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Author Topic: Apple Earpods: A masterpiece—the phone most underrated by so-called audiophiles.  (Read 6389 times)

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music_4321

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Re: Apple Earpods: A masterpiece—the phone most underrated by so-called audiophiles.
« Reply #40 on: June 09, 2014, 09:08:33 AM »
Let's not forget a couple of things about the Earpods: apart from the very decent sonics, a) build quality is outstanding (I said this before — I've abused my pair quite a bit and, after 21 months, they look as good as new, and b) my £24.99 pair comes with a mic/remote and works perfectly (the mic, unlike other phones, works very well), and, fwiw, the remote also works with my MacBook Pro.

(genuine pairs can be had for less than $29)
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Deep Funk

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Re: Apple Earpods: A masterpiece—the phone most underrated by so-called audiophiles.
« Reply #41 on: June 09, 2014, 02:06:37 PM »
Did you tape up the cable ends? My charger cable for my iPhone had to be taped up.

For my portable headphone the K181, despite its DJ-grade cable tape had to be applied.
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music_4321

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Re: Apple Earpods: A masterpiece—the phone most underrated by so-called audiophiles.
« Reply #42 on: June 09, 2014, 02:28:32 PM »
^   I suppose you're asking me??

Don't really get your question — "...tape up the cable ends?"  ??  I don't have an iPhone (but have tested the Earpods with an iP 4S & 5S, though, as I was curious about how effective the mic was), but use it with my 4G Touch, MBP, and several other non-Apple devices. I use the Earpods as I'd use any other phone, ie no modding of any sort needed.
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shotgunshane

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Re: Apple Earpods: A masterpiece—the phone most underrated by so-called audiophiles.
« Reply #43 on: June 09, 2014, 03:09:36 PM »
So far my earpods have not had any issues at the housings or 3.5mm connector. Still look as good as new. I've only ever had 1 stock apple charger cable come apart at the dock connector and need taping but everyone one of my wife's apple charger cables has been taped at some point.
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Deep Funk

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Re: Apple Earpods: A masterpiece—the phone most underrated by so-called audiophiles.
« Reply #44 on: June 09, 2014, 03:22:16 PM »
Quote from: shotgunshane on June 09, 2014, 03:09:36 PM
So far my earpods have not had any issues at the housings or 3.5mm connector. Still look as good as new. I've only ever had 1 stock apple charger cable come apart at the dock connector and need taping but everyone one of my wife's apple charger cables has been taped at some point.

What I expected. Bose used to have really crappy cables for its headphones. The cable insulation near the jack would tear and fall apart at one point. All that moving and bending takes its toll...
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music_4321

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Re: Apple Earpods: A masterpiece—the phone most underrated by so-called audiophiles.
« Reply #45 on: June 09, 2014, 03:37:48 PM »
Veery glad to see Mr Sleaze & Mr Deep Deeeep Funk knew what the latter was talking about.

Now, Mr DDF, go on and get yourself a pair of (genuine) Earpods and let us know what you think. Feel free to thrash them in this very thread, if you must. (if you do, I might even start another thread talking about the wonders of the Bose QuietComfort 20. Seriously.)
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mkubota1

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Re: Apple Earpods: A masterpiece—the phone most underrated by so-called audiophiles.
« Reply #46 on: June 09, 2014, 06:31:40 PM »
Quote from: Deep Funk on June 09, 2014, 08:56:29 AM
Not exactly 29  Dollars mind you and sometimes it depends on the available vendors:
Koss Portapro
Sennheiser PX90
Koss KSC35
Koss KSC75
Philips headphones (too many to mention)

My bad… I probably should have specified ‘earbud’.  In fact maybe someone with extensive earbud knowledge/collection should start a separate earbud thread.  I was never into them- always thought they sounded bad especially compared to IEMs.  In fact I could never understand how they were supposed to work, given that their setup/form factor is much like taking your speakers and facing them 6 inches away from a wall.  But I’ve sort of gotten to appreciate their lack of isolation (not being completely sealed off from the world), moisture-free comfort, and their often fatigue-free, mid-centric sound.

** I would actually consider the Earpod to be an earbud/IEM hybrid- but probably closer to an earbud in design and therefore classified as such.

As for cable wear, I can’t say I’ve used these or their predecessors enough to comment on that.  However despite hearing about other people's problems I’ve never had issues with Apple’s power bricks or 30-pin cables.  For the later I mostly use the non-locking one and have one tied down so I almost always just rip my phone away from it without even grabbing the connector.  This is the only connector I ever practice this sort of abusive behavior with; and it shows almost no signs of wear.  Maybe they changed the strain-relief material or have production variation.
« Last Edit: June 09, 2014, 09:22:16 PM by mkubota1 »
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Drakkard

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Re: Apple Earpods: A masterpiece—the phone most underrated by so-called audiophiles.
« Reply #47 on: June 10, 2014, 10:54:27 AM »
Quote from: mkubota1 on June 09, 2014, 08:18:24 AM
Something open-ish (non-IEM) for under $29USD?  I'm curious... any suggestions?
I hope I won't get bashed for linking our phones? Its just first that comes to mind.
http://www.fischeraudio.com/index.php/en/products/ear-phones/totem/fa-555i-improved
I compared them to apples, and find 555i's better. I'm sure there must be more out there.
We had more, but discontinued nowdays.
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Drakkard

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Re: Apple Earpods: A masterpiece—the phone most underrated by so-called audiophiles.
« Reply #48 on: June 10, 2014, 11:00:29 AM »
Quote from: music_4321 on June 09, 2014, 09:08:33 AM
(genuine pairs can be had for less than $29)
In Russia they retail for $40-$70. Just mentioning.
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music_4321

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Re: Apple Earpods: A masterpiece—the phone most underrated by so-called audiophiles.
« Reply #49 on: June 10, 2014, 02:27:29 PM »
I paid £60 (~$100) for my Sony EX90 and £50 (~$83) for my Sony EX500, two phones meant for 'I'll allow myself to abuse these phones' purposes — both Sony phones eventually disintegrated. My Earpods sound better than those two Sony phones (to these ears) and still look as good as new. Hey, and they come with a mic/remote!…and, on top of that, they actually look pretty cool!
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