The new Apple Earpods as high fidelity review

[dalethorn]

Here's my full review and video for the new Earpods, which are potentially quite good if you make certain accomodations:

http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/headphone-reviews/1782-apple-earpods-stereo-earphone-review.html#post5752

 

[dalethorn]

I revised my review to include a note about using the Earpods in bed, where I expect they would be used frequently. In that case bass is reduced due to the 90 degree change of listening angle, and the looseness of fit that's inherent in the Earpods' design. So when using the Earpods in bed I turn bass reduction off to get a more natural sound. I also added a music track example by Jennifer Warnes that perfectly illustrates the Earpods' bass emphasis, and how good the bass reproduction is when bass reduction is turned on.

 

[MajorFubar]

Good review. I'll probably give them a miss despite the sound though; I must have strange-shaped ears because only over-ears and IEMs fit me correctly. Buds which just sit in the opening always seem to drop out for me after the slightest movement. (No I'm not a Vulcan nor an elephant, and until I tried using modern earbuds I didn't even think I had strange ears. But if buds fit the majority of ears then I guess I must have.)

 

[dalethorn]

The standard Apple earbuds sound and fit poorly, both. This Earpods is different. I don't know that it would work with you, but it's not at all like the Apple earbuds.

 

[dalethorn]

I got my first 'included' Earpods with the new iPod Nano yesterday. No Apple controls, lighter bass, more treble. Not a huge difference, perhaps 2 db difference on each end. I don't know if this is going to hold up consistently in production, but since the first Earpods were already treble-happy, more treble is not good.

Side note: One review site was reporting that the new iPhone 5 had significantly less volume output than the iPhone 4, and while I can't verify that, the new iPod Nano has every bit as much volume, dynamic range, and sound quality as the year-old or so iPod Touch.

 

[quadpatch]

That Smartphone comparison review I posted the other day confirmed that the iPhone 5 can't get to the same volume levels as the iPhone 4. Still good in general but just not as good as the iPhone 4/4s. CPU is also very lam on the upgrade side of the iPhone 5. I was tempted by the iPhone 5 at one point, but I just ordered a Galaxy Note 2 and one of the reasons is that it will output standard USB audio for any DAC you like.

 

[dalethorn]

That Smartphone comparison review I posted the other day confirmed that the iPhone 5 can't get to the same volume levels as the iPhone 4. Still good in general but just not as good as the iPhone 4/4s. CPU is also very lam on the upgrade side of the iPhone 5. I was tempted by the iPhone 5 at one point, but I just ordered a Galaxy Note 2 and one of the reasons is that it will output standard USB audio for any DAC you like.

This seems very odd, about the volume, because I compared the tiny new Nano to my iPhone 4s and the maximum volume (limiting and EQ off on both, no sound check or etc. enabled) was identical with both. Would that mean the iPhone 5 has less volume capability than the iPod Nano? Is this a repeat of the Apple RIAA-dodge where they don't allow songs or videos to be copied from more than one computer, yet they allow an unlimited number of computers to copy songs and videos to the iPods and iPads? In other words, are they building in a limiter to the iPhone to pacify a lobby group, and that limiter is not in the other devices?

 

[dalethorn]

Got the new Lightning to 30 pin cable tonight, to connect the new Nano to analog headphone amps. The sound from Nano to cable to FiiO LOD to amp is exactly the same (using Shure 1840 to test) as iPod Touch to LOD to amp, except the Nano output is perhaps 2 db stronger.

Both of the connections I described completely bypass the i-device volume control. Interestingly, with the Nano to Lightning to LOD to amp, you can still see the volume slider on the Nano screen and the Nano's buttons change the slider position, but no changes get through to the amp. This is a good result.