Customer Reviews

Apple Earbuds (White with Gray Earbuds)

5 star:		(111)
4 star:		(70)
3 star:		(47)
2 star:		(56)
1 star:		(114)

 

 

(EDIT: While I stand by my five-star rating of these headphones and still love them, they are NOT good for use while exercising. Energetic jostling like that will probably dislodge them, and if not, the subtle feedback from the cable bouncing around will affect the quality of the sound. If your intent is to find something for the gym or running, I'd advise you to look elsewhere. I use the standard earbuds that came with the iPod for exercise.)

First off... let's address those one-star reviews: you folks either haven't inserted them properly, have irregularly shaped ear canals, or got a faulty product. Let me be clear: THESE HEADPHONES ARE AMAZING.

My old pair had been damaged and I needed a replacement set. After reading through the reviews, I was compelled to give these new headphones a try. Especially helpful was Steve from NJ's description of how to fit them correctly. So I took his advice and gently tugged up on the top of my ear with one hand while inserting the phone with the other (very much like putting in earplugs) and... was blown away. The sound quality just doesn't compare. They're better than the originals that came with the iPod. They're better than the Grundigs I was using as a temporary replacement. They're as good or better than over-the-ear models I've used. I fell in love with my iPod all over again.

Reasons to buy:
1. The sound quality (when worn correctly) is fantastic. I'm noticing bass and subtle highs that I missed with the old phones.
2. The headphones are very comfortable. The soft plastic is really easy on the ears and I've worn mine for over an hour so far. (One caveat: if you don't like wearing earplugs, DON'T BUY THEM. But why are you even reading this review if you don't want an in-ear product?) Which leads me to...
3. They act as great sound reduction. They're basically earplugs, so they significantly cut down on ambient noise. They help cut down the racket on the train when I'm commuting to and from work. Adds to the quality of music as well as peace of mind.
4. They (might) protect your ears. Because there isn't as much noise to compete with, you can turn down the volume and still get better sound quality. That means you're exposing your ear to less volume over the long run.
5. They (might) save battery time. Less volume = less energy output.

These last two items I say "might" because I have no way of proving them, but they seem so common sense, I'm including them anyway.

Reasons not to buy:
1. You don't like earplugs/in-ear headphones. 'Nuff said.
2. You have irregularly shaped ear canals. Not sure what percentage of the population you're in, but try a friend's pair if you're wondering.
3. You don't like the price tag. Can't help you there... the modest investment was totally worth every penny to me.
(EDIT: 4. You need headphones for when you exercise. I don't think any in-ear design will stand up to vigorous motion but your mileage may vary.)

So there's my $.02. If you're still undecided, go ahead and buy them. Be sure to wear them properly. Aside from a bit of cash, what have you got to lose? If you hate them, well... at least you can write a review here on Amazon and share your opinion with the rest of us. And if you don't hate them, come on back and post a 5-star review like this one to even the odds!!

I've read the reviews here and at other sites and there are all conflicting. I think the nature of these type of headphones is that they vary from ear to ear and position is EVERYTHING. I think these headphones sound great for me and the part where Apple went wrong is in their manual. They have no diagrams, instructions, etc. for how to fit these into your ear. I will try to explain what I do below:
If you are trying to insert the RIGHT headphone, use your LEFT arm and put it over your shoulder, behind your head, and grab the top of your right ear. Pull your ear upward so as to "straighten" out your ear canal. Then insert the headphone and swivel it in a circular motion to slide it into your ear. The orientation of the chord from the ear plug should be downward just like with the ear-buds. Once they are in you should be able to pull lightly on them and they will not move. If when you pull on them they move, then you either have not put them far enough in your ear or you should try a different size cup. I would recommend trying all three sized cups and use the one that fits the best. Do the similar thing for the other headphone and you should be good to go.
As a note, if you buy a pair of earplugs, they have a similar (albeit better then mine) instruction on how to insert them into your ear. You will see that you get a much snugger fit and better seal if you lift your ear as described here. I hope this helps and gets those one-star reviewers to change their mind!

