EarPods..! - Its what apple calls its next gen Earbuds.. Fancy anyone? - Page 11

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonsupremous 

I think if you haven't heard them yet, you should really give them a shot when you get that 64gb touch.  If you can remember the sound of the previous model, then I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.  They are actually too bassy for my philips gogear.  My PK2's sound perfect on the Philips.  But these little buds offer a pretty good amount of bass.  It really pumps out of my walkman.  I used foamies though so I could get a better fit and seal. 

When you say you used 'foamies' - can you elaborate please.  Pic maybe.  I am intrigued.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkppl 

Seriously, could these EarPods really compete with those several hundreds IEMs in the market? If so, I would like to sell my W4 and replace with this 

Quick.

Subscribed

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brooko 

 

When you say you used 'foamies' - can you elaborate please.  Pic maybe.  I am intrigued.

BTW, I didn't mean foamies, like the foamies that go on the end of an IEM.  Sorry if that was a little confusing.  It's just what I call these covers. 

This has made all the difference for me.  I decided to cut out the front speaker to allow the highs and fidelity to come through to their fullest.  The foamies have given me the perfect fit and seal that I needed.  They sounded pretty good before the foamie, but they would slide and fall out if I tilted my head.  The bass increased quite a bit after I added these because it just gives a tighter fit.  I will say for sure in my opinion these things absolutely destroy the old apple earbuds. 

Thanks.  Really appreciate it.  I'll probably get a pair simply because I'm curious.  If they're any good - they'll be ideal for those times when I don't want to islate.

I'm also amazed by how many people are writing these off just (without trying them) because it's Apple.  Even with the old bud - they weren't half bad if you could create a seal.  If these are better by a large margin, then they should be useful :)

I feel the same way.  Especially since they're only 29 dollars.  And it's not like anyone should expect these to compare with a 200 dollar IEM or a full size headphone.  But price to performance is quite good. 

Yes... Yes... Yes!!!!

I imagine there are a whole bunch of plates of Crow being eaten right now.

Go APPLE!!!

Nice job!

Thanks for sharing.

Jim

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonsupremous 

BTW, I didn't mean foamies, like the foamies that go on the end of an IEM.  Sorry if that was a little confusing.  It's just what I call these covers. 

 

This has made all the difference for me.  I decided to cut out the front speaker to allow the highs and fidelity to come through to their fullest.  The foamies have given me the perfect fit and seal that I needed.  They sounded pretty good before the foamie, but they would slide and fall out if I tilted my head.  The bass increased quite a bit after I added these because it just gives a tighter fit.  I will say for sure in my opinion these things absolutely destroy the old apple earbuds. 

Well, folks, I got my pair in... so here's a first impression:

1) First thing I notice: they just... fit. I couldn't believe it... but you know that feeling when you get a pair of IEM to fit perfectly and they don't move or wiggle anymore? This is it. They just get in, and stay in. It's amazing.

2) Cable really is nothing to write home about. If you know the old model, then you know how the cable is on this one.

3) Okay, let's get to sound immediately, because I know this is what many of you care about:

Bass: wow... this tiny thing can really push air. Bass is fuller, more textured, and has more tone. Mid bass is thick and powerful. Upper bass is lean and lean. Too bad there is not much (if at all) low bass to speak of. But still... it's a huge step up from the old model in this department, and even compared to the in-ear model. Apple didn't lie when they said these would have more bass. That said, though, bass is not prominent. It's just barely enough for you to realize it's there. A bass boosting amp gives them a bit more authority, but still nothing compared to $100 IEMs. But if you're comparing these to $200 Beats by Dr. Dre Solo? Or Bose QC15? Things get very interesting. Very very VERY interesting...

Mid-range: lush, lean, and somewhat airy. Still kinda cold and analytical like the old model. Also I can notice some static as volume increases. Looks like these clip just as easily as the old one. Nothing to write home about, really... even though I think midrange is most prominent of the whole presentation.

High: strident... fair extension. Somewhat sibilant depending on the track. It sounds somewhat more detailed and less... edgy than the old model, though the difference is quite small that I can't say for sure if it's my head messing with me.

Soundstage: blah... do you seriously want to know?

Instrument Separation: well, better than the older model for sure. I feel like there are at least two drivers in there. Can't say whether it's better than the in-ear model. I need more time with these.

4) Buttons on Remote: bigger, rounder, clickier. Better than the old model for sure.

5) Mic: noise-canceling? Is that codeword for "muffled, warm, and nose-clogged voice"? Bah... same as old model and in-ear.

Overall, I think it's a good value at $29. Apple is "half-right" when they say these 'phones can beat some $200 headphones (Beats By Dre...). For sound quality, I'm sure I can do a lot worse than these at the same or higher price point. For instance, they sound eerily similar to the in-ear model... except that their bass has "moar BOOM" than the in-ear. But if it's me, I'd choose this over the in-ear any day.

So... I'd say... if you love bass, and you love HIGH quality bass, then... look elsewhere. 

If you love the sterile and analytical sound of the in-ear (ADDIEM for those who are still wondering which "in-ear" I kept mentioning) but would like a more comfortable fit + more bass, then... you can do a lot worse than these for $29.

Happy listenin'!

Reviewers from sources that are not Apple enthusiastic tend to give them pretty bad reviews, albeit touting them as an improvement. I don't expect a lot since they are simply Apple stock earbuds, but I'll reserve judgement unti I have the chace to listen to them. Still...the fact that it took them 3 years to find that form factor which has been around in philips sports earbuds for ages makes me wonder how competent that company is (and shows how little they invest in R&D). At least they are not $40 as the first pairs with in-line remotes. 

I've tried them now. My friend received them yesterday. I am very impressed. I didn't expect such good low frequencies from an earbud. Vocals on some busy pop songs could be better.

Comparing to other headphones I've owned. (Mind you this is according to my personal tastes): I like them better than the Yuin PK2's and the Etymotic ER4. They are about as good as the Klipsch X10. 

I think the crowd who likes a soft casual sound will like them, while the people who like an analytical sound signature will not like them.

They look very stylish and feel solid. The little carry case is well designed.

I'm impressed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreadStarter 

I've tried them now. My friend received them yesterday. I am very impressed. I didn't expect such good low frequencies from an earbud. Vocals on some busy pop songs could be better.

 

Comparing to other headphones I've owned. (Mind you this is according to my personal tastes): I like them better than the Yuin PK2's and the Etymotic ER4. They are about as good as the Klipsch X10. 

I think the crowd who likes a soft casual sound will like them, while the people who like an analytical sound signature will not like them.

 

They look very stylish and feel solid. The little carry case is well designed.

 

I'm impressed.

as good as the X10, the flagship of klipsch