Apple introduces $79 in-ear headphones

In case you missed 'em among all the iPod hubbub, Apple also introduced some new in-ear headphones today, which should go some way to improving its reputation among more discerning listeners. These boast two drivers each -- a woofer and a tweeter -- and come with three earbuds to ensure a proper fit. They sure are running up against some stiff competition at the $79 mark though -- but hey, they're white.

[z3r0c001 @ Sep 9th 2008 1:45PM]

In ear for 79 -- I'd rather go with 20 + for bose

[Tinu @ Sep 9th 2008 1:56PM]

$79?

Costs broken down, I think that would be $60 for the apple logo. $5 for the case. $14 for the headphones.

[Jason @ Sep 9th 2008 2:13PM]

These are dual driver...$79 isn't all that bad assuming they'll actually be good quality. Are there other dual driver earphones out there at this price point?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 9th 2008 2:56PM]

My Shure E2's were $99 and only have a single driver. If these get decent reviews I might consider picking up a pair.. though I much prefer having normal black headphone cords and drivers.

I wonder if these'll have a narrow plug so it fits in the moronic recessed 1st gen iPhone headphone jack...

[canuck @ Sep 9th 2008 7:12PM]

I'm pretty sure they won't make them compatible with the 1G iPhone, because now it's outdated, and as we all know, Apple doesn't like things that are old. Especially 3 months old.

What I find interesting is that they mention that they have a mic that is compatible with the just-updated iPods, saying that you can use them for "voice memos". I never saw that in the list of new features, but that'll be nice to have. Means jailbroken apps on an iPod Touch can support things like Vo-IP without some $50+ modded mic.

[Jeff @ Sep 9th 2008 11:04PM]

I'm with Jason here... $80 for (assumedly) decent dual-driver in-ears?

Show me the stiff competition. If these stack up at all to other similarly spec'd headphones, it looks like they're a pretty decent price.

lay off the haterade.

[NoahJ @ Sep 10th 2008 7:16AM]

@Tinu - Hilarious, and right on the money.

[Joe @ Dec 2nd 2008 3:27PM]

I wouldn't be surprised if the quality of these phones weren't nearly as good as the Bose or Shure $99 models. Yes dual drivers are a nice boost, but as someone who has owned both Shure e4cs and Shure e2cs, I can say that a lot can be done with one driver (the e4cs have one driver and are $300+, and sound simply orgasmic), and I might go so far as to say that, especially coming from a company like Apple with little dedicated acoustics experience, dual drivers can be a gimmick.

More important than the number of drivers is their quality (I've never been impressed by Apple 'phones), and the internal acoustics/sound shaping of the headphones, and the type of driver. Is it a dynamic driver, is it an armature driver? Apple doesn't tell us these things because the insides probably have about as much engineering, research, and development put into them as their $30 phones which are worth $8. The odd shape of the e2cs is a visible testament to this fact and I'd be skeptical of the time/effort Apple put in to deliver truly quality headphones at $79 when people who have been at it for decades (Shure, Bose, Etymotic) don't stuff two drivers into their cans for such a low price.

[Homeboy @ Sep 9th 2008 1:52PM]

Although they come with a remote thingy they're not worth it since that money would is in the territory or proper Shure ear-buds.

[harveyhanson @ Sep 9th 2008 1:46PM]

F-Me, just get some Seinhouser CX500's, probs much better and look a lot nicer if these pics are anything to go by!

[RICK @ Sep 9th 2008 2:42PM]

yes, but no mic/controller built in.

[Joe @ Sep 9th 2008 3:29PM]

While I totally agree with you and prefer Cowons for that reason, Apple isn't stupid and they have their ears to the ground. The iPod seems slowly shedding its reputation as a silly DAP for the average listener because of sound quality/headphone jack improvements. Apparently these headphones are intended to represent another step in that direction. However as skeptical as I am, I'll have to withhold judgment until I actually get a pair of these in my ears hooked up to a new iPod.

