Picking up an iPhone 3GS was a pretty big deal for me. It was my first official carrier smartphone and it was the first time I had ever signed up for a long-term data plan. It was also then that I found out my trusty V-Moda Vibe II’s just wouldn’t work with the new phone. Something about the iPhone’s hardware had changed, and the 3.5mm jack I was sporting on my Vibe II’s needed a change. I sent the Vibe II’s off to be replaced and wondered what I was going to do for two weeks without earphones. The packaged Apple headset was a joke, but I also remembered reading something somewhere about a newer, sleeker in-ear model that worked with the newest iPhone. Armed with this bit of info and a desire for something new and shiny, I marched myself to the nearest FutureShop and bought myself the gorgeous Apple In-Ear Headphones…only to return them seven days later.
Something Nice
My folks brought me up under the notion of “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. So let me start off with the good stuff: these earphones are gorgeous and they deserve to be packaged with the iPhone instead of being bought separately for $80.00. They look great and somehow more hi-tech because of the three sets of matted, snowy-silver tips on the earbuds. I also really, really liked how the playback keys, volume control, and microphone were all just below the right earphone. I still had to hold the headset mic right up to my mouth to be heard properly, but at least all of the keys were easily accessible. This last bit isn’t iPhone-specific, but I also think it’s worth mentioning that these headphones worked perfectly with my 2009 MacBook Pro — mic, volume controls, and all.
As for the sound, they sounded pretty darn good, although I found I couldn’t really get the isolation I was used to with my Vibe II’s. I didn’t expect a vacuum seal, but the fit always felt too shallow. I did appreciate the length, though. They were about or at the same length of the default iPhone headset, which happens to be a fantastic length. You could keep the iPhone in your pocket with just enough cable slack to move around — except I always regretted it when I did.
Free cable noise with purchase
I really, really wanted to like the Apple In-Ear Headphones. Part of it must have been because I had just purchased a MacBook Pro and my Macuriousity was running on overdrive, but it was also because I wanted to believe that Apple could finally make some kickass earphones after so many years of plain white buds. It’s just too damn bad that the cables are so noisy on the In-Ears — so noisy they banged against my chest like a second, unwanted heartbeat with every step.
The earphones were fine at rest, but whenever I got up to do anything that involved movement (or, you know, live my life…) the cable noise was so bad that it just ruined all of the fun. I couldn’t even invert the earphones by winding the wire above my ear and plugging the earbuds in upside down because they were just too big and the wire didn’t look like it could take much stress.
Conclusion
I realize that this isn’t one of my more thorough reviews, as it has been a while since I’ve used the Apple In-Ear Headphones. Fortunately, I did remember exactly why I returned them and thought I’d write a quick review to warn possible buyers. The In-Ears are gorgeous and they wouldn’t be too bad if they were packaged with the iPhone, but for an $80 “sold separately” purchase I found the cable noise (microphonics, I think it’s called) to be unbearable. Until Apple makes the buds small enough to be inverted, or does something to the cable to absorb some of the shock, I’d stay clear of the In-Ear Headphones even if they are really, really, really good looking.
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The Apple In-Ear Headphones are available from your local Apple Store or Best Buy for around $80.00.
I purchased this pair of headphones myself and, thankfully, received a full refund upon return.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I had this problem recently with some new headphones I bought (Sennheiser CX300-IIs), but I had some old headphones which came with a clip that went would secure the wire to your clothing, e.g. shirt or jacket.
I moved this clip onto the new headphones and it completely stopped the wire vibrations, sounds like you could do the same with these headphones.
good call, and I do have some clips from old earphones lying around but I still find them a little annoying to pin to the top of my shirt.
I can totally relate to your complaint about the noisy cable. I came to your review because I was actually trying to see if these ear buds had that problem, after trying SkullCandy's Full Metal Jacket earbuds and having the same problem!
I wonder if it isn't a characteristic of all noise-isolating earbuds because of the way they conduct sound.
one tip I got from a friend was to invert the earbuds…so instead of letting them just hang from your ears, just drag them behind and right over your ears and essentially put them on upside down. All Shure earphones I know of fit like this and it gets rid of almost all the cable noise for me.
It has more to do w/how they fit that "noise cancelling". I put the cheaper earphones that "cancel noise" as ear pluggers, not cancellers. The Bose QC3's are noise cancelling. Totally different concept that in ear ear phones. I also had these earphones and got rid of them for the reasons listed. Plus after a while, I had a hard time keeping them in my ear, after trying all sizes. They are nice, but not $80 nice.
ditto. I don't think these claim to be noise cancelling, although they do provide a bit of isolation (I think that's the right term..). I just want the isolation for the deeper bass, really.
Oh, that's too bad, I was just thinking of getting myself a pair of these.
By the way, do anyone know of any headphones that fully support the 3GS remote control's all features? So far, I have only heard of this one, the included one and one made by Klipsch.
My V-Moda Vibe II's work, and so do the Jaybird Tiger Eyes…but that's all I can attest to.
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