Klipsch X4i is headset-ready, 84.7% is not. 15.3% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
What it is: Total number of built-in microphones
When it matters: When call pickup quality and beamforming support matter to you.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2

1
Klipsch X4i has 1 microphones, more microphones than 25.9% of headphones and equal to 52.2% of headphones.
Boom microphone
What it is: Includes detachable boom microphone for voice clarity
When it matters: When you need stronger voice clarity for gaming, streaming, or work calls.

Importance: LOW

no
Klipsch X4i does not include a boom microphone. 15.6% of headphones have a boom microphone.
Microphone SNR
What it is: Signal-to-noise ratio of the microphone
When it matters: When call clarity matters and you want your voice picked up more cleanly instead of buried in background hiss.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >80 dB

?
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Connectivity
What it is: Available connection methods (wired, wireless, Bluetooth, etc.)
When it matters: When the headphones need to match how you listen across wired and wireless devices.

Importance: HIGH

wired
Klipsch X4i supports wired connectivity, equal to 52.6% of headphones.
Bluetooth version
What it is: Version of Bluetooth technology supported
When it matters: When wireless stability, efficiency, and feature support matter more than treating Bluetooth as a box-check spec.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5.0

N/A
Maximum Bluetooth range
What it is: Maximum wireless operating distance from source device
When it matters: When you move around rooms and want fewer dropouts from your source device.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=10 m

N/A
Audio latency
What it is: Delay between audio and video in wireless mode
When it matters: When you watch video or play games and need sound to stay in sync.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <60 ms

N/A
Multipoint support
What it is: Supports simultaneous connections to multiple devices
When it matters: When you switch often between a phone and a laptop during the day.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
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Ambient sound mode
What it is: Allows external sounds to pass through for awareness
When it matters: When you need to stay aware of traffic, voices, or announcements.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
EQ support
What it is: Allows customization of sound profile via equalizer
When it matters: When the stock tuning is not enough and you want to shape bass, mids, or treble to match your taste.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Klipsch X4i does not support EQ customization. 23.3% of headphones support EQ.
Companion app
What it is: Dedicated mobile app for customization and updates
When it matters: When software customization, updates, and extra controls matter.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Adjustable ANC levels
What it is: Allows adjustment of noise cancellation intensity levels
When it matters: When you move between quiet rooms, offices, streets, and public transport and do not want one ANC setting for every situation.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=4

N/A
Voice assistant support
What it is: Compatible with voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant
When it matters: When hands-free control is part of your daily routine.

Importance: LOW

yes
Klipsch X4i supports voice assistants. 39.2% of headphones support voice assistants.
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Battery life
What it is: Playback time on a single charge
When it matters: When you commute, travel, or work long shifts and do not want charging breaks to interrupt listening.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >45 hours

N/A
Battery life with ANC
What it is: Playback time with active noise cancellation enabled
When it matters: When you plan to keep noise cancellation on for most of the day.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >40 hours

N/A
Charging time
What it is: Time required for a full battery charge
When it matters: When you often need the headphones ready again after short breaks.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=2 hours

N/A
Quick charge
What it is: Provides quick playback time with short charging period
When it matters: When a short top-up needs to deliver useful playback before you leave.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Battery capacity
What it is: Total energy storage of the internal battery
When it matters: When you are estimating how much battery headroom the design may have before relying only on the official runtime claim.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=720 mAh

N/A
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Brand name
What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: MEDIUM

Klipsch
Form factor
What it is: Overall design type of the headphones (over-ear, on-ear, in-ear, etc.)
When it matters: When comfort, portability, and isolation depend on the overall headphone style.

Importance: HIGH

in-ear
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the headphones
When it matters: When long listening sessions make wearing comfort more important.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <150 g

16 g
Klipsch X4i weighs 16 g, lighter than 87.8% of headphones and equal to 0.8% of headphones.
Acoustic design
What it is: Type of acoustic design (open-back, closed-back, semi-open)
When it matters: When you need the right balance of isolation, leakage, and soundstage.

Importance: HIGH

closed-back
Clamp force
What it is: Amount of clamping pressure applied to the head
When it matters: When comfort and fit security matter during long sessions.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
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Klipsch X4i vs the average headphone

  • 92.7% lower weight
    Klipsch X4i is lighter than the average headphone (16 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    What it is: Total weight of the headphones
    When it matters: When long listening sessions make wearing comfort more important.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <150 g

    Klipsch X4i is lighter than the average headphone (16 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.16 g vs 218 g
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    Klipsch X4i includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average headphone does not. 38.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
    What it is: Shows whether the headphones end in a built-in 3.5 mm male plug instead of relying on a separate detachable cable.
    When it matters: When direct wired compatibility with older devices or adapters matters.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Klipsch X4i includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average headphone does not. 38.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • 8 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    Klipsch X4i has a higher sensitivity than the average headphone (110 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    What it is: Sound pressure output level per unit of input power
    When it matters: When you plan to use weaker sources like phones, handhelds, or entry-level dongles and still want enough volume.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=106 dB/mW

    Klipsch X4i has a higher sensitivity than the average headphone (110 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.110 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • In-line controls
    Klipsch X4i includes in-line controls, the average headphone does not. 36.4% of headphones support in-line controls.
    What it is: Controls available on in-line remote of wired cable
    When it matters: When your wired setup depends on cable-mounted buttons or call controls.

