Quick Takes: Audiophile Calls AirPods Best Truly Wireless Earbuds He's Ever Heard in Year-Later Review

[ipponrg]

Audiophiles are snobs, after a certain cost level there is no descernable difference other than the size of your ego/wallet. It’s like wine, I have given some friends of mine who can “locate the exact region in Europe from any bottle” only to be given a $3 bottle from Aldi and belived me when I said I spent $50. Audiophiles are in the same basket.

Actually just like any hobby or interest, there are those that genuinely appreciate and can discern differences.

The same goes for wine. If your elitist wine friends can't tell the difference between a 2 buck chuck and quality wine, then their palette still isn't there yet. Just like audiophile posers like Vlad, he may never get there despite spending $$$$.

 

[ErikGrim]

But they sound like trash. I don’t expect audio quality from wireless earbuds, but AirPods are way below acceptable bar.

And yet they are the best sounding truly wireless buds there are. Go figure.
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He rarely if ever however analyzes meticulously the soundstage and frequency responses. He is the epitome of an audiophile poser.

Uh-huh.
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Did you try watching videos and look closely in the persons lips?

There is zero latency watching video.

 

[torana355]

Audiophiles are snobs, after a certain cost level there is no descernable difference other than the size of your ego/wallet. It’s like wine, I have given some friends of mine who can “locate the exact region in Europe from any bottle” only to be given a $3 bottle from Aldi and belived me when I said I spent $50. Audiophiles are in the same basket.

Just because YOU or your friends cant tell the difference does not mean its not there. I can tell the difference between cheap headphones and expensive ones quite easily. The extra detail on high end cans is not easy to miss if you have not damaged your ears listening to beats by Dre up full ball for years. Personally i cant stand the quality on Wireless headphones at this point, ill take a pair of $100 IEM's over Airpods anyday let alone the more expensive IEM's. I really wish the quality would improve in the wireless sector because wires **** me lol.

 

[ritmomundo]

I love my AirPods - they are a return to the core Apple values of "it just works" and they have brilliant battery life and are actually very good value for money. However, I have to say they don't sound as good to me as my B&O E8's with the included comply foam tips fitted (which admittedly cost £100 more than the AirPods). That's not to say they're bad because they're not but for me the E8's are truly exceptional (particularly when listening to a lossless source).

I didn't buy my AirPods expecting "audiophile" quality and was very pleasantly surprised by how good they sound (I expected similar to the wired buds but they're much better), but to declare them as the best available is a bit of hyperbole IMO

I agree with your post. I used my AirPods for about a year in conjunction with the Bang & Olufsen H5. The H5 sound fantastic, but the tethered aspect left me wanting more. The AirPods sound good (definitely not great), but were very convenient and well worth the price tag. I've since replaced both with the Bang & Olufsen E8, which were a bit more expensive than either of the previous sets at $300, but am extremely happy with them. Truly exceptional sound quality.

 

[littyboy]

I guess the Verge's standard for being an "audiophile" is extremely low.

 

[urnotl33t]

I really would like to see an in-ear style Airpods. Interchangeable tips, secure fit, physical noise-isolation that doesn't use battery. Apple is still selling their dual-drivers earbuds, what about an Airpods version of that.

Who says they aren’t working on this? (I’m also not saying they are) Makes one wonder just what the eventual W3 chip would used for... let’s have some imagination here. That’s not patented to just Apple.

 

[FelixDerKater]

Not using traditional Bluetooth is the reason.

 

[Internet Enzyme]

But they sound like trash. I don’t expect audio quality from wireless earbuds, but AirPods are way below acceptable bar.

From what I’ve seen, they have an identical sound quality to the Ear Pods. The Ear Pods are pretty alright for only $30. The Air Pods cost like $170. Completely unacceptable. They really need to make some serious improvements with the second version. They’re a very enticing product, but the sound quality is what kills the purchase for me

 

[Z400Racer37]

My experience is opposite of yours. Mine are used frequently for working out and they’re so comfortable and lightweight, I have no problems with them falling out. I don’t even have to readjust them in my ear. And I think the audio quality is more than I could ask for, but I’m also not an experienced audiophile either. Still my favorite purchase within the last year of my Apple devices.

I have that experience when not wearing a hoodie, and I forget they're in all the time. I love them, but just the slightest tug, or especially off its hot out and your ear is a little sweaty or something. They just don't wanna stick.
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I've had good luck with ear hooks on EarPods, which are even more prone to falling out because of the wires getting tugged. Personally, I have the ones called Earhoox, but there are many other makes of the same thing. Since they're made of silicone, they also help with creating a better seal. They sound a lot better with the ear hooks on.

I looked into those, unfortunately, the problem is they don't fit into the charging case... It's a tough design spot to be in for sure..

 

[bopajuice]

I have delved into the audiophile world and could not afford it. To label a pair of wireless headphones audiophile grade is comical. Im sure they sound great but lets be realistic.

I have auditioned $59,000 speakers through Mcintosh gear that cost more than my car, played through a $40,000 turntable. The speaker cables alone cost thousands. The experience was almost an religious awakening. The quality of sound was truly amazing. I was truly blown away and left speachless that audio equipment could sound so lifelike.

