Apple iPod Earbuds

Posted Tue May 23, 2006 in Technology

I bought a set of Apple iPod Earbuds a couple of weeks ago to replace my failed Sony EX71’s (review here). My Sony’s failed and it was the second or third set this year.

I sometimes sleep in my earbuds. When I have trouble getting settled down at night, I’ll put them in and use my iPod to help drive the day’s activities from mind so I can rest. I’ve been using my iPod as a sleep aid for two or three years now. It’s very effective for me.

Sonically, the iPod earbuds are better than average. In comparison with the Sony EX71’s, I find them a bit fat in the mid-range frequencies and maybe not quite as smooth sounding as the Sony earbuds. But, they are not bad-sounding at all. Just a bit different that what I was used to and certainly plenty good sounding for the price. The highs are clear and the bass full and tight.

The trick with these earbuds, like any earbud, is to ensure the proper latex shell is installed so that the earbuds fit snugly, but not too tight. A loose fit is bad! Then, on insertion (be careful or you’ll put pressure on your eardrums—uncomfortable) “wiggle them around a bit” (technical terms) to get them properly seated.

I like how the shells fit tight against my head. These earbuds are well-designed (like every Apple product I’ve owned) and the strain-relief for the buds themselves are well-constructed and should protect the leads against flexure. They are comfortable to wear while reclining.

When properly inserted, you’ll find the sound quite good. If the iPod earbuds are not properly seated, then the leaks will suck the bass right out them and they will not sound good at all. Some experimentation may be required.

Now for my only complaint, and the reason for only three stars—my iPod earbuds work out of my ears as I wear them. As I said before, I often wear my earbuds when sleeping or resting, so this may be a special situation. But after a few minutes, maybe a half-hour, I lose the high-quality sound and find that they’ve worked out of my ears just enough to break the seal.

I don’t wear them when I’m sitting up, preferring to use regular speakers when I’m at the desk. So, I can’t say how they will perform when the wearer is in an upright position. They may be fine.

So, my opinion is that they are a better-than-average sounding headset, definitely well-designed, but they don’t stay seated for me. So, as I said, YMMV… but they’re worth a try and the price is reasonable.