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Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Better than Sonys

Written by JM from GREENVILLE

Dec 23, 2008

I've been using a set of Sony MDR EX70LPs for about 5 years. Great product, once you get used to having a speaker jammed in your ear. I usually wound up fiddling with them a bit after 30 minutes of so, they seem to slightly irritate my ear.But the bass is so much better than conventional buds or phones (I've tried countless Sony, Yamaha, every brand under the sun). A few months ago, I wondered if Sony had improved the product any and bought a set of MDR-EX81LPs. Slightly better phones, but more awkward to wear.

So when I heard I was getting an iPod touch for Christmas, I figured I would order a set of these and give them a shot. Got the phones two days before Christmas, decided to try them out on my 5g iPod. Plugged them in and turned on iTunes, awaiting sonic nirvana.

But...no bass. None, zip, zilch, nada.
OK, so, something isn't right. The medium rubber pieces seem a little loose, maybe I need to try the other ones. I open the capsule with the others...but they look smaller. Then I notice the label on the capsule, and pull open the other side, marked L, swap in the bigger rubber pieces, pop the phones back in, and...

Oooooooooooh yeeeeeeaaaaaaah. That's what I was looking for. Some hip hop. Yep, plenty of bass. Norah Jones - perfect female vocals. Guns'n'Roses - guitar works.

As is the case with all in-ears I've tried, they telegraph a lot of noise from wire movement, but that's controllable somewhat depending on how you wear them. And as another review pointed out, wearing them while eating will sound horrible.

These are the best-sounding headphones I have ever owned. I haven't compared them to the Etymotic Research, but they are much more comfortable than either of the Sonys - I've had them in for an hour and haven't touched them.

If you try these and can't stand in-ears, or if you have odd-sized or shaped ears, that's a shame. If you try them and think they don't have any bass, you need to try the larger pads - when they seal to your ear, these things go as low as any speaker I have ever heard, and I can't even begin to turn my iPod up all the way (though admittedly I don't have any hearing damage, as some other 35-year-olds do).

2216 of 2683 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Sweet music to my ears...

Written by SG from Lakewood

Dec 12, 2008

These are best earphones I've ever had. I've had sonys, the stock iPod buds, the previous generation of apple in-ear buds, and some others and by far these are purely AWESOME.

On the first listen, I thought they were just OK, but after a while I truly got to experience all the different sounds and how well these earphones produced them. Bass is amazing (although, it seemed to need just a bit more boom - but that might just be me :) Treble is great too. These do seriously sound like several-hundred-dollar earbuds. Also, these are the MOST COMFORTABLE earphones ever. I almost don't even notice them in my ears - they are that amazing - while they still provide a firm fit so movement doesn't dislodge them.

Packaging is beautiful, the additional silicone tips are a huge plus, and the added mesh caps are a nice touch.

My only issue is the lack of volume control for iPhone. Hopefully that'll come at some point?

1848 of 2266 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Definite Must Have

Written by VT from Markham

Dec 10, 2008

Just received mine in the mail today and these are the most comfortable and best-sounding in-ear headphones! For those wondering, the remote/mic work with the iphone 3G except the volume control

309 of 389 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Not for working out

Written by BC from BEVERLY

Jun 14, 2009

These headphones were the best for me up until I started to sweat during a workout. I am not sure what happened but the headphone became more sensitive and the remote would constantly pause when it would brush up against my cheek. It became really annoying to the point where I was spending more time fiddling with my iPhone than working out. It would be great if there was a way to disable the remote.

207 of 238 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

I know i know, bass right?

Written by MP from Edmond

Dec 18, 2008

So I picked these up a couple days ago with fairly high expectations due to all the good comments. I really could go on and on about how much I love the design and comfort (most beautiful and comfortable in-ear's ever..), but I want to focus on one thing that many people have been disagreeing with. Bass.

