Manage updates with the Download AppApple In-ear OEM Earphone
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MA850G/B
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- If you own a new iPod or iPhone 3GS, the Apple In-Ear headphones are a great value. Owners of older iPods and iPhones will have to decide whether the mic and remote compatibility issues are worth overlooking for the substantial boost in sound quality.
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CNET editors' review
Apple In-ear OEM Earphone price range: $68.87 - $190.57
- Reviewed by: Donald Bell
- Reviewed on: 12/05/2008
- Released on: 12/04/2008
The good: The Apple In-Ear headphones offer great sound, stylish design, comfortable ear tips, a one-year warranty, a spare set of mesh caps, and an in-line microphone with an iPod remote control.
The bad: The all-white design will show wear over time, and owners of older iPods and iPhones will face compatibility issues with the integrated remote and microphone.
The bottom line: If you own a new iPod or iPhone 3GS, the Apple In-Ear headphones are a great value. Owners of older iPods and iPhones will have to decide whether the mic and remote compatibility issues are worth overlooking for the substantial boost in sound quality.
User reviews
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Not worth it unless you plan to use motionless
by dbratsnyc on December 26, 2008
Pros: Good sound
Cons: You can hear every movement of the cheap rubbery cord - impossible to use while moving/jogging/etc. The pause/skip button clicks are very sensitive. Volume does not work with iPhone. Cord could be longer.
Summary: Most annoying thing is the noise you get when the cord moves, I used to have Shure in ear headphones and they never had such a problem.
Summary: Most annoying thing is the noise you get when the cord moves, I used to have Shure in ear headphones and they never had such a problem.
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesome sound and value if you use this trick!
by mrspeakers on October 24, 2009
Pros: Super-clean, well balanced sound. Very low distortion characteristic of balanced armature headphones. Very small and comfortable. Incredibly transparent.
Cons: Stock tips don't fit a lot of people's ears, and an imperfect fit totally kills bass output on any balanced armature headphone. And I mean totally. Plus, even if they fit, the silicon tips seem to slip out of the ear too easily.
Summary: As a audio engineer, I own about a dozen different sets of earphones and in-ear 'phones. My favorite, by far, are my sure SE530s. I have some Sennheiser cx400s which ...
Summary: As a audio engineer, I own about a dozen different sets of earphones and in-ear 'phones. My favorite, by far, are my sure SE530s. I have some Sennheiser cx400s which are good workhorses, but lack the finesse, clarity and stunning accuracy of the Shures. For convenience, I bought the Apple's, as I wanted something I could use with the phone for calls.
I found the sound to be quite clear and beautifully clean, but like many, no matter how I tried, the stock Apple tips never made a good seal. The seal is absolutely essential to getting bass out of a balanced armature design. For you non-engineers, just trust me that if you don't have a proper seal, you will have no bass.
In my case, I think the trouble had to do with the largest size being a tiny bit too small, and the silicon being too rigid, yet slick, so they left small airgaps and were easy to remove. I tried using some foam tips from a third party, but their large was more of a medium, and never came close to a snug fit.
Like Michael above, as an experiment, I dug around in my ear-tips from my Shure's and tried their rubber tips which are about the same size as Apple's large tips, but made of a more pliant and slightly sticky rubber.
OMG, what a transformation. Suddenly the sound blossomed, the bass became rich and well balanced, and the "top-heavy" sound was totally mellowed into a rich, well balanced and incredibly detailed presentation.
Make no mistake, these are the best 'phones under $200 I have ever heard. The bass is deep and warm, very detailed, and totally lacking fuzz or buzz that I can hear in the Sennheiser set. Follow Michael's advice, and look at getting tips from a better headphone. The trick is it has to have a soft rubber base that can expand over Apple's slightly larger stub. Some tips, like the Shure foam tips, have a rigid plastic sleave in the tip to keep it's position correct, and these won't expand over the larger Apple posts.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Dissapointed
by caryan413 on December 18, 2008
Pros: Nice elegant design, small, Tweeters are great.
Cons: White color makes them dirty really fast, They are made from the same cheap thin cables as the stock, THE BASS was just dissapointing.
Summary: For $79 ... They are not worth it, I pretty much bought them for the MIC so I can use VOIP on my ipod touch, but a week after I got ...
Summary: For $79 ... They are not worth it, I pretty much bought them for the MIC so I can use VOIP on my ipod touch, but a week after I got them my local electronics shop was selling these extensions cable that can attach to any headphones and it has a clicker and a MIC for $12.99. So for $79 NOT WORTH IT !
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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way worse than the old apple in-ears, twice the price
by psychoxl99 on January 13, 2009
Pros: Volume control was a nice idea, if redundant and unnecessary.
Cons: Minimal acoustic protection, so you hear too much besides your music. Really poor handling of lower frequencies, very tinny - much worse than former Apple IE's. Fit isn't snug even in the large size. Yet somehow it's 2X the price it was before.
Summary: I bought these because I liked the former Apple IE's which were discontinued, but these are worse than their ancestor. Before, I could say that the Apple IE's ...
Summary: I bought these because I liked the former Apple IE's which were discontinued, but these are worse than their ancestor. Before, I could say that the Apple IE's were some of the best earphones I knew of, especially at the price ($39 for those, unlike the $79 for these). They didn't have great bass but it was pretty good and you could adapt, and the other frequencies were better. Best, they fit snugly and blocked out a lot of ambient noise so you could hear your music a lot more clearly at lower volumes.
This revision has much worse handling of lower frequencies, fits poorly, and is twice the price. I am going to return these and try to get some old Apple IE's on eBay.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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