    Importance: LOW

    Klipsch X4i includes in-line controls, the average headphone does not. 36.4% of headphones support in-line controls.
  • 3 Hz lower bass extension
    Klipsch X4i has a lower lowest frequency than the average headphone (15 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    What it is: Lowest audio frequency the headphones can reproduce
    When it matters: When deeper bass extension matters for your music or movie listening.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <=10 Hz

    Klipsch X4i has a lower lowest frequency than the average headphone (15 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.15 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 92.7% lower weight
    Klipsch X4i is lighter than the average headphone (16 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
  • 8 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    Klipsch X4i has a higher sensitivity than the average headphone (110 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
  • 3 Hz lower bass extension
    Klipsch X4i has a lower lowest frequency than the average headphone (15 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    Klipsch X4i includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average headphone does not. 38.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • In-line controls
    Klipsch X4i includes in-line controls, the average headphone does not. 36.4% of headphones support in-line controls.
  • Fixed cable
    Klipsch X4i has a fixed cable, while the average headphone has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • 4 years older release date
    Klipsch X4i was released earlier than the average headphone (2,013 vs 2,017). The average headphones were released in 2,017.
    August 2013
  • Fixed cable
    Klipsch X4i has a fixed cable, while the average headphone has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
    What it is: Cable can be removed or replaced
    When it matters: When you care about easier cable replacement, simpler storage, or the option to swap to shorter, longer, or upgraded leads.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Klipsch X4i has a fixed cable, while the average headphone has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • 34.8% lower user score
    Klipsch X4i has a lower user score than the average headphone (5.94 vs 8.000).
    What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
    When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
    Klipsch X4i has a lower user score than the average headphone (5.94 vs 8.000).5.94 vs 8
  • 4 years older release date
    Klipsch X4i was released earlier than the average headphone (2,013 vs 2,017). The average headphones were released in 2,017.
    August 2013
    What it is: Official release or launch date of the model
    When it matters: When you want a newer model for fresher features, longer support life, or simply to avoid buying into an older generation.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=2020

    Klipsch X4i was released earlier than the average headphone (2,013 vs 2,017). The average headphones were released in 2,017.2013 vs 2017

Graphic comparison of Klipsch X4i and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
United States

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about Klipsch X4i?

  • Clean and crisp audio response with minimal distortion even at high volumes.
  • Extremely lightweight and comfortable for long listening periods.
  • Highly effective passive noise isolation due to patented oval eartips.
  • Detailed midrange and smooth high-end performance.
  • Includes a functional three-button inline remote and microphone for iOS devices.
  • Ships with a generous variety of eartip sizes and shapes for a secure fit.

What customers dislike about Klipsch X4i?

  • Subtle or weak bass response that lacks the 'punch' found in competitor models.
  • Inconsistent durability, with some users reporting cable failure or splitting after several months.
  • Inline remote and volume controls are primarily compatible with iOS and may not work on Android.
  • Thin, tangle-prone cables that can feel fragile to some users.
  • Higher price point compared to some alternatives with similar sound signatures.

Expert reviews

A
au.pcmag.com
23/12/2013

The Klipsch X4i in-ear headphones provide a clean, crisp, and near-flat audio response that deliberately avoids the booming, exaggerated low-end common in modern earphones. Ideal for audiophiles seeking clarity, they feature a lightweight, nondescript black and bronze design with a tangle-resistant cable that remains secure and comfortable during extended listening. The headphones...Read more

U
uk.pcmag.com
20/12/2013

The Klipsch X4i in-ear headphones offer a crisp, near-flat audio response that heavily favors clarity and brightness over booming bass. Designed with substance over style, they feature a lightweight, nondescript black-and-bronze build that ensures a highly comfortable and secure fit over long listening periods. They are highly functional for mobile users, equipped with an inline...Read more

P
pcmag.com
23/12/2013

The PCMag review characterizes the Klipsch X4i in-ear headphones as a minimalist design prioritizing substance over style, featuring lightweight metallic earpieces that offer a secure, comfortable fit for long listening sessions. The earphones deliver exceptionally crisp, clear audio, specifically handling high and mid frequencies well and avoiding distortion on heavy sub-bass...Read more

Video reviews

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