[CosterMonger @ Sep 9th 2008 3:52PM]

@RICK
the controller and microphone only work on the new iPods

[Level 5 @ Sep 9th 2008 3:52PM]

@Joe

Unforutnately I feel like if Apple was that concerned about sound quality, they would had said eff the headphones and given iTunes and iPods/Phones FLAC (or even OGG) support, and user defined EQ.

[tijs @ Sep 11th 2008 7:53AM]

harveyhanson,

if you really like it, try to learn its name. it's called Sennheiser

[Mike @ Sep 9th 2008 1:48PM]

I'm guessing that similar quality headphones from someone like Sennheiser or even Sony would cost $40. These are probably as overpriced as Bose in-ear headphones

[Joe @ Sep 9th 2008 2:52PM]

Well then stop guessing. I am a discerning audio consumer and dislike Apple as much as the next jaded neo-revolutionary super savvy post-hip internet peruser, and while I don't intend to insult your ever-wise flip assessments, you should know that two drivers in those things is pretty impressive at that price point and unless they're wielding some embarrassingly ungainly acoustics, $79 is a pretty damned good deal on paper. Say what you want about iPods, but they've never been anything but competitively priced, you have to give 'em at least that much.

[Juxtah @ Sep 9th 2008 1:47PM]

"improve its reputation among more discerning listeners."

um yeah... Apple has no reputation whatsoever among discerning listeners, as discerning listeners generally go for a decent sounding mp3 player! Not the average stuff Apple pumps out.

[Noodles2k @ Sep 9th 2008 1:49PM]

which probably means that every iSheep out there is going to become a self proclaimed audiophile because they have these phones :\

[Terry @ Sep 9th 2008 3:54PM]

Discerning listeners don't listen to mp3's.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 9th 2008 2:58PM]

Fine with me. The average audiophile is a complete 'tard. This coming from a guy with Paradigm Monitor 3's, so I am not completely tasteless, just not willing to spend thousands on speaker wire.

[hyakuhei @ Sep 9th 2008 3:03PM]

MP3? I think you'll find "discerning listeners" will skip MP3 all together my good chum.

[Hafk @ Sep 9th 2008 3:52PM]

Real audiophiles go for lossless codecs. Almost all easy to get DAP's don't support them, though.

[Corinthian @ Sep 9th 2008 4:07PM]

We're talking about MP3's here. It's silly to be talking about 'discerning listeners' when the source is heavily compressed in the first place.

[ethana2 @ Sep 10th 2008 12:09AM]

Yep, 192 Kbps .ogg or FLAC here, I avoid mp3's like the plague.

[Mobile Phone Diva @ Sep 10th 2008 3:18AM]

I enjoy good sounding music on my players and I use MP3s. Why? Because every single player out there will take them. I use 256 kbps and up, and some decent earphones. It's good that some mainstream players like those made by Samsung and one by SanDisk I think now accept FLAC or OGG though. I would switch over to OGG or FLAC if I knew more players supported those formats. It seems that AAC is now becoming a standard and that's pretty good too at higher bit rates(NOT the 128 mainly in the iTunes Store). I really don't like being limited to only certain brands, so I'd like to see more support for lossless formats over MP3 also, but it's just a bit too limited right now. Unfortunately high bit rate MP3s are the only thing you can use across the board.

[Noodles2k @ Sep 9th 2008 1:48PM]

Who cares?!

Are all these iPod threads needed? Engadget seems to love Steve Jobs more than he does.

[eiki @ Sep 9th 2008 1:55PM]

since when have apple headphones been called 'ipod'???

[Phil Perman @ Sep 9th 2008 2:05PM]

There are lots of Apple posts because Apple have released a lot of products today. You get similar things on here all the time with other companies releasing large batches of products, just nobody notices because its not Apple

[Noodles2k @ Sep 9th 2008 2:50PM]

@ eiki

since apple called them "apple ipod earphones" maybe?

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MA662G/B

[eiki @ Sep 9th 2008 6:21PM]

true, true, but you could use these on any player, so non-ipodders may want to view this post without having to scroll through a powerpoint about ipod/itunes the price point is competitive for the construction, these will also be called
Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic, so not so aligned with ipod

[James @ Sep 9th 2008 1:48PM]

Typical overpriced Apple crap.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 9th 2008 2:59PM]

typical uneducated kneejerk response

[allislost @ Sep 10th 2008 3:20AM]

wow relax Unix... put that cross down and stop taking life so seriously.

