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In-Ear Headphones: Still Waiting
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Bose hands down takes all other sound equipment behind the local bankrupt Circuit City and puts them on their knees. Bose kills all else. When you can give me an Apple product that has a halfway decent sound let alone halfway decent speakers, drop me an email. I'll even post about it specifically. My one gripe with all Apple products is that the sound sucks. Sucks. Royally.
I almost appreciated the speakers with the iMac G4, but they don't even compare to my 10 year old JBLs. 2 to 1, everyone I know with an Apple desktop has some other brand of external speaker.
Sound =< Sony < Bose
Contradicting arguments are unnecessary and false, simple as that. I love Bose speakers, and those that hate them say so in envy, because they don't or can't get them for themselves - by whatever means in whatever context.
You go ahead and keep rocking the iMac internals. Rip in Lossless for speakers that can't even put out 256 quality at peak. When / If these headphones come out and no one can tell the difference between 128 and 320, don't say I didn't say so...
Wow. Anyone who gets that intense defending a pair of speakers needs a vacation!
Bose hands down takes all other sound equipment behind the local bankrupt Circuit City and puts them on their knees. Bose kills all else.
Sound =
Have you ever listened to Klipsch ProMedia computer speakers or their reference line of home theater products. One in two movie theaters install their products.
Home Theater Magazine and Audioholics.com also have given Bose speakers the lowest ratings I have ever seen in pro reviews. There's also a reason why they don't show the specifications of their speakers (frequency range, sensitivity, ect.) because it's terrible.
Point being: Their headphones are decent, but Bose home speakers (especially the cube stuff) is terrible. If you think Bose is good you've never heard good speakers. It's almost all marketing and no product.
http://silenceisdefeat.org/~mshea/liquidtheater/editorial_56.html
Wow. Anyone who gets that intense defending a pair of speakers needs a vacation!
Amen to that, I could use a good 2 weeker.
Regardless of some of the heavily toted Bose entertainment systems, and home speakers, which I do admit lack, I stand by their headphones as some of the best. I've never owned a desktop Bose speaker myself, but a relative who does praises it just as much. I'm not a huge fan of them as much as the headphones, but will still say they still sound damn fine.
I've not once heard of Klipsch, but thank you, I'll be giving them a try in the future.
You poor thing. Clearly you've never had the pleasure of using a fine pair of headphones. Bose is garbage.
Reason For Delay...
It's pretty clear that the reason these have not yet been released is that they require the 2.2 update for the Touch and iPhone in order to work. There was some mention of the audio-in capabilities of the Touch requiring it. Because the 2.2 update is not yet available, neither are the new headphones. They will be release as soon as the software is finished. I also expect the software to enable the use of the volume buttons on the iPhone at that time, despite it not being listed as compatible right now. It would be silly of Apple to urge people to buy $79 headphones, yet leave a HUGE population of people unable to do so without having the full functionality. They want our money too!
It's pretty clear that the reason these have not yet been released is that they require the 2.2 update for the Touch and iPhone in order to work. There was some mention of the audio-in capabilities of the Touch requiring it. Because the 2.2 update is not yet available, neither are the new headphones. They will be release as soon as the software is finished. I also expect the software to enable the use of the volume buttons on the iPhone at that time, despite it not being listed as compatible right now. It would be silly of Apple to urge people to buy $79 headphones, yet leave a HUGE population of people unable to do so without having the full functionality. They want our money too!
Does anyone know if these in-ear headphones will be compatible with the iPhone? I remember there being some discussion as to whether or not the microphone and remote capabilities would work. The Apple website does not list the iPhone as a compatible model.
Bose are overpriced and overhyped, but they're not trash. True, Bose pretends to be high-end and isn't, but really good cans are wasted on an iPhone or iPod, as both contain pretty mediocre headphone amps. Bose may give you lousy value for your buck, but based purely on performance, they're decent mid-ranged products.
Bose hands down takes all other sound equipment behind the local bankrupt Circuit City and puts them on their knees. Bose kills all else. When you can give me an Apple product that has a halfway decent sound let alone halfway decent speakers, drop me an email. I'll even post about it specifically. My one gripe with all Apple products is that the sound sucks. Sucks. Royally.
I almost appreciated the speakers with the iMac G4, but they don't even compare to my 10 year old JBLs. 2 to 1, everyone I know with an Apple desktop has some other brand of external speaker.
Sound =
Contradicting arguments are unnecessary and false, simple as that. I love Bose speakers, and those that hate them say so in envy, because they don't or can't get them for themselves - by whatever means in whatever context.
You go ahead and keep rocking the iMac internals. Rip in Lossless for speakers that can't even put out 256 quality at peak. When / If these headphones come out and no one can tell the difference between 128 and 320, don't say I didn't say so...
Where to start..
