First Impressions of Apple In-Ear Headphones

MacRumors · 12:47 PM

Image from Engadget
After months of delay, Apple's In-Ear headphones have started arriving to customers. Here are some early first impressions of the $79 headphones:

Gizmodo - "After a history of offering lackluster earbuds, Apple has come through with a product that sounds really good and is reasonably priced, all things considered. The balanced sound and dual drivers makes all the difference in the quality factor."

Engadget - "Imagine our surprise, then, at the discovery that they not only sound really, really good (warm lows and crisp highs, a distinct lack of that modern, pushy mid-range), but they do work with the iPhone (the 3G we've got here, at least). "

CNet - "They don't quite have the crisp, high frequency detail of the Etymotic HF2 headphones I had at my desk, but they blow away Apple's stock earbuds (not too difficult a feat) with a buttery low end and pleasant mids and highs."

Article Link: First Impressions of Apple In-Ear Headphones

Dejavu · Dec 5, 2008, 10:27 AM

I guess I will pick up a pair for running, since the originals keep falling out of my ears.

themoonisdown09 · Dec 5, 2008, 10:29 AM

I would like to try them out. I wonder if they will have them on display in the Apple stores.

iParis · Dec 5, 2008, 10:30 AM

Well this is good news.
I hope to get a pair in the near furture.

happydude · Dec 5, 2008, 10:30 AM

i loves me a buttery low end . . .

ryanmcv · Dec 5, 2008, 10:30 AM

I ordered these from Apple.com a few days ago, but it looks like they won't arrive until after Christmas. It's good to see these positive reviews though!

BigD58 · Dec 5, 2008, 10:31 AM

Wow I didnt realize these were supposed to sound so well...I might have to go buy me a pair

. But do the volume controls work with the iPhone

themoonisdown09 · Dec 5, 2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigD58

Wow I didnt realize these were supposed to sound so well...I might have to go buy me a pair

. But do the volume controls work with the iPhone

It looks like they work with the iPhone 3G from what Engadget said.

UnseenLlama · Dec 5, 2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themoonisdown09

I would like to try them out. I wonder if they will have them on display in the Apple stores.

I wouldn't suggest mixing earwax with others...

BigD58 · Dec 5, 2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themoonisdown09

It looks like they work with the iPhone 3G from what Engadget said.

Woot! Im sold

DeaconGraves · Dec 5, 2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themoonisdown09

It looks like they work with the iPhone 3G from what Engadget said.

Macrumors didn't quote the remainder of the article unfortunately.

Quote:

Regular playback is a charm, and we had no problem making and receiving calls with the buds and attached mic -- though strangely the remote doesn't seem operable on the phone, thus deflating our excitement ever-so-slightly

Duke2 · Dec 5, 2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigD58

Wow I didnt realize these were supposed to sound so well...I might have to go buy me a pair

. But do the volume controls work with the iPhone

Volume control does not work on iPhone, everything else does.

guzhogi · Dec 5, 2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happydude

i loves me a buttery low end . . .

I personally prefer the smooth, Barry White lows.

noway · Dec 5, 2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themoonisdown09

It looks like they work with the iPhone 3G from what Engadget said.

No the volume control wont work as of now on the iphone. Hardware is ok but software is not present yet... read info that comes from Apple guys...

Quote:

Originally Posted by themoonisdown09

I would like to try them out. I wonder if they will have them on display in the Apple stores.

No they wont be on demo, just like any Shure, or Bose earphones. In ear implies hygiene issues so they wont be on Demo.

Hard-Hat-Mac · Dec 5, 2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themoonisdown09

It looks like they work with the iPhone 3G from what Engadget said.

They work, but don't allow for the remote functionality i.e. three click to go back previous etc.

watch the keynote where el jobso demo'd them to see what i mean.

aristobrat · Dec 5, 2008, 10:41 AM

Giz makes it sound like they work just like the included iPhone headphones, meaning the only thing that doesn't work is the volume control button.

Quote:

On the iPhone 3G, you can't use the volume. You can still play/pause a song, answer/end a call, change tracks and make use of the microphone. But all of those work perfectly fine on the iPhone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by noway

No they wont be on demo, just like any Shure, or Bose earphones. In ear implies hygiene issues so they wont be on Demo.

Weird, the Apple Store near me has always had in-ear earphones on display for the public to try. Why the public would chose to do so is beyond me, but there are earbuds everywhere.

Lesser Evets · Dec 5, 2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

...are started arriving...

Hmmm. Need an edit, there, guys.

AT LAST! I can't wait for mine to ship and arrive. How they work with Voip on iPT is a big concern for me right now. Was there ever any serious doubt the sound wouldn't deliver? Sure, they might not be the best audio experience ever, but they sure will beat the old ear buds any day and offer control and mic for the iPod again.

Clancycoop · Dec 5, 2008, 10:47 AM

Who cares about the remote? I mean, sure the volume would be nice, but the real deal here is the dual drivers contained within the headphones for great sound. The song forward/back/pause still works.

Who changes their volume enough for that to be an issue? I just keep it loud as I can without hurting my eardrums, and I'm good. If I need to talk to someone, I pause the music.

If someone else can show me some in-ear dual driver headphones for $80 or less with pause/song skip capability, please post a link and I will go buy them right now.

Robbadore64 · Dec 5, 2008, 10:48 AM

Does anyone think the next iPhone software update will enable the volume controls etc?

I'd like to get some better headphones than what came with the iPhone 3g but for $79 (I'm poor) I'd like to have a little increased functionality too.

RamblinWreck · Dec 5, 2008, 10:48 AM

I was interested in these until I saw that Gizmodo had compared them to my current earbuds in their review. Since they don't stack up to my Shure's, I guess I will move on. Man I'd love the remote function.

Foxtrot Oscar · Dec 5, 2008, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happydude

i loves me a buttery low end . . .

I read that and I picture a laughing cow... go figure!

The ear thingys look nice!!

Wayfarer · Dec 5, 2008, 10:58 AM

LOL @ buttery low end.

Me likey.

mr.steevo · Dec 5, 2008, 11:03 AM

Hi,

They look interesting but are not for me.

The 'buds that came with my iPod won't stay in my ears, but I will not be paying near $100 CAN for more Apple buds. I'd rather pay that amount for a headset type of headphone, like a Grado.

s.

jessica. · Dec 5, 2008, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themoonisdown09

I would like to try them out. I wonder if they will have them on display in the Apple stores.

Doubtful because that is just gross. Bose actually offers a sample of their in-ears but they change the nibs each time ... at least the Bose store by my house does.

Kar98 · Dec 5, 2008, 11:10 AM

Hmmmm, buttery low-ends!

Wait, $79 and tax? I'll stick with my off the shelf Sony headphones for half the price then.

Dec 5, 2008, 10:25 AM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	First Impressions of Apple In-Ear Headphones Image from Engadget After months of delay, Apple's In-Ear headphones have started arriving to customers. Here are some early first impressions of the $79 headphones: Gizmodo - "After a history of offering lackluster earbuds, Apple has come through with a product that sounds really good and is reasonably priced, all things considered. The balanced sound and dual drivers makes all the difference in the quality factor." Engadget - "Imagine our surprise, then, at the discovery that they not only sound really, really good (warm lows and crisp highs, a distinct lack of that modern, pushy mid-range), but they do work with the iPhone (the 3G we've got here, at least). " CNet - "They don't quite have the crisp, high frequency detail of the Etymotic HF2 headphones I had at my desk, but they blow away Apple's stock earbuds (not too difficult a feat) with a buttery low end and pleasant mids and highs." Article Link: First Impressions of Apple In-Ear Headphones Last edited by arn : Dec 5, 2008 at 12:47 PM.

Dec 5, 2008, 10:29 AM	#3
themoonisdown09 macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Georgia, USA	I would like to try them out. I wonder if they will have them on display in the Apple stores. __________________ Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

Dec 5, 2008, 10:30 AM	#4
iParis macrumors 68030 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Mexico	Well this is good news. I hope to get a pair in the near furture. __________________ -2G 16GB iPod touch 3.0 (Jailbreak) -Keyboard w/ Numeric Keypad & Mighty Mouse - eMachines AMD Athlon 1.6GHz / 2GB ram / 320GB HD / Win7 RC

Dec 5, 2008, 10:30 AM	#5
happydude macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: a country with a new sense of hope	i loves me a buttery low end . . . __________________ hi

Dec 5, 2008, 10:30 AM	#6
ryanmcv macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, IL	I ordered these from Apple.com a few days ago, but it looks like they won't arrive until after Christmas. It's good to see these positive reviews though! __________________ iPhone 3GS 32GB Black

Dec 5, 2008, 10:27 AM	#2
Dejavu Banned Join Date: Jun 2008	I guess I will pick up a pair for running, since the originals keep falling out of my ears.

Dec 5, 2008, 10:31 AM	#7
BigD58 macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Carolina	Wow I didnt realize these were supposed to sound so well...I might have to go buy me a pair. But do the volume controls work with the iPhone __________________ Macbook Pro (Unibody) 2.4Ghz, 4GB DDR3 RAM, iMac (Current Model), iPhone 3G 16GB Black

Dec 5, 2008, 10:47 AM	#18
Clancycoop macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2007	Who cares about the remote? I mean, sure the volume would be nice, but the real deal here is the dual drivers contained within the headphones for great sound. The song forward/back/pause still works. Who changes their volume enough for that to be an issue? I just keep it loud as I can without hurting my eardrums, and I'm good. If I need to talk to someone, I pause the music. If someone else can show me some in-ear dual driver headphones for $80 or less with pause/song skip capability, please post a link and I will go buy them right now. __________________ 13.3" Aluminum MacBook Pro, 2.53 GHz, 4GB RAM, 250 GB HD; iPhone 3GS 32 GB; iPod Touch 16GB 1st Gen; iPod Shuffle 1GB

Dec 5, 2008, 10:48 AM	#19
Robbadore64 macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Jacksonville, Florida	Does anyone think the next iPhone software update will enable the volume controls etc? I'd like to get some better headphones than what came with the iPhone 3g but for $79 (I'm poor) I'd like to have a little increased functionality too.

Dec 5, 2008, 10:48 AM	#20
RamblinWreck macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2008	I was interested in these until I saw that Gizmodo had compared them to my current earbuds in their review. Since they don't stack up to my Shure's, I guess I will move on. Man I'd love the remote function.

Dec 5, 2008, 10:58 AM	#22
Wayfarer macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2007	LOL @ buttery low end. Me likey.

Dec 5, 2008, 11:03 AM	#23
mr.steevo macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2004	Hi, They look interesting but are not for me. The 'buds that came with my iPod won't stay in my ears, but I will not be paying near $100 CAN for more Apple buds. I'd rather pay that amount for a headset type of headphone, like a Grado. s.

Dec 5, 2008, 11:10 AM	#25
Kar98 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2007	Hmmmm, buttery low-ends! Wait, $79 and tax? I'll stick with my off the shelf Sony headphones for half the price then.

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