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First Impressions of Apple In-Ear Headphones

gearkraft said:
I really cant imagine these being worth the money for 80 bucks. You can find shure e2s, on sale shure e3's, or even sennheisers for the same price. I'd be curious to know if they outsourced the gutty-whats to a bigger audio company.

I'd also stake a big claim that just because they're white and match the overall apple aesthetic that this alone will be the big sell point. Like, "Oh, you've only got the normal iPod headphones, I just got these sweet upgraded ones." Most people cant tell the difference between garbage and quality...
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They could if their music was ripped at good quality. I find the real problem with most people's music on their iPod is that the bit rate quality is generally no higher than 128-160 kbps. But once you get to a respectable bit rate, such as 320 kbps, you'll be able to tell what a difference a real good pair of earbuds can make.
 
So are these "jam them in your ear canal until it hurts if you want isolation and any bass whatsoever" style like many of the good ones, or do you just plop the correct sized one in your ear? I like the former, like Etymotics, but they fatigue me quickly.
 
I don't see how CNet can compare these to the Etymotic HF2. I have the Etymotic HF2 and have been a very big fan of Etymotic for a long time. You just cannot compare these new Apple ear phones to these.

However, these new Apple ear phones are a huge step above the normal ear phones you get with their devices. If I didn't have the Etymotic HF2, these would be a wonderful replacement. The price is great! Once again, I think Apple pulled off another great product.
 
The Phazer said:
I've been change my volume a lot - podcasts tend to be mastered at amazingly different levels, and frankly the sound level I require to comfortably hear while walking around my street is completely different from the sound level and track noise of being on the Tube.

Phazer
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That is why I turn on Sound Check. Sound Check works for podcasts, so the volume difference issue is solved.

Remember to turn on Sound Check on both iTunes AND your iPod/iPhone. If you don't turn it on for both, it won't work.
 
mark34 said:
So are these "jam them in your ear canal until it hurts if you want isolation and any bass whatsoever" style like many of the good ones, or do you just plop the correct sized one in your ear? I like the former, like Etymotics, but they fatigue me quickly.
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Really? You'd rather jam them in your ear until it hurts? Doesn't sound very pleasant to me. I'd much prefer the latter.

Also, I took these off my Christmas list when I found out the volume rocker doesn't work. Now if apple updates the software to work w/ the rocker then count me in but until then I'll stick w/ the stock earbuds.
 
Quillz said:
They could if their music was ripped at good quality. I find the real problem with most people's music on their iPod is that the bit rate quality is generally no higher than 128-160 kbps. But once you get to a respectable bit rate, such as 320 kbps, you'll be able to tell what a difference a real good pair of earbuds can make.
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absolutely, but the average user doesn't even know what a bitrate is, let alone how to change it and how it effects their music. People will still continue to listen to insanely loud music regardless of the quality. Furthering the annoying moment when you say "hey" to somebody with their headphones on, and they go "what?!"
 
I was very excited about these when they were announced, but there's no way I'm spending $80 them if one of their major selling points wont even work on my iPhone 3G. Volume control was my most looked forward to feature. It would have been great for those of us who live in a cold climate and do a lot of walking.
 
Clancycoop said:
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.
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That is like saying "Who advances the tracks when listening to music? I just start the music on a playlist I like and I'm good." The earbuds are what they are, but they would obviously be better if they had volume controls.
 
I was just looking at the picture of the headphones box from engadget and it looks like the headphone jack has the same features as the headphone jack for the iPhone 3G -- It has 3 white strips, or 4 sections for signal transfer. I believe that the 4 sections on the current iphone headset are used in this manner:

2 for left and right stereo audio
1 for the mic input
1 for all button controls (in the case of iphone 3G it is just a clicker -- 1 to pause/play, 2 clicks to move forward a track, and 3 clicks to go back a track)

Unless there is a specific hardware requirement on the iphone side to be able register something more than just the clicks of one button, then I think support for the 3 buttons on the new in-ear headphones could be achieved with a mere software update.

I hope so, because the second they release the update I will head over to the Apple Store and pick up a pair
 
slicecom said:
I was very excited about these when they were announced, but there's no way I'm spending $80 them if one of their major selling points wont even work on my iPhone 3G. Volume control was my most looked forward to feature. It would have been great for those of us who live in a cold climate and do a lot of walking.
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No offense, but i REALLY think the majority of you all are over-reacting a little bit about not having the volume function.

I live in a cold climate, and will rarely if EVER take my ipod out of my pocket to do something, ive learned to pause through my jacket, or pants, to change the track, and to even change the volume if it is in my shirt pocket.

Having a remote on a decent pair of headphones, that PAUSES, CHANGES TRACK FORWARD, and BACKWARDS AND HAS A BUILT IN MIC is worth the money alone.

How often do you change your volume!? HONESTLY!? if someone talks to you, you pause it anyways, and unless if your collection is poorly ripped or mixed, you will not need to change volume often.

But i have an ipod classic. So I'm cooler than you all... and will have volume control. lol.
 
I really hope Apple has improved the fitment. Neither the stock, nor the higher end ones (the $40 ear buds things) stay in my ear worth a darn. The only thing they are good for are plane rides for me. Any type of exercise movement and they fall out of my ears. So annoying!!!
 
here's the reason why I really don't mind that the volume buttons won't work on the iPhone....