The way audiophile grade is being trown around these days regarding Homepods and Earbuds is marketing. Nothing about these products is even close to audiophile grade. It really is insulting to anyone who has experienced true audiophile grade equipment.

The fact that EarPods are wireless Bluetooth headphones pretty much disqualifies them as audiophile grade. Im sure they sound great, but cmon!

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Audiophiles are snobs, after a certain cost level there is no descernable difference other than the size of your ego/wallet. It’s like wine, I have given some friends of mine who can “locate the exact region in Europe from any bottle” only to be given a $3 bottle from Aldi and belived me when I said I spent $50. Audiophiles are in the same basket.

You really have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[himanshumodi]

AirPods have seriously been life changing. And I do not say that lightly. My use case was primarily for long work calls, when I tend to walk around on campus while taking calls, and hate tangled wires. But now my primary use for it has become listening to audiobooks. I read twice as many books now. I am always listening to a book when I do household chores.

 

[bopajuice]

AirPods have seriously been life changing. And I do not say that lightly. My use case was primarily for long work calls, when I tend to walk around on campus while taking calls, and hate tangled wires. But now my primary use for it has become listening to audiobooks. I read twice as many books now. I am always listening to a book when I do household chores.

You read by listening?

 

[himanshumodi]

You read by listening?

Kind of. There is no single word for "listening to audio books" that implies reading. Reading still makes sense.

 

[Michael Goff]

I imagine a large portion of the people who are calling out Vlad would have a much different message if he agreed with their preconceived notion.

 

[BvizioN]

But they sound like trash.

Get your ears fixed.

 

[kyykesko]

This review very accurately reflected my own experience with the AirPods over the past 1yr+ ... I bought them mainly to handle long phone calls for work, but I now grab them 90% of the time when I want to listen to music, even when I'm at home. My $1200 custom molded IEMs are sitting in an OtterBox case in my closet - it's the AirPods that are with me literally every time I leave the house.

I believe you. I bought a Mercedes E coupe 4matic with all the options but I found out almost every time I go driving I jump into my Lada instead! Who wants something that's good and comfortable when you can instead go for something much worse!

 

[ersan191]

Nobody said they were audiophile-quality earbuds... He said they were the best truly wireless buds he's heard, and he happens to be an "audiophile" (even though I'm getting tired of that term because it's completely subjective and meaningless). There isn't much competition in that specific space.

 

[Bacillus]

It’s simple: I don’t want to be seen with this.
Maybe Tim will, but that’s why he’s not exactly my role model

 

[Nicksd84]

[doublepost=1521494775][/doublepost]Well I’ll never know the experience of AirPods if they aren’t comfortable so it’s a mute point, pun intended

Also of note. They are comfortable. The plastic on EarPods are definitely cheaper.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

Actually just like any hobby or interest, there are those that genuinely appreciate and can discern differences.

The same goes for wine. If your elitist wine friends can't tell the difference between a 2 buck chuck and quality wine, then their palette still isn't there yet. Just like audiophile posers like Vlad, he may never get there despite spending $$$$.

Got some bad news for you: https://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2014/08/the_most_infamous_study_on_wine_tasting.html

 

[1050792]

And yet they are the best sounding truly wireless buds there are. Go figure.
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Uh-huh.
[doublepost=1521510010][/doublepost]There is zero latency watching video.

Then you do not notice it because I can clearly see latency in Youtube compared to my wired headphones.

 

[mhd2100]

We can summarise this news article as follows: "The AirPods are only good because everything else is so awful in comparison".

 

[dotnet]

This is so right, I

Then you do not notice it because I can clearly see latency in Youtube compared to my wired headphones.

Where do your wired cans and your AirPods fall in this test?

My AirPorts are squarely on zero. If yours aren't then there is something wrong with your setup. Do you run any audio plugins or stuff like that?

 

[Endorphine88]

I wanna like these (the AirPods). I really do. There has yet to be a pair of headphones I can call my favorite. I'm a bit of a compulsive headphone hoarder (I have 5 pairs at the moment). Each of them serves a specific purpose to me:

+ The Bose SoundSport are my go to gym headhphones on a daily basis - But, volume at max is a little underwhelming
+ The BeatsX love these if I am doing any kind of indoor cycling or cardio other than running. - But, horrible for calls
+ The Jaybird X2s are great for running - But, they sound way too "produced" and bass-centric
+ The Bose QC35 - I will not get on a plane without them - But I cannot run around with cans on
+ Bose Soundtrue are my office headphones (I need the wire, I know, it's weird) - But, I'm allergic to wires outside of my office

I have lusted after the AirPods, but the main thing that is stopping me is that they are basically the earpods without the wire. The earpods DO NOT fit in my ears. I'm not saying they slip out easily if I tug on them, I'm saying they do not stay in at all. I have no issue with lack of noise cancellation, I actually enjoy being able to hear ambient noise and I know that would be great for taking calls with the AirPods, but I can't see myself spending $160 on headphones that won't even fit me properly (and when I already have the entire BestBuy headphone retail-gondola at home).
I'm really hoping AirPods 2.0 bring some sort of fit customization.

 

[GaryLasereyes]

If you're going to criticize AirPods just as an excuse to brag about whatever $1500 headphones you've been trying to justify to yourself (or worse yet, your $10k home setup), please stop and reconsider. It sounds ridiculous.