As many of you see, the reviews for these buds are either really good or really bad. The really good ones come from the people who have found out the correct way to place the earbuds in the ear. The really bad ones are the people who either gave up trying or have a serious earwax problem.

Before throwing these away (I know that line has been said 50 times in other reviews), look at the reviews and take the advice of the people who know how to put these in the ear (using the opposite hand to pull the top of the ear up and out, etc etc). All of a sudden, that "tiny" sound and lack of bass will transform into an audio experience on par or sometimes surpassing anything costing 150 bucks or more.

The reason some people get tiny sound is that these drivers are meant to ONLY move the small amount of air in your ear canal, nothing more. If you don't get a good seal with your ear canal, the drivers suddenly become underpowered as they now have to move 100 times more air to get the same effect. So before you give up, try the advice given by these reviews. Try scrubbing your ears with a q-tip, try the different sizes, try pushing this as far as possible into your ear (you won't damage your eardrum, its much further in). Your few minutes spent experimenting will pay off with hours and hours of enjoyment. Most of you will then see that this is by far the single most important investment for your iPod. Period.

I just got these recently, tried them out for a while, and like many of the negative reviews on here, thought the sound was tinny and no major improvement over the ones that came with the iPod.

But them I read some of the advice from people here. I thought I had been wearing them deep enough in my ear, but then I pushed them in even deeper. Wow! All of a sudden, there was the bass, and it sounded great. In fact, the sound quality was 100X better across the board, just by pushing them in a little deeper. I was amazed at what a difference that made. Great headphones.

I also suspect, like others here have written, that those reviewers who find the sound quality to be poor aren't wearing them properly. The sound quality is excellent, but what a difference having a correct fit makes.

Amazingly, my headphones arrived the day after I purchased them (Thanks, Amazon!) and I have to agree, they are much more comfortable than the OEM headphones that arrived with my iPod mini.

One reviewer suggested that by lifting up the top of your ear with one hand and inserting the bud with the other hand would help the headphones stay in better. He was right; this is the way to properly insert the buds into your ear. You'll get a better fit. Furthermore, be sure to choose the correct size bud (these headphones come with 3 sets: small, medium, and large) to help them stay in better.

Otherwise, I really appreciate the hard plastic case they come with as it helps keep the cord neat and organized within my carrying case.

A final thought: I have been experimenting with the equaliser and have found that some genres of songs benefit, while others do not. It all depends on your preference. I find the sound response improved with these headphones as well.

Overall, 4 stars for the headphones...one more star if they came with some type of clip on band for over the head during exercise or other vigorous activity.

My experience:
I wanted new earbud headphones so I sat down at the computer to do some research. I have always liked the look of these apple earbuds, and I read with some trepidation all the negative reviews. But then I read the few glowingly positive reviews, the ones with the expicit instructions about how to insert the earbuds, and I thought, "Sure, I can do that. I'm no dummy."

Fast forward to today. Walking home from school and listening to my I-Pod am everyday faced with this decision: do I (a) just sit back and go with the flow as the music from my Ipod gradually becomes tinnier and quieter as the apple earbuds inexorably slide out of my ear canals. Or do I (b) continuously readjust the earbuds in my ear, stopping every 2 minutes to "pull my left ear upwards with my right hand...etc. (see numerous other reviews)," cramming the earbuds as deeply as I can into my ear canals, hoping against hope that this might be the time that they remain in place. Often, in order for the earbuds to remain in place I must push them so far into my ear canals that my ears feel "pressurized" like on an airplane or underwater. And yes, in case you are wondering, I did try every different size of cover.

During the brief moments when the earbuds are correctly situated in my ears, the sound quality is great. Maybe, as other reviewers claim, the only reason I am having such problems with the earbuds is because I have "oddly shaped ear canals." Perhaps. Perhaps. If this is the case then you had better hope that you too don't have "oddly shaped ear canals" or these earbuds will be completely useless to you.

