Edit: btw, you should check out the Kubes, Sabia's and ANN200s of the world. They are older Indonesian earbuds, yet they sound great and are enjoying a resurgence of popularity now. I'd be interested to see how you feel they compare to the apple buds.
So, I've still got my minty 'new' 2007 apple earbuds that came with my iPod Classic Video 80GB (which is still my daily driver after all these years).
I've only used it for 5-10 hours (really not sure), and only even opened the packaging last summer/autumn when I first compared it to my Kubes.
(I've also got at least one more new (never used) still in it's packaging that came with a pre 2010 iPod nano, and possibly another in an iPod shuffle box somewhere...)
Like most buds, I can't use it without foam or there is huge bass roll-off.
My verdict is that it's
quite different to MX500-shell based buds.
These have a different fit to the other buds, so if like me you can't get the best fit without actually pushing the buds slightly closer to your ear canals, you will hear considerable bass roll-off.
When looking at MX500 based buds, holding the 'stalk' up vertically, you notice the bud doesn't come out exactly perpendicular, but points slightly upwards.
The apple iBud (is that it's name?
) does point directly perpendicular to it's stalk.
The absolute best sound from these buds I heard was WITHOUT foam, and manually applying pressure to get a better bass response.
In this instance, they do get close to competing with the other buds pictured above, but sub-bass is still very much lacking. Soundstage was also minimal, but that could be due to the bad fit.
WIth full foam, bass is VERY bloated and mid-bass focused. Not a good sound, but soundstage improved.
Donut foams provided the best compromise for my personal use, but I don't really see myself using these when the other sound better to me, simply due to the better fit.
In any case, I always thought there was some tonality issues in the midrange too.
I think I
might be able to use these with those extremely thin 'itchy' looking foams, but I don't have any at home to try.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend them, especially to MX500-based bud lovers.
Even the Vidos just sounded more open, airy and articulate, with none of the obvious lack of bass.