Hands-On With Apple's New AirPods

[alecgold]

There's a difference between explaining why they aren't for YOU....To generalize people who genuinely like them or find them useful as "idiots" or "morons," is a bit much. I'll never understand why people care so much with what other people do with their money. Pricing is also relative, "160$ is crazy!." Not to me, in fact, I paid 300$ to some kid reselling them. Some people have extra money or disposable income... It's fine if you don't like them or think they're pricey, it's not ok to call people who do like them "idiots."

In a way it is really eeehm strange (or even idiotic?) to do that. Says the guy who bought a Smart Keyboard for twice the price because he "needed"/wanted it so bad.
I was lucky enough to get the AirPods in time, but otherwise would have been tempted to buy them from a reseller as well.
But it's strange that people living a few blocks away Can't make ends meet and I spend that kind of money on a few plastic pieces that will help me (more or less) to be even more effective and earn even more money.
Just wondering/being philosophical while waiting for the DHL truck

 

[x-evil-x]

You're talking about fashion sense with THAT profile picture?

These will be as iconic as the original white headphones.

judge much?

 

[Picapau21]

Yeah exactly. I hope they hold fine in my Dumbo Ears.
Do they have the exactly same form and size as the Earpods, or are they minimal different/bigger maybe? Thx!

The look identical but seem to have a better fit. That could be because the wire isn't pulling them down as much.

 

[0098386]

Well, sure, picking something up off the ground and putting into your ear is strange. What I was referring to though, was your assumption that they'll inevitably fall out.

Once more with my original tweet, what I said isn't wrong. A cable and no around the ear securing clip means it's a more than likely to hit the ground than any other earphone.

 

[Picapau21]

I'd like to know if the is any actual facts to back up claims of better sound. The shape going into the ear looks the same as the corded versions. Unless the inner workings are different, I am thinking placebo effect.

"After standing in line for a pair or earphones they better sound fantastic"

I posted the following on a different thread but thought it was relevant here as well:

I listened to lot a music through my on ear B&O H8's, EarPods and AirPods yesterday and honestly I'm not convinced that the difference is that great. I suspect it will depend on your musical tastes but I listen to a range of music from House, Drum and Bass, Hip-Hop and Commercial all streamed using apple music/sound cloud and I think due to compression I couldn't hear that big a difference. Possibly using a high end audio set-up with a good DAC would allow the H8's to sound better but in normal use I couldn't really differentiate between then 3.

When i get a chance I will test them out against my IEM's; Shure 535's and Seinnheiser i8's.

btw. All the various headphones/earphones have a slightly different sound signature which can make a difference to perceived sound quality. Listening volume also makes a big difference and trying to ensure each is at the same volume is difficult. Louder music tends to be perceived as sounding better.

As a disclaimer - When listening though my iPhone I CAN'T hear a difference between Tidal lossless and AAC 256 either. Maybe I have rubbish ears!

Also as many have said already these AirPods are really good for phone calls and no-one could tell I was using a hands free kit.

 

[Lappen71]

The tech in the headphones are pretty cool, but im not impressed with the sound quality. My Philips 50 USD in-ear headphones have way better sound quality than the AirPods.

A highly doubtful and subjective opinion from random anonymous user.

 

[profets]

I would have thought for £160, audio quality should be the only metric this audio product should be measured on.

Then you truly don't understand the product and should just be buying over ear cans like this:

 

[honglong1976]

Teardown: http://mindtribe.com/2016/12/apple-airpods-teardown/

Looks like the same driver as the earpods! https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Apple+EarPods+Teardown/10501

 

[profets]

Once more with my original tweet, what I said isn't wrong. A cable and no around the ear securing clip means it's a more than likely to hit the ground than any other earphone.

I assume you meant comment, and not tweet. But it's still wrong. You said "when one inevitably falls out". You're implying that an AirPod will definitely fall out at one point.

The second part I agree with - if one does fall out, it likely would hit the ground. That's the difference though. Should be saying if, not inevitably.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

Beginning to understand more things about Siri. So some of my previous comments seemed to be hasty. So I will eat some crow now.

One thing that does make sense is you can do a lot with Siri if your phone is in the other room or not near you. Was washing dishes and it was very useful to change artists.

An idea along with other peoples suggestions would be for them to make two profiles for commands. One using Siri would be for in the house and one would be for public such as the subway etc.

"switch to subway mode." it could also perhaps be activated by location. When you leave your house it switches over.

Regardless of what functions the taps activate I hate how hard you have to hit these things. It isn't a pleasant experience for your ears to pound on them. "hey Siri" would perhaps be better if it could be done. This is also leaves the taps to perform other tasks.

 

[where is it]

Then you truly don't understand the product and should just be buying over ear cans like this:

Nope. These clearly have a wire poking out of them?

I want a superior audio experience or at least an equal one to wired earbuds available for the past five years from competitors.

I also want them to be wireless.

Surely this was the product brief Apple engineers got when they started designing?

 

[bobob]

Interesting observation in one of the AirPod reviews:

After using the AirPods, It now seems surprising that most of the wearable attention has focused on wrist-based devices, over, say, headphones. The AirPods are light enough and comfortable enough that they could be worn in a wearable type way, while giving the same information you get from a watch and probably more. Blocking the outside world is problematic, but you could wear one AirPod to communicate with Siri, to hear music, to listen to podcasts. I had Siri read me Wikipedia entries on Russia and Canada -- all without touching my phone. Because why not.​

 

[Ds6778]

Just not as well as the $30 version you never have to charge, ever, and you dont lose one, because they are attached, and cheap, and they work perfectly as well as these do in every way.

