PLAYBACK: Apple In-Ear Headphones
A High-Performance Entry from the iPod’s Inventor
Home Theater/Multichannel Audio
Portable/PC Audio
TV / Displays
- DISH Network ViP®722 HD DVR and TurboHD Package
- Samsung UN46B7000 LCD HDTV with LED backlighting
- Sharp XV-Z15000 1080p DLP Projector
Two-Channel Audio
Source: Playback
- Press center button: Play or pause a song (or video)
- Press center button twice quickly: Advance to the next song (or chapter)
- Press center button three times quickly: Go to the previous song (or chapter)
- Press the “+” button once: increase volume incrementally
- Press and hold the “+” button: increase volume rapidly
- Press the “-“ button once: decrease volume incrementally
- Press and hold the “-“ button: decrease volume rapidly
.jpg "Case is stylish, but is it sturdy? Time will tell.")
The Apple in-ear headphones come with a two-piece, clamshell-type carry case that doubles as a signal-cable winding spool. My one concern, though, is that the stylish case is made of injection molded plastic and therefore may not be rugged enough to stand up to daily use (my fear would be that the case could easily crack). Other accessories include a spare pair of mesh caps (which act as dirt guards for the earpieces), plus a small, and again very stylish case for carrying the two pairs of eartips not currently installed on the headphones.
BOTTOM LINE:
The Apple In-Ear Headphones offer good value for money and a nice blend of sonic virtues that center—as they should—on the headphone’s adroit handling of midrange frequencies. Listeners who are, pardon the pun, plugged-in to Apple’s design ethos will also appreciate the added control/communications functions made possible by the headphone’s cool remote/mic module. If there is any drawback here, it might be that the Apples are good enough to whet your appetite to step up to the next level, seeking those few extra elements of sonic power and refinement that ‘phones in the mid-$100 range have to offer.
SPECS & PRICING
Apple dual-armature high performance in-ear headset
Accessories:
- Three pairs of round, single-flange rubber eartips (S, M, L)
- Injection molded carry case
- Eartip storage case
- Spare pair of mesh caps
Weight: 10.2 grams
Sensitivity: 109dB
Price: $79
Apple
(408) 996-1010
(800) MY-APPLE
www.apple.com
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Comments
A huge problem is that the esrtips fall off and Apple does not sell spares. the guy at the Apple store says he puts on new rubber cenent each month, not an optimun solution IMHO.
To whom it may concern:
This is the way to go.
http://www.sennheiserusa.com/private_headsets_mobile_bluetooth-wireless_...
In the US$ 80 neighborhood I can say the UltimateEar http://www.ultimateears.com/_ultimateears/store/products/metrofi220.php are most fine sounding that the Apple
I wonder what is the durability like on these headphones? I own the predecessor to this model, and I'm not particularly rough with them, and I'm onto my third pair now. I've found the sound to be to my liking, however I have found the durability to be poor. They seem to last for about 8 months before something breaks. My first pair the speaker part detached from the casing. My second pair the cover of the jack separated from the jack, and my current pair, the cover of the jack has separated from the jack, and the cover in the split separating the cable for the left ear and the right ear has moved exposing bare wires. I currently have them held together with tape. I'm a bit hesitant to spend more money on Apple headphones, given the durability problems with the previous model.
I've used Shure E4C headphones for some time, and while they are sonically better than the Apple phones reviewed here, they always end up crapping out eventually due to cord wear. I wear these things all the time, including 30-70 mile training rides on my racing bicycle.
Here's what I've learned about the Apple headphones:
1. The are extremely tough with one exception: The ear tips can easily come off after they get worn. I solved this by cutting a small ring of heatshrink and placing over the eartip right where it meets the body of the headphone. A few seconds with the trusty cigarette lighter, and no more tips coming off. I've used these guys daily for over three months now and not a problem. They also seem to wear in a little sonically as they are played.
They're more money for sure, but the Monster Cable Turbine Ear Speaker shows up everything I've heard in ear-bud type 'phones, including these Apple buds. Really great sound and very durable, too
Early reports are that the Turbines are not that durable, and very microphonic, and have some rather poor stress relief. Check out some posts on head-fi.org to check on it.
Right now, you can get these as B box special son ebay (seller is onedollar28) for $35. These phones are a bargain at that price, and the alternatives being offere here (Senn MM50, for example) are bass bloated junk. I also own the Metro.Fi 200v, and the ADDIEMs are better performers.
As for the tips, there are places to get replacements, here
http://www.dealsishop.com/silicone-replacement-ear-tips-for-apple-in-ear...
But, better tips include the Comply T130 foamies (medium or large, both work, depending on ear size), or the Sony Hybrid tips, which are $10 on Amazon for 4 sizes. When it comes to IEMs, you must experiment with alternative tips before you trash the phones in print. Granted, the OEM tips are not great, but there is more than one way to skin a cat, or hear these phones.
I've owned the Monster Turbines too (got them free as a review model), and while they are not bad at all, they cost $100 at their cheapest, and their highs sounded a bit plasticky to me. Not bad, but worth more than $70 than the ADDIEMs? Guess it depends on what you want. If you want more bass, then go ahead and spend the money. But if you want decent mids and hights, but just accurate bass, then spend $35 and get these.
I am not an Apple fanboy (I have a Touch, but also have a Zune, A Sony A818 and two Sansa Clips). But these phones are a very good deal.
They sound OK, but for the price they should have noise cancelling not just isolating. Original buds and even metal covers get lost easily. Wires are too delicate. They are not for iPhone, as "+" and "-" don't do a damn thing for iPhone. Only when I bought SHURE FOAM SLEEVES as a replacement part from another manufacturer, I got a good fit and good sound isolation. Another $20. Installing them required some fiddling and twisting, but they work.
Philips with a noise cancelling I use when flying to avoid a jet lag, being horny at the dinner time and hungry at bed time that is.
Apple do some noise cancelling for the masses, don't be cheap!
they work fine with the iPhone: pause, play, skip, volume + and -, answer call