Another problems with these earbuds is that the cord is very stiff. This makes jogging and such very difficult because instead of the cord swinging side to side it jerks at the earbuds. Also, because of the stiffness of the cord it transmits sound. As I walk, the cord brushes against my jacket and a "wooosh-woosh" sound is transmitted directly to my eardrums. I have not had this problem with previous earbuds I have owned.

By far these are the worst earbuds I have ever purchased. Unfortunately they cannot be returned once you put them in your ear.

I do believe that some folks have a great experience with these earbuds, but believe me when I say that I have had a terrible one. I read the reviews and played the odds and lost big. Buying these earbuds is, at best, a gamble. Maybe you will be one of the lucky few with ear canals condusive to these things, or maybe you will be like the rest of us and have them slide, inexorably, out of your ears at least once per song. There is only one way to find out, unfortunately, and by then you will be out your forty bucks.

Stay away.

Once they fit, they are no doubt MUCH better in sound quality than the original iPod earphones. Yes, there is less bass than the original but when properply fitted, the bass sounds balanced and just right. Sound fidelity overall is better, too. The way I make sure that I am getting the best possible sound is after fitting them, I would push the phones in even further in the ear. If it sounds much better when I do that, I know that it has not fit in properly.
If you have ear size of either "small, medium or large" fitting these headphones is quite easy. (to properly fit these in your ears check out the instructional menu for the etymotic er6 headphones at their website) or read one of the Amazon reviews with the proper method for fitting. But the problem is that while my right ear is "medium" sized my left ear does not seem to fall into any of the three categories (S,M,L). None of the sizes fit into my left ear as perfectly as the one on the right. The other thing is that the cord itself becomes a sensitive transmitter and amplifier to vibrations and tapping. But, that's true with most fitting or noise cancelling headphones.

Just received these a couple hours ago. (Amazon, 2-day shipping is great!)

All I can say about these headphones is: Wow!!!

After reading all the negative reviews, I was a little apprehensive about their quality. Following instructions of one of the reviewers here, I managed to fit them in properly (the smallest caps, worked for my ears.) I set my iPod to play "Another One Bites The Dust" and I was absolutely astonished by the response these phones produce. And I don't mean just the bass, but the mid-s and trebles are extremely good. When compared to the pair that the iPod ships with, these are easily a few orders of magnitude better.

Also, I have had them on for a couple of hours now and they still feel very comfortable.

Before you try them on, be sure to not set your iPod's volume to very high!

