Apple Earbuds (White with Gray Earbuds)
by Apple Computer
|
Our Price: $64.18 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
|---|
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Apple Earbuds (White with Gray Earbuds)
Customer Review: Apple iPod Earbud Headphones
Summary: 3 Stars
Let me just start off by saying that these headphones are pretty good. They provide clear sound and the cup-in-ear design makes the surrounding noise drown out pretty well. I bought mine as a replacement for the headphones that come with the iPod package, and once I learned how to insert them correctly I was suprised at the sound quality. Overall, I would give them a 4-star rating, if not for one major flaw, which now means that I can't listen to them any more.
The rubber cups that you insert into your ears come in three sizes, two cups for each size. If you want to change the size you pop them off of the headphones and shove the replacing ones on. This works fine until the rubber cups start coming off by themselves. For example, I placed my iPod and headphones into my pocket, walked to the other side of the house and put them on the countertop without looking at them, and when I picked up my iPod again one of the cups was missing. Usually I look at them every time I put them down because these cups come off rather frequently and easily. Sometimes they are easy to find again, like on the ground or in your pocket, but this time I lost them for good, and now I cannot enjoy the headphones.
Some might say that the problem here is incompetence on my part, but I take excellent care of the headphones, it was just inevitable that a product with such a flawed design would eventually render it unusable. I shouldn't have to make sure that my headphones are still intact every time I carry them around... they should be more portable than that.
Besides this personal incident though, I guess that the headphones function well when you're using them; just be prepared to take excellent care of them, there are no extra parts to replace the ones that come off very easily.
Customer Review: Hit or Miss
Summary: 3 Stars
I decided to take a chance on these headphones after reading many of the previous reviews here. I thought the sound quality of the phones that came with my iPod was okay, but I wanted something better while keeping with the minimalist idea of the iPod. What I disliked most about the original phones was the chintzy sponge covers. Not only did they seem to promise short life as they stretched out of shape; they also covered the markings indicating left and right so I had to pull them back before inserting the phones.
So now I have the upgrade. As with all the iPod products, the packaging is great and conveys the message that you've bought a top-shelf product. From an aesthetic point of view, the design of the headphones (or, more accurately, earplugs) is great too. However, as many reviewers have complained, fitting them to and keeping them comfortably in the ears can be tricky. Since I'd already read the reviews here I had an idea of what to expect and knew how to approach the job. Unfortunately, Apple's instructions are pretty brief. I have big ears that stick out, so it was no surprise that the big earpiece works best for me. The plugs stay in reasonably well, but not as well as I would like. However, I must admit that the original set wasn't much better in this respect and would frequently loosen up during vigorous activities like workouts at the gym.
As for the sound quality, I don't notice a huge difference. I agree with some others that the highs are emphasized. This is fine for me since I'm not fond of exaggerated bass, but it might be a problem for some.
It should be obvious after reading a few of these reviews that the best course to take before ordering them is to try a friend's set to see if they work for you.
Customer Review: Don't be "put off" by the negative hype
Summary: 5 Stars
These little beauties are Wonderful! There... I've said it!!!!I found the original iPod headphones uncomfortable to wear for any length of time. They were just too big for my ears. They actually hurt after about 20 mins wear.
I was quickly drawn to the "in ear" variety because, to be honest, they looked cool..however so that my heart didn't rule my head entirely, I spent a couple of weeks looking at every review I could find (mostly negative..... they fall out, no bass, tinny, etc etc) which really coloured my view to the point where INDECISION RULED!!!!
I decided that the only way forward was to try them for myself -
The reality????
Beautifully presented in true MAC tradition. Very, very comfortable from the outset, (the rubber is soft, flexible and produces a nice cushioned seal which also blocks out extraneous noise well ) and to my amazement all three sizes fitted in my ears, without falling out. I found however after a little experimentation that the smallest ones gave me the snuggest fit.
The audio at first was a little disappointing - a bit shrill, not much bass??? PANIC.....that's when I started experimenting with the iPod graphic equaliser presets and voila !!!! ( I particularly liked JAZZ and PIANO although the settings didn't relate much to the kind of music I generally listen to)) FIXED..... I could have as much treble or bass as a body could stand ( I suppose after all ..thats what an equaliser does!!) and I can wear them for hours in comfort.
Conclusion - Put them in your ears properly and don't forget to experiment with your iPods equaliser presets. They make an enormous difference.
I think you'll like them a whole lot!
Customer Review: Awesome Earphones...if used properly
Summary: 5 Stars
I found the Apple In ear headphones far superior to the stock iPod earphones. I have own in-ear earphones in the past and in many cases the user is at fault when if doesn't sound to par. Of course people typically blame the product. Typical complaints are:1. It doesn't sound loud but rather tiny
2. They don't have any bass
3 They don't have any depth
How you wear them will made or break you opinion of these products. Unforunately, apple dropped the ball on providing instructions on how to properly wear the earphones so if you follow these instructions below, I assure you they WILL sound much better than the stock earphones. Credit goes to iPodlounge.com
---FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF YOUR EARPHONES--
An acoustic seal is the target of all isolation earphones. When an acoustic seal is achieved, sound projected into your ears by earbuds cannot escape and is channeled directly toward your eardrums, while disturbing external noise has no way of getting in. Acoustic seals are air-tight, so when you've got it right, you can feel the difference: pulling gently on an acoustically-sealed earbud will create a gentle tugging sensation inside your ear canal.
There is a knack to getting the earplug inserted deep enough in the ear canal to achieve a good seal.
As with noise suppression earplugs, you have to open up the ear canal by pulling upwards and outwards on the fleshy outer part of your ear (the Scapha).
The easiest way is to reach over the top of your head with your opposite hand, gripping your outer ear just above the mid-point, and pull upwards and outwards while inserting the earplug into your ear.
Customer Review: Decent sound quality, but many cons...
Summary: 2 Stars
When I first upgraded to these earphones over the included iPod earphones, I was very pleased with the improved sound quality. I will say this - for the price, these earphones offer pretty good sound.
Unfortunately, in a portable environment, "good sound" is not enough. This product's cons by far outweigh the good sound, and cause me not to recommend it.
- I could not run with these in. Even if you are not a runner/jogger, trying to run even briefly (to catch the train!) with these on is bound to frustrate you.
- Even though there are three included earbud sizes, I could not get a fit where I was truly happy. I tried different combinations of the same size/different sizes in different ears, but the fit never stayed snug for long; it would loosen up and I always had to readjust. Annoying.
- The rubber earbud covers are not durable. I tore one accidentally, even though I had removed it several times before and was not using excessive force.
- If your ear is even slightly wet (because it's raining, because it's hot out, or because you just had a shower), getting these buds to stay in is a nightmare. Come on Apple, this is not practical.
- Unreliable. After a mere 8 months, the left earphone died. Not uncommon with Apple iPod earphones, by the way, but I thought this pair would be more reliable than the ones that come with an iPod.
All in all, the sound might make you happy, but I find the design impractical for the everyday application of wearing them outside. Sound is not the only factor in designing a quality portable audio device, and I fear Apple got more wrong here than right.