What do you think about the EarPods?

[robotphood]

Beats are junk. Compared to the S4i, bass-wise, it probably has the same amount, but the EarPods are more tube-y or boomy. The EarPods aren't ridiculously skewed to bass, but it's certainly an obvious intention to have more bass. They also don't have the clarity that S4i has. It's also important to remember that EarPods don't have the ear seal that S4i do.

Hope that helps.

I use the S4s daily and I would say you're spot on. Clarity is definitely lacking in comparison but then again they are a total different price range and not in-ear. Huge improvement over the old buds. They are actually comfortable in my ears now. These will probably be my throw around pair for the gym.

 

[geoelectric]

I use the S4s daily and I would say you're spot on. Clarity is definitely lacking in comparison but then again they are a total different price range and not in-ear. Huge improvement over the old buds. They are actually comfortable in my ears now. These will probably be my throw around pair for the gym.

Yeah, I have S5is (same as S4i but weatherproof) and I'd say these are very close to equivalent, aside from isolation. I'm quite impressed for pack-ins.

 

[scott523]

Just picked up the earpods from the nearest Apple Store today. Definitely impressed with them. Comfortable and balanced. Worth the $30. The bass is there, beats my aging Bose MIE2i. The remote looks durable. Surprised to find no hole for the mic and that the previous ones didn't have one as well (as mentioned from iFixit).

Only issue I have is erratic functions with the center button. Sometimes it would play/pause instead of next/previous track or requesting Siri. Might have to get it swapped.

Try this: while listening to the earpods cover the side and stem ports with your fingers.

Pretty neat! I could never do that with other headphones.

 

[Max Archer]

I too use S4s as my main earbuds.

The EarPods are definitely a major improvement over the classic iPod phones, in fit and sound, but still not what I'd call good headphones. I don't know if I'd spend $30 on them. They sound pretty good with jazz or ambient electronic stuff but the second some rock came on I wanted to throw them away. Nice case though.

 

[Blackberryroid]

I too use S4s as my main earbuds.

The EarPods are definitely a major improvement over the classic iPod phones, in fit and sound, but still not what I'd call good headphones. I don't know if I'd spend on them. They sound pretty good with jazz or ambient electronic stuff but the second some rock came on I wanted to throw them away. Nice case though.

How would you compare it to S4? Have you tried running the equalizer on it?

 

[rmwebs]

Have to say that I expected these to be crap. I was mistaken!

Compared to the horrible ones Apple has always provided, these ones are a huge improvement.

Obviously they are just 'average' when compared to premium earbuds, but for a set that are thrown in free with your phone, I was very happy.

Been stressing the iPhone's network with some activity, and had Spotify running with these - forgot they were even in my ears as they fit perfectly.

I'm not an audiophile, but I do like a 'good' set of headphones. I use a set of DT 770 Pro's when working, and a set of Bose In-Ear's for travel - the Bose ones are old and not as good as they once were - the earphones are certainly much better than the bose ones - just not quite as comfortable as the jelly effect on the bose ones.

 

[Max Archer]

How would you compare it to S4? Have you tried running the equalizer on it?

No contest at all. Equalizer doesn't seem to help much. The second you have a lot of instruments going at once, or anything that has that hard midrange guitar kind of sound, they sound terrible. For the $30 there are much better options out there. (The MEElectronics M21s or M9s seem to be quite popular options in the price range.)

One other thing about them that bugs me - the part by the plug is really small, round, and slippery, and fits pretty tightly in the iPhone's jack. I feel like I'm going to break it every time I unplug the 'phones.