Your talking about imac speakers then bring up JBL. Then you speak of apple, sony, and Bose speakers? Next you go on to speaking about speakers that can't even "put out 256 quality at peak." I want to puke after this sentence. I'm confused. Let me clarify everyone.
As we like to say.. and we do. Bose = Buy Other Stereo Equipment.
But he is right about one thing.. if they come out and we cant tell a difference don't say he didnt say so.. cause he is GOD!!
Senny HD25-1 and Grados PS1 voter here ...
And yes, BOSE does indeed suck arse quality wise. Cheap quality, non-coated paper mache membranes and so on. Their "top end" products use the same units as the cheapest chinese products.
Me, I consider Avi Neutron IV with amp packs excellent "computer speakers" (I use them as close-field monitors. But Bose? Come now next he'll tell us that his signal cables are silver and he can tell a difference between that and copper cables on his speakers.
I've got a pair of Shure SE510 in-ear phones. They were quite expensive, but I really like them. They are among the better in-ear phones, I think. I hope Apple's are good, and with the long delay, they really ought to be.
god dam shut up with the bose stuff. some people like bose others dont. its not your money so dont tell other people how to spend it.
on topic:
you would think that apple would have tested the earbuds before they announced them. if they didnt work with the 2.1 fw then why would they announce them?
on topic:
you would think that apple would have tested the earbuds before they announced them. if they didnt work with the 2.1 fw then why would they announce them?
funny stuff
The "turns our you haven't heard everything" title for the headphones on the product page is quite ironic is that's true.
http://www.apple.com/ipod/inearheadphones/
The "turns our you haven't heard everything" title for the headphones on the product page is quite ironic is that's true.
http://www.apple.com/ipod/inearheadphones/
I just got back from South Korea. I was there during the first 2 weeks of October- they had the in-ear headphones for sale there. Interestingly, they also had them for sale for (I think) 39,000 won, which is WAY cheaper than in the US, not to mention the more powerful US dollar. They were in the box, on the racks, for sale.
hahaha
you definitely are making this a political discussion, how can u make a comment like that and say you aren't being political? what democrats are evil bose-haters? that doesn't even make an sense..
i have a feeling you spent a lot of money on some bose speakers, and really don't like people disagreeing with your purchase. anyone with good ears who knows anything about music knows that bose speakers aren't that fantastic..
you definitely are making this a political discussion, how can u make a comment like that and say you aren't being political? what democrats are evil bose-haters? that doesn't even make an sense..
i have a feeling you spent a lot of money on some bose speakers, and really don't like people disagreeing with your purchase. anyone with good ears who knows anything about music knows that bose speakers aren't that fantastic..
"speakers that can't even put out 256 quality at peak" doesn't even make sense
and if you can't tell the difference between 128 and 320 on some ipod earphones now, then you have no idea what you're talking about
iPhone 3G compatibility
I hope this is true. Anything less than full compatibility with the iPhone 3G would seem bizarre given that these headphones were almost certainly in development before the 3G was released. But then why do Apple not list the iPhone 3G as a compatible model? Perhaps they were hoping to release the headphones earlier and hit some problem, or else realised the flak they would get from iPhone owners frustrated that the volume controls (and possibly microphone) on their fancy new headphones don't work!
Either way, I hope that Apple can get it right and release a kick-ass pair of headphones with full iPhone 3G compatibility...
I hope this is true. Anything less than full compatibility with the iPhone 3G would seem bizarre given that these headphones were almost certainly in development before the 3G was released. But then why do Apple not list the iPhone 3G as a compatible model? Perhaps they were hoping to release the headphones earlier and hit some problem, or else realised the flak they would get from iPhone owners frustrated that the volume controls (and possibly microphone) on their fancy new headphones don't work!
Either way, I hope that Apple can get it right and release a kick-ass pair of headphones with full iPhone 3G compatibility...
For once in my life, I can lend some expertise to a discussion
I've owned most brands of hi-fi headphones. Yes, that means I've gone through a few thousand $'s worth of headphones in my life.
I'm looking forward to these Apple In-Ear buds. If they're decent, i.e. Shure mid-range headphones, then I'd probably pick up a pair.
For those of you arguing about Bose headphones, Klipsch, etc., they really aren't that great. They aren't bad at all, but you can find comparable quality for cheaper. I haven't tried the Bose in-ear headphones, but the QuietComfort is pretty similar in quality to Sennheiser's lower-end range. I don't buy into active noise cancellation headphones, that's what my sound-isolating, triple-flange earbuds are for.
I'll spare all of you a long review of the cans I've listened to. Currently I own a pair of Sennheiser HD580's, Sennheiser HD25-1, Grado SR80, Etymotic ER4P, Etymotic HF2, Shure SE-530, and Audio-Technica ATMH50's. There are pros and cons to all, but I find myself going for the Etymotics most, even though the other sets are more expensive. The HD580's come out when I'm in front of my computer, and the HD25-1's when I DJ.