[dark star @ Sep 9th 2008 1:50PM]

the original ipod headphones were awful! i still dont know why people wouldnt buy their own.
i've been using the sony in-ear n its only $29. $79 for apples is a joke!

[RaFy186 @ Sep 9th 2008 1:48PM]

Judging from Apple's prior half in-ear headphones, I will prefer spending the extra $20 and purchase Shure's. Wonder if these actually stay in your ear unlike their last model.

[Ray @ Sep 9th 2008 1:58PM]

I doubt they'll stay in, they look like the same friction-hold design. I made it about 1/4 of a lap on my first run before I realized the apple earphones were going buh-bye.

[ryry @ Sep 10th 2008 4:35PM]

I actually think that these will stay in a lot better than the last ones. The older in-ear earphones has silicone ear buds that were tapered, these new ones look more similar to the ear buds that sony and shure offer on their in-ear earphones.

[xValentine @ Sep 9th 2008 1:49PM]

I rather buy a Sennheiser CX500 for $79 (Yes I can find a deal @ that price) which is like 10 times better than this*.

Although, they should have just put this in the latest iPod Nano and Touch.

[Randavance @ Sep 9th 2008 1:49PM]

I'll stick with my Sennheisers for now.

$79 is a little much to pay just to have an apple logo on it.

[eiki @ Sep 9th 2008 1:58PM]

oh, so you've heard these already, what do they sound like?

shmendrick! two drivers each, hence price!!

[Chris @ Sep 9th 2008 1:50PM]

HAHAHAHAH.

[B.Cherry @ Sep 9th 2008 2:18PM]

iPrefer they drop the price on them Dr. Dre Headphones! $349.49, you gotta be kiddin' me! iMean, they bump; especially with this one program iHad since '04 that iNcreases the volume on mp3's to 1000%. Anyways, still lookin' forward to 3rd Gen iPhone. The 3G iPhone iS trash when compared side-by-side with the first gen iPhone. Enough said...

-sent from my iPhone
_____________________
iGet enough exercise just pushin' my luck!

[Ender @ Sep 9th 2008 6:50PM]

@Cherry

Wow. You're so cool. Can I be like you?

[Guilty @ Sep 11th 2008 9:42PM]

@B.Cherry

I still don't understand why you replace every instance of -ing with in' or n'...

"You gotta be kiddin' me! Im not lookin' forward to the new ****n' machine Apple's makin' !"
"Stop making ****n' ****, Apple! ! I'm dyin' to make a ****n' ****y comment on Apple's ****n' ****y product on this ****n' blog!"

It sure makes a lot of sense.

[Guilty @ Sep 11th 2008 9:46PM]

@myself

OH NO, I SAID MAKING, NOT MAKIN' !!!! I MUST SHOOT MYSELF!!!

[cmil1212 @ Sep 9th 2008 1:51PM]

I kinda like the http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/hf2.aspx myself. Apple quit designing crap and just get with them.

[JM Palacios @ Sep 9th 2008 9:57PM]

Are these the ones with the microphone built in? That's more interesting to me. The new iPod Touch has a built-in speaker, the optional headphones have a built-in microphone. iPod Touch phone, anyone? All we need is Skype. Or better yet, a T-mobile Hotspot@Home app that allows you to use your iPod as an iPhone wherever you have WiFi. We may yet have a legal iPhone that escapes AT&T's horrible service!

(BTW, iPhone 3G reception problems? I'd sooner blame them on AT&T then on the iPhone.)

[Phil @ Sep 9th 2008 3:05PM]

Yeah, I've also been looking for a way to use my iPod Touch as a Skype phone. It would be awesome if it turns out that you can use it in this way.

[cynyc @ Sep 9th 2008 2:00PM]

Wow, everyone's real negative about these. Two drivers for $79. They have NO competition at that price point! We'll see if they're any good, but none of the ones mentioned above have two drivers.