I can't even entertain the idea that those 30$ Happy-Meal headphones are in the same playing field as AirPods. If you're a true lover of technology then you would understand why some of us are genuinely impressed/excited over what Apple has brought to us. Sounds like you're more upset at the price of AirPods since you keep bringing up how "30$ does the same thing and more." You're either willfully ignorant or just trolling. I love how recharging these headphones is somehow a "flaw" in the design...lol what? Five hours of battery life in something this small is impressive. Also, if you're that concerned over losing them, which us adults aren't, then there are plenty of 3rd party solutions. So please spare us the links to your happy-meal headphones. We're content with embracing the future

 

[sinsin07]

Nope. These clearly have a wire poking out of them?

I want a superior audio experience or at least an equal one to wired earbuds available for the past five years from competitors.

I also want them to be wireless.

Surely this was the product brief Apple engineers got when they started designing?

Based on your recent post here, Airpods probably not the product for you.
You might as well face that fact and move on to something else.

 

[Bobajobbob]

that is a huge stretch. the day you say the airpods are at par with B&W i will be running to grab them too

I didn't say they were comparable. I was simply framing my comments with a bit of context around my headphone use and expectation.

 

[rockyromero]

Okay, I'm intrigued by these things. However, not sold on how weird they look while hanging from the ears without wires. Hopefully Apple can improve on the design in the future by maybe shortening the stems a little.

Just don't look in the mirror when wearing Airpods.

No one else will care to say anything.

➰

 

[Immiddx]

How quick will the AirPods die in -20 weather...ya, I'll wait till they are in the clearance bin.

Move to one of the good states/countries and you won't have to worry about dumb stuff like that.

 

[rockyromero]

Seems the higher ups at Apple really think Siri is the future and I don't share their enthusiasm so far. Siri seems to be completely inappropriate for typical usage on places like the subway, cafes, or just about anywhere outside of one's home.

Even if Siri wasn't such a brainless bimbo there isn't a good case for doing it this way.
They should have a couple of options to use Siri or replace that with other control functions. When they do that this product will be unbeatable.

Yes, you're right that Siri is the present and future. So is AI.

My Siri has an Australian accent & suddenly is brilliant.

I think I also became smarter too. Paired all devices to the Airpods except a renegade W10 machine.

Now to get rid of the vintage BT headphones...

➰

 

[3rdiguy]

After using my AirPods for a while I would like to see the ability to play/pause music on Pandora for Apple Watch added. I see that I've lost that functionality and can only do it through the generic music app on my Watch. For now I have to get used to switching sources among my devices and using my iPhone more to control music. I knew this coming in and would like to see if Apple will update the software in the future. They still sound really good and fit great for me. Will test them as my daily drivers to see if i can have my Earpods gradually retire. The sound on them was always good enough for me and the AirPods are slightly better than that.

 

[profets]

I would have thought for £160, audio quality should be the only metric this audio product should be measured on.

Nope. These clearly have a wire poking out of them?

I want a superior audio experience or at least an equal one to wired earbuds available for the past five years from competitors.

I also want them to be wireless.

Surely this was the product brief Apple engineers got when they started designing?

Sorry - you want them to be wireless? But you previously said that audio quality is the only metric that matters? Which is it?
[doublepost=1482240939][/doublepost]

Okay, I'm intrigued by these things. However, not sold on how weird they look while hanging from the ears without wires. Hopefully Apple can improve on the design in the future by maybe shortening the stems a little.

I thought this was strange at first as well. But then after thinking about it, it's not strange with wires hanging from the ear piece - or is that just because we're used to seeing that after 15 years?

I guess initially I was expecting them to be full buds like the Bragi Dash or Moto Hint, but I'm kind of happy they're not (using a Moto Hint, which is a large bud that really fills the ear, becomes uncomfortable after some time). These, if like EarPods seem like they'll sit comfortably without putting much pressure on the ear. Just my thought anyway.

 

[0098386]

I assume you meant comment, and not tweet. But it's still wrong. You said "when one inevitably falls out". You're implying that an AirPod will definitely fall out at one point.

The second part I agree with - if one does fall out, it likely would hit the ground. That's the difference though. Should be saying if, not inevitably.

Hah, apologies, I was also on Twitter at the time reading up on owners experiences of them falling out. I suppose I was also using personal experience as I've never had an brand or model earphone remain permanently in. Since owning iPods since 2002 and minidiscs, CDs, tapes before them I'm still looking for one that remains in. I mean physically it's impossible without a clip due to the shape of the ear.

 

[profets]

Hah, apologies, I was also on Twitter at the time reading up on owners experiences of them falling out. I suppose I was also using personal experience as I've never had an brand or model earphone remain permanently in. Since owning iPods since 2002 and minidiscs, CDs, tapes before them I'm still looking for one that remains in. I mean physically it's impossible without a clip due to the shape of the ear.

I do know a few people close to me (wife being one of them) who have a tough time with the bundled Apple EarPods always falling out, with little movement. They're both getting the AirPods as they're curious if it'll improve without the wire tugging on them. I have seen someone who couldn't use EarPods due to them falling out being able to keep AirPods in, even when vigorously shaking their head.

When you say it's physically impossible without a clip due to the shape of the ear, are you referring to yourself or everyone in general? I don't think the assumption holds if you assume the same for everyone.

 

[Abazigal]

Just don't look in the mirror when wearing Airpods.

No one else will care to say anything.

I am looking at myself in the mirror and from the front, I can't see the Airpods hanging from my ears at all.

 

[NT1440]

I am looking at myself in the mirror and from the front, I can't see the Airpods hanging from my ears at all.

When I have a beanie on I just look like a crazy person bobbing my head to music. Can't see these things at all.

Love them.

 

[The Game 161]

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...review-using-the-air-pods-in-the-gym.2022857/

my thoughts on the air pods in the gym for those who might be interested