Honestly, I'd been waiting for the Apple In-Ears after my pair of Shures got damaged (the cable started to crack... it's still usable, but I'm sending it in for repair). I got fed up with not having total isolation when I run, and my ER4Ps have been on loan to my sister for almost a year (I've pretty much just given them to her), so I bought the HF2 from Amazon to pair with my iPhone.
Wow, I'd almost forgotten how clear Etymotics were! With a little bit of bass EQ these can go toe-to-toe with the Shure SE-530's ($450 from Amazon). The bass of the triple-driver SE-530's are nice, but the sound is a lot more muddy than the crisp n' clear Etys. I listen to mostly electronic music (house, techno) so bass is a priority for me too.
So anybody who's still out there waiting for the Apple earbuds, I'd recommend taking a look at the Etymotic HF2's. They don't cost that much more, and sound great.
You really need to wear them properly (get a good seal) to make them sound good, but once you put them on right (it isn't hard to do with the HF2's), you're in audio nirvana. But get used to not hearing people scream at you when you're 2 ft. away. You literally cannot hear ANYTHING when you have these on -- the isolation is much better than the Shures and any other headphone I've used (better than the ER4P's iirc).
P.S. To be fair, I've only had one listen to the Klipsch earbuds, and it was in a crowded store. I'll try them out again in better circumstances when I get the chance.
I've owned most brands of hi-fi headphones. Yes, that means I've gone through a few thousand $'s worth of headphones in my life.
I'm looking forward to these Apple In-Ear buds. If they're decent, i.e. Shure mid-range headphones, then I'd probably pick up a pair.
For those of you arguing about Bose headphones, Klipsch, etc., they really aren't that great. They aren't bad at all, but you can find comparable quality for cheaper. I haven't tried the Bose in-ear headphones, but the QuietComfort is pretty similar in quality to Sennheiser's lower-end range. I don't buy into active noise cancellation headphones, that's what my sound-isolating, triple-flange earbuds are for.
I'll spare all of you a long review of the cans I've listened to. Currently I own a pair of Sennheiser HD580's, Sennheiser HD25-1, Grado SR80, Etymotic ER4P, Etymotic HF2, Shure SE-530, and Audio-Technica ATMH50's. There are pros and cons to all, but I find myself going for the Etymotics most, even though the other sets are more expensive. The HD580's come out when I'm in front of my computer, and the HD25-1's when I DJ.
Honestly, I'd been waiting for the Apple In-Ears after my pair of Shures got damaged (the cable started to crack... it's still usable, but I'm sending it in for repair). I got fed up with not having total isolation when I run, and my ER4Ps have been on loan to my sister for almost a year (I've pretty much just given them to her), so I bought the HF2 from Amazon to pair with my iPhone.
Wow, I'd almost forgotten how clear Etymotics were! With a little bit of bass EQ these can go toe-to-toe with the Shure SE-530's ($450 from Amazon). The bass of the triple-driver SE-530's are nice, but the sound is a lot more muddy than the crisp n' clear Etys. I listen to mostly electronic music (house, techno) so bass is a priority for me too.
So anybody who's still out there waiting for the Apple earbuds, I'd recommend taking a look at the Etymotic HF2's. They don't cost that much more, and sound great.
You really need to wear them properly (get a good seal) to make them sound good, but once you put them on right (it isn't hard to do with the HF2's), you're in audio nirvana. But get used to not hearing people scream at you when you're 2 ft. away. You literally cannot hear ANYTHING when you have these on -- the isolation is much better than the Shures and any other headphone I've used (better than the ER4P's iirc).
P.S. To be fair, I've only had one listen to the Klipsch earbuds, and it was in a crowded store. I'll try them out again in better circumstances when I get the chance.
September for background notification capability for 3rd party iPhone/iPod touch apps springs to mind......it's November now!!!
Apple are getting worse at these things. Don't get me wrong, I love Apple's product ethos and their kit, but their timetables are getting really sloppy. Steve needs to have a word with some of the guys at 'The Loop'
Earphones
These days I use a pair of Phitek Blackbox noise cancelling earphones, which I bought at the airport before flying 26 hours to London. Worth every cent. They sound better than every other model of earphone I've owned, including a pair of Shure e3c's which cost twice the price.
However, I'm a big fan of the Sennheiser PX100's too. Great sound and they look good too.
These days I use a pair of Phitek Blackbox noise cancelling earphones, which I bought at the airport before flying 26 hours to London. Worth every cent. They sound better than every other model of earphone I've owned, including a pair of Shure e3c's which cost twice the price.
However, I'm a big fan of the Sennheiser PX100's too. Great sound and they look good too.