I honestly believe some of these headphones HAVE to be different. After reading reviews after I had listened to my headphones, I couldn't possibly understand how some people say these have sufficient bass. Now I know there are a lot of bass junky's out there, but I want to state that I am NOT one of them. I hate overloaded bass. I just like a good, powerful, equal sound. I am not joking here when I say my Apple in-ears sound like they have no bass. I know many of you will say my review was "unhelpful", but I am laying it straight out. I have owned probably 15 pair of headphones over the last 5 years, all between ($70 and $350)(I'm a freak for good sounding headphones), and my pair of Apple's sound very brittle.

Part of me wants to exchange my pair for a new pair at the Apple Store because I don't understand how some people say these things even have a small but reasonable amount of bass. Mine has BARELY any. But, I would sound crazy telling someone at the store I thought that.

All in all, i'm just disappointed.

I will add this thought in though:
The headphones sound fabulous with acoustic guitar and vocals. But once you get in to some drums or some rock guitar, it just sounds straight up weak.

239 of 306 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Almost as good as my $400 UE Triple-Fi

Written by RJ from Flower Mound

Dec 23, 2008

The title says it all. I've owned the Ultimate Ears Triple-fi canalphones for about two years now and they are the BEST! I needed a pair of less expensive ones to take to the gym, so I ordered these new ones from Apple. Wow! I'm blown away. The Apple In-Ear monitors are almost as good as my Triple-fi's which cost 5 times as much. And, the Apple ones are much more comfortable. Buy these. You'll be glad you did.

182 of 211 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Nice audio and fit, too bad no iPhone support

Written by MP from Corbera de Llobregat

Dec 9, 2008

The headphones sound really good, on par with others I've owned in the $100-$200 range. Good bass combined with a nice fit provide powerful sound, however if you are used to Shure-type audio (less bass) these will sound strange.

The included replacement mesh covers are a nice touch which will come in handy when the built-in ones become dirty (and they will, from my experience with other headphones!). Also, smaller and larger buds are included in a nicely designed case so you can find the best fit for you.

Biggest gripe is lack of volume support for the iPhone (both 2G and 3G), which to me seems like a huge oversight by the hardware designers - did they not know these headphones were coming?

195 of 246 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Unable to Work Out With Them

Written by AH from Gilbert

Jun 13, 2009

These earsphones were excellent producing quality sound when I first bought them. However, after working out with them they ceased to work properly and became eratic. They seem to work fine after drying out, but if you work up any sweat they fail. I notice I'm not the only one who have found the same problem. Serious design flaw!

172 of 207 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Unreal Sound! Unreal Price!

Written by BB from Lubbock

Dec 11, 2008

I'll start by saying that 1) I never take time to write reviews, but felt this was warranted and 2) I consider myself to be an audiophile, not just a casual listener.

That being said I think that Apple really hit the mark with these. Dual Driver phones for $80 is unbelievable. These have crisp highs and a very defined midrange - not atypical of a headphone in this price range. The bass however, is a very different story. The 'previews' of these 'phones have all said that they seem to be lacking in bass. I completely disagree. The bass is very tight and pronounced. I am listening to Sade "By Your Side" right now and the kick drum is literally rattling my head. If you think it is going to sound like you are standing next to a subwoofer you might be let down slightly (90% of that bass is 'felt' not heard anyway), but the bass certainly beats anything anywhere near this price range that I've heard. They also respond really well to the EQ settings in itunes. Feel free to play with the low end - you dont get the distortion most other in ears get. Remember the key is getting a good seal with any IEM - the Apples do a great job of isolating me from the outside world - I can't even hear myself typing a a low volume.

I can compare these to the Shure SE110 (dog chewed these up, a decent IEM) and the SE210s. I did some A/Bing with the Apple in ears against the 210s and the in ears won in every conceivable category - hands down. Bear in mind the 210s retail for $179. The 210s just do not come close to replicating the base these babies do!!!!

I'm not going to even bother comparing these to the stock buds apple offers...