ORIGINAL REVIEW: JAN 5, 2005
OK.
My original iPod earbuds went bad about 3 1/2 months after I purchased the wonderful device. I debated on whether or not to heckle apple and get a replacement set of buds, but upon weighing my hesitant instinct to deal with typically non-responsive unyielding customer service departments and my desire to get the most out of my iPod, I opted to upgrade to these Apple-made in-ear headphones.
A few things influenced my decision; I didn't want to spend over $50 on a set of in-ear phones even though there are many tempting options from Shure (E2c), Etymotic (ER-6i), and even Sony (MDR-EX71SL which actually comes in a visually appeasing white finish and comprable price), I wanted to buy an apple product (a nod to their design department), and I wanted a wonderful sounding product for my money (don't we all)!
Upon receipt of these headphones, I was very impressed by the packaging. Apple does seem to have that design aspect mastered, as opening the product made me more giddy than opening most birthday presents. The included carrying case makes perfect sense; the buds sit inside and the cord slips out a small slot in the edge and wraps around the channel while all is held in place by a clear plastic cover.
I was a little worried about the sound quality after reading most of the reviews listed on this amazon forum, and quite concerned about the fiddliness of these phones, as most reviewers write about the struggles about getting a good seal and the fit of the product. So I immediately began trying the three different sized included plugs (small, medium, and large) and quickly found one that fit my ear canal the best (medium). I spent about 15 minutes playing around with different ways to fit these in my ear, and heard a wide range of sound quality all determined upon the placement in my ear (some really 'tinny' like reported by some reviewers, and some rich and vibrant like reported by others). But after figuring out how to fit the buds in my ear canals, and mastering the correct placement, I was quite impressed with the sound quality of these in-ear phones. The highs are crisp and pleasant without distortion, the mids seem to be well balanced, and the bass is quite adequate. I listen to all kinds of music (Rock, rap, jazz, soul, classical, etc.) and tried all genres with the phones to test their adaptablity, and most if not all responded quite well.
Now, take my review with a grain of salt; if you have enough cash and desire to spend over $100 on a set of in-ear style headphones, I'm sure you will find the best quality sound offered by such a device, and I'm not writing to debate about headphones on which I cannot justify spending so much money. But if you merely require a great quality replacement with a wonderful range of sound, nice balance of highs mids and lows, and don't want to get too far into audiophile debates, then I would seriously consider these phones.
They do quite well at reducing exterior noise, and although the 'stethoscope' effect of touching the cords is a factor, it only seems to occur on the upper area of the headphones (ie. above the 'y' split point). I have never worn earplugs, and was quite unaccustomed to the almost nauseous feeling i developed after about an hour of listening to music with such a sealed ear canal, but I assume this is somewhat expected when using such a device.
Overall, I would reccomend this product highly for replacement headphones, and while there may be a better quality set out there, there may not be within this price range, and I'm quite satisfied with spending $39 on these puppies, as they satisfy all my immediate desires of a good quality, well designed, and relatively inexpensive set of headphones. 5 stars.

UPDATED REVIEW: APRIL 13, 2005 (just over 3 months later...)

Well after experiencing these headphones for about 3 months and using them while doing most activities (yardwork, jogging, walking to work, etc.) I found myself fiddling with them far more than I anticipated at first...
It is easy to get a good seal as stated in my review above...but the issue is KEEPING that seal tight through a myriad of activities...
I found that even something as silly as chewing gum would ruin the tight seal I was able to achieve. Running...forget about it...the seal lasts about 5 minutes tops.
Finally, just last week, the sound faded and eventually disappeared from the left channel and then began to distort in the right while jogging. I don't have particularly waxy ears, so I'm assuming my sweat caused a short of sorts in the earbuds. I considered sending these back under the one year warranty, but bought some Koss "The Plug" earplug style headphones as an immediate replacement and am actually more satisfied initially with those than the more expensive apple-made models. I hate the black cord, but I love the uncompromising sound from the Koss 'phones.

Overall, these phones were troublesome and failed about 3 months after purchase. They sounded good when everything was perfect...but were more trouble than they were worth.
The Koss Plugs have a great sound, cost less, and are less troublesome. Don't buy these.

Hey all, I've been scanning these reviews for the best-fit method, upside-down, turning the caps around etc... etc..., but then I thought - what does Apple have to say? This is directly copied from their support site ( the "guy from NJ" had it right). Sure enough, the sound is pretty fantastic if you follow instructions:

"To aid in the proper positioning of the ear bud, open your ear canal a little wider when you insert the ear bud. Everyone's ears are different, but you can usually do this by grasping either the upper or lower part of your ear and pulling gently away from your head with one hand while slowly inserting the tip of the ear bud into the ear canal with the other hand. In some cases, wiggling the ear bud into place can also help. Let go of your ear when you feel a good seal . The ear bud should remain securely in place when there's a good seal. Repeat the process until the desired fit is achieved.

If you've inserted the ear bud as far as is comfortable, but can't get a good seal, try a larger ear cap size. If you get a good seal with a larger ear cap size, but it is uncomfortable, try a smaller ear cap size."

Not too difficult, but it's incredibly lame that they don't give these instructions in the package. I've had these for a month and this is the first time they've been at peak performance. Silly rabbits.