Do packaging and presentation matter? The first impression you get when opening the box for Klipsch's $350 is quality. Inside are five pairs of silicone eartips of different sizes and types, a cleaning tool, a two-prong adaptor for airplane use, a 1/4-inch adaptor for standard-size headphone jacks, a large semi-hard carrying case, and a smaller hardshell carrying case with a slick magnetic flap. At one end of a classy-but-easily-kinked, fabric-covered cable is a gently curved headphone plug. The other end hosts a pair of copper-colored earpieces with a shape mirroring the plug's curve. Klipsch took the Image's name literally, as the design and packaging are impressive.

The first listen backs up this impression: the Image 10X headphones sound rich--nearly too much so--with excellent texture and detail in the upper frequencies and accurate, natural-sounding voices. The bass is there, and it's tight and natural-sounding. (Interestingly, I found the overall sound to be quite unlike Klipsch's famous horn-type speakers.) However, extended listening sessions reveal the Image's one major sonic flaw: there's a dip in frequency response in the midrange that means despite the overall richness, some female vocals (think Edie Brickell) and some strings (violins) sound as if they're behind a door.

Like the Etymotic hf5, the Image X10 headphones are lightweight, slip into the ear easily, create a good seal immediately, and are very comfortable. (My wife has ears with small openings for which it's almost impossible to find a good-fitting earphone; both the Klipsch Image X10 and Etymotics hf5 fit her well.) And these canalphones are so light you almost forget you're wearing them. Klipsch describes the Image X10 as "the latest must-have accessory," and if you think of them that way, they're great: attractive design, excellent build quality, full sound, and plenty of comfort. If rich sound and the "cool factor" come before ultimate accuracy on your priority list, these are your headphones. If you have the money, that is--these are the most expensive 'phones in the bunch.

Representing the bottom of Memorex's product line, the $25 are plain, with light gauge cables and a sturdy, 45-degree headphone plug. However, the included eartips--a pair plus a single extra--are surprisingly good, made of higher-quality gel-type foam similar to those on the Shure headphones, below. These tips have a less porous surface than some other foam tips, making them easier to keep clean and more resistant to moisture. Unique to the EB100 is a small port on each earpiece, presumably designed to enhance bass performance. And Kudos to Memorex for a thoughtful touch: the left earpiece's cable features a tiny bump so you can keep track, by feel, of which side is which.