134 of 151 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Best

Written by MH from CASTLE ROCK

Dec 12, 2008

This month I was on a journey to get the headphones i liked best.
And i have tried V- Moda vibe duos, V- moda vibe due 2s, Bose earbuds, And these and I absolutely love them out of all the ones I have tried.
Absolutely Must Buy.

131 of 162 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Your mileage may vary

Written by LS from Vancouver

Mar 5, 2009

Despite very modest expectations, I was disappointed. No bass at all.

I'm an audio engineer, so I know the difference between exaggerated bass and realistic reproduction. This wasn't a case of me wanting boom and the headphones delivering only neutrality. The bottom was just plain... missing.

Having spoken to others who noted the same lack of bass I concluded that they must just be junk, but then I saw that other people, including another audio engineer, have written very positive reviews here. That means either the quality control is poor and some units sound good while others sound terrible, or, more likely, the shape of the earpiece works well with some ears and poorly with others.

I would suggest that you listen before you buy if you can or make sure you buy them from a dealer with a decent return policy.

129 of 164 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Very portable headphones that get the job done

Written by JU from Burbank

Dec 12, 2008

My hopes for the Apple In-ear Headphones were (1) outside sound isolation, (2) portability and wearability and finally (3) sound for the (4) price.

These earphones meet all my needs! They block out sound and yet are comfortable with their hollow, soft silicone covers. They are tiny and come with a handy carrying case to protect them; this case is much smaller than either ear piece from a pair of over-ear headphones. They stay secure in my ears, even when I catch the wire with my arm (sending my iPod flying). They are pretty affordable for the sound quality. The bass is decent, especially for the size; there is plenty of separation and richness, although they are lacking in the deep bass but that is no surprise. The mids are not too boomy and there is no noticeable distortion at any frequencies for as high of volumes I care to subject my ears to. They are little bit sharp in the highs (the letter s or a cymbal with stand out---better than being clipped or muddy!) but it's not something I won't get used to. Simply put, I get the urge to turn it up and enjoy my music when I wear these, and I hear new things in the music that I am already quite familiar with, both really good signs.

The only con is when the cord bounces around there is a bit of muffled bass sound in my ears; when I walk around I can hear my footfalls and breathing. This is the same effect as wearing tight earplugs and is a reasonable trade off for sound isolating headphones so small.

These get four stars because there are better sounding earphones out there, though none as portable that are as affordable and include a remote/mic .

I'm eager to get a new iPod touch (when the 64GB model comes out) and use the remote and mic; currently they are for decoration only. Actually they do help tell right from left ear by feel.

105 of 124 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

The Quality of 'separates' for you audiophiles!!!

Written by PC from CORINTH

Feb 10, 2009

At first I was not very impressed. They were bright and lacked base. Then after swapping out my Sennheisers over and over again I realized it was the Sennheisers that had it all wrong, and I was used to it. It became clear to me that it can be likened to someone with a BIG system with lots of punch and someone with separates with gold cables and lots of quality. I was so used to tons of ear shaking base that when I heard clarity, I mistook it for tinny, overbright sound. But as I have used them more and more I find myself saying, "I never realized they put a very slight echo in Nora's voice on this song" or "I didn't realize the cello kept playing once they started singing." These headphones are able to cover every range very well. My Sennhiesers now sound louder, but muffled with all the low tones they are trying to throw out.

It is like the difference between all the game stations out there. Everyone was fighting to give better graphics, better graphics, until Nitendo said, "Wii." It was the playability that won it over the graphics race. The same can be said for these headphones. Yes, you can find more punch for the money but I know you wont find more clarity and equal response across all the sound spectrum for this price.

Make sure you have the right tips on and pull your ear up from the top when you insert them. Get a good seal. You need to listen to a few albums to detox yourself from the heavies out there in headphone land and then you realize the real music you bought, not the interpreted drone your other phones were feeding you. At least that is my experience.

It also goes without saying that, hey, it's Apple's top notch build quality and I don't find flaws in much of their stuff (although they still need to sort out their Bluetooth headset.....sheeeesh)

It is, at the end of the day, your preference. Like one famous singer said, "If it sounds good, it probably is good." Good luck!

99 of 121 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Amazing

Written by DL from Mechanicsburg

Jan 31, 2009

For those folks that find the sound lacking bass, they must not be getting a good fit. These are as neutral as any high fidelity headphones should be. They provide extended bass that is very tight and the highs are effortless. They also are much more dynamic that my Sennheiser HD 595's. If you're new to in-ear headphones then you may have to play around with the fit, but once you get it right they are very comfortable to wear and the sound reproduction is exceptional. Highly recommended, especially for the price.

73 of 79 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

The best 'phones under $100, bar none.

Written by JS from Paw Paw

Jan 14, 2009

I am 35 years old, and have been a DJ for over 10 years. Sound quality is of the utmost importance to me, whether at home or at work. I have $850 UE custom 7 Pro headphones, and have tried the best available. Clearly, these new headphones from Apple cannot compete with a triple armature, custom-molded set of monitors like my UE's, but let me be to the point.....They are the absolute BEST value at $79.

Many have complained that there is some external artifacting occuring during use. Hearing the heartbeat, chewing noises overpowering the music, and of course, the cables themselves cause distortion when they rub against eachother or other things. That's going to happen any time headphones are positions so far in the ear canal. Have the cables loose on the head and that problem is virtually eliminated. Neck straps are an easy fix for that.

Some have said that the music sounds tinny...
That's because the armatures are not far enough inside the ear canal.

Some have said that the bass response is marginal, at best...Again, the armatures are not far enough inside the ear canal.

I think the best thing users can do is encode their music to 320kbps, as opposed to the standard 128kbps that iTunes uses when tranferring CDs. The average song is 8mb, versus 4mb for a 128kbps encoded song, but the sound quality is most assuredly worth it.

In closing, I am thoroughly pleased with the quality of these in-ear phones from Apple. At $80, one simply can't beat them.

65 of 67 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Finally, in-ear's that work for me!

Written by MR from Oakland

Dec 28, 2008

I'm one of those people who couldn't seem to get any in-ears to sound good. They always sounded to me like there was no bass and it was really tinny. I finally tried the large sized earpieces on my fiancee's sony's and was able to get them to sound pretty good. I was hesitant to open the Apple in-ears I got for Christmas because I have never been able to get them to sound good. Once I got hers to work for me (it took a little work), I opened the Apple in-ears.

Oh wow. I immediately went to the large sized ear pieces and wasn't able to get them to work well for me. I went back to the mediums and focused on getting them seated correctly. Once I was able to get them in, they sound amazing. I'm getting used to the underwater feeling of in ear's, but they sound amazing.

These really do sound better than a lot of other earphones I have tried. For 79 bucks, you really can't do much better.


So happy to finally have these work for me!

/m/

79 of 98 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

No Tip Replacement

Written by LT from Castro Valley

May 14, 2009

I have an Iphone so something with a mic really appealed to me. However, when the plastic tip from the ear bud slipped off somewhere, as they do easily, Apple does not sell replacements. With heads as pricey as these they should just mail you the $.03 part.

76 of 94 people found this useful

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic

Great product !

Written by RT from Dexter

Mar 7, 2009

I am an audiophile and am used to listening to music from my Polk SDA SRS floor standing speakers which are no longer produced (to big, to expensive to produce anymore) I do know what sounds good. Although I would never expect these headphones to compete, I have noticed similarities with the Polks. Sound is accurate and neutral. The highs are clear and crisp, midrange is seamless and the bass is as it should be, not boomy but tight and controlled. Bass frequencies produced are at the limit of our hearing ability.
Sound quality is transparent and non fatiguing even at high sound levels. I have not experience any of the negative problems others have.
They are comfortable and stay secure even during physical activity. The remote and mic are a plus, they work well with my ipod classic and the mic picks up faint sounds accurately even from a distance.
I am very happy with this purchase and would recommend them to anyone. They are a good value. Kudos to Apple for another great product !

68 of 82 people found this useful