The iPhone HAS a physical volume rocker. I go to school in Boston where it is pretty cold. The only thing that ever bothered me was having to take off my gloves in the freezing weather to change a track on my phone.....You can change the volume on the iPhone with gloves on, without causing any discomfort at all...

Don't get me wrong, I'd much PREFER to have the volume buttons work...but it definitely isn't a deal breaker for me.
 
elmateo487 said:
No offense, but i REALLY think the majority of you all are over-reacting a little bit about not having the volume function.

I live in a cold climate, and will rarely if EVER take my ipod out of my pocket to do something, ive learned to pause through my jacket, or pants, to change the track, and to even change the volume if it is in my shirt pocket.

Having a remote on a decent pair of headphones, that PAUSES, CHANGES TRACK FORWARD, and BACKWARDS AND HAS A BUILT IN MIC is worth the money alone.

How often do you change your volume!? HONESTLY!? if someone talks to you, you pause it anyways, and unless if your collection is poorly ripped or mixed, you will not need to change volume often.

But i have an ipod classic. So I'm cooler than you all... and will have volume control. lol.
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Wow- way to miss the point...

It the folks that have the iPhone that are upset the volume control doesn't work on the new headphones. They can't change tracks, pause, adjust volume, etc through their pants using an iPhone. Get it... Mr Fancy Pants???
 
elmateo487 said:
No offense, but i REALLY think the majority of you all are over-reacting a little bit about not having the volume function.

I live in a cold climate, and will rarely if EVER take my ipod out of my pocket to do something, ive learned to pause through my jacket, or pants, to change the track, and to even change the volume if it is in my shirt pocket.

Having a remote on a decent pair of headphones, that PAUSES, CHANGES TRACK FORWARD, and BACKWARDS AND HAS A BUILT IN MIC is worth the money alone.

How often do you change your volume!? HONESTLY!? if someone talks to you, you pause it anyways, and unless if your collection is poorly ripped or mixed, you will not need to change volume often.

But i have an ipod classic. So I'm cooler than you all... and will have volume control. lol.
Click to expand...

I change volume quite a bit. As an audiophile (all of my tracks are in Apple Lossless format, none are low quality downloads), I don't like Apple's Sound Check deciding the appropiate song volume for me. Often times there are quiet parts to songs which I'd like to hear at a higher volume.

As for this:

Having a remote on a decent pair of headphones, that PAUSES, CHANGES TRACK FORWARD, and BACKWARDS AND HAS A BUILT IN MIC is worth the money alone.
Click to expand...

There are already a ton of these on the market from other companies. Some with better sound than Apple's version, some at a lower price than Apple's version. The fact that these are an "official" Apple product don't excite me. So what I'm left with is a crippled version of in-ear headphones, that don't sound better than my existing in ears, and offer no additional functionality.
 
happydude said:
i loves me a buttery low end . . .
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somehow that sounds wrong.

Hard-Hat-Mac 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.
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Clancycoop said:
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.
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Ok, to clarify this issue (from engadget review):
"It looks like the remote can be used for answering and ending calls on the iPhone, as well as pausing, playing, and advancing tracks. No volume control though -- very odd!"

But while we're on the subject, WHY would they not just enable full functionality on the iphone? Could it really be that hard?
 
Great, marvellous, but why mug-me white?

Look excellent, and good value for money for a good quality bit of kit with accessories. Especially if the remote works on an iPhone.

But for goodness sake, why white? I know it's to show everyone that you're an Apple aficionado, but they just scream "mug me". You also can't wear them when the boss/customer/teacher/inspector is around. My black Sennhauser CX300's, no problems; nobody notices.

I suppose one could buy a black marker pen. Just need to make sure it's a permanent marker:)
 
suprajoe said:
I don't see how CNet can compare these to the Etymotic HF2. I have the Etymotic HF2 and have been a very big fan of Etymotic for a long time. You just cannot compare these new Apple ear phones to these.
Click to expand...

and you know this how...? Have you tried the new apple ear phones, or are you just assuming because you don't want to believe that an $80 pair of headphones could be as good as your precious etymotics?
 
QCassidy352 said:
... No volume control though -- very odd!
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One can live without a volume control as there's a 'hard' volume control on the iPhone which can be operated by feel (as opposed to 'soft' iPod controls which need to be operated by eye: the only way to pause it is to pull the headphones out -- or dig it out of your pocket, look at it, unlock the screen, aim your fingers.... and crash the car).
 
Does any of the remote functionality work with a 1st Generation touch?
Or is this simply earphones with that model?
 
Someone asked earlier, but I don't think it was answered - Do they work at all with the first generation iPhone?

Also, I think there is reason for people to be upset about the volume thing. Apple makes both the iPhone (a massive seller) and these headphones. Why should we accept anything less than full-functionality? I am a Mac/iPhone fan for life, but seriously, there have been so many aspects of compatibility, crashing, coming up with "workarounds," etc. since this phone has been released. It feels a lot like my dealing with my old PC sometimes. I guess I just don't think this would have been so easily forgiven a couple of years ago.
 
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