Description
Introduction
This is a Klipsch X12 DIY Kit with all components. With basic soldering and gluing skill, you can make you own IEM in 1h, which saves 70% budget!
And great news is, we offer upgraded Balanced Armature Driver – Knowles ED29689 in this kit, a truly hi-end driver used in Etymotic Research ER4P/B/X Extended Range in-Ear Monitors, a legend of its kind and 2~3 times expensive than Klipsch X12.
How does this Klipsch X12 kit sound?
Ultra-high resolution!
It outperforms original Klipsch X12 because of the upgraded BA driver – Knowles ED 29689. And literally you can refer to most ER4P/S impressions, because they’re built with exactly same BA driver! (background knowledge: unlike dynamic drivers, balanced armature drivers is fully sealed. So the sound quality is solely determined by the BA driver, the acoustic design has minor impact). Here is a reference from Head-Fi:
What’re in this DIY KIT?
The KIT include everything you need to build an X12.
- 2 X Knowles ED 29689 balanced armature drivers (newer and better than original drivers)
- 1 original Klipsch X12 cable with open end, or
- 5N OFC braided cable which minimize the Stethoscope effect
- 1 pair of Klipsch X12 shell – 2 color options gold or silver.
- 2 pairs of Klipsch X12 ear pads
Note, to offer you the most precise measurement, we have the driver pre-installed in the housing
OK, now how can I build it?
The entire process takes 30min to 1hour in a few simple steps.
Step 0 Take a look at the kit
Step 1 Wiring
Pull the wire through the back cover like this:
Step 2 Soldering
Before soldering, make sure you fix it’s position on the vice clamp – hi-end drivers with strong magnet and may stick to your soldering iron!
Be very careful when you soldering the wire to it. Over heating in a few seconds may kill this tiny BA driver. And the soldering panel is extremely small and very easily get short-cut. Also notice the polarity of the driver and don’t make mistake.
Step 3 Gluing the BA driver into housing
Apply around the BA driver and carefully position it to the housing. NEVER get glue into the opening of the BA driver – once you did there is no way back…
Step 4 Verify and Gluing shell
Your build is working now, you can connect it to your cell phone and verify if it sounds properly before you glue the shell up. And glue the front housing (gold or silver) and the back end cover (hard rubber) together, and you finally get this
Do I need to fine tune the sound?
No need at all. ED 29689 is with very balanced frequency and no damping or tuning needed
How if I have special requirements?
Please leave your requirements in the ordering note and we’ll handle them accordingly, or contact our service account for any issue.
FAQ
Collected from hundreds DIYers building this kit.
[FAQ 1] How does this kit compared with the IE800 kit?
A: IE800 is better on ultra-low bass performance, like 5~10Hz which you can feel with you skin. While X12 and most BA drivers can not do that due to the size of its diaphragm. However, X12 kit offers better resolution and fantastic female vocal. So it’s really depends on your flavor. And as both perform super great, the gap is tiny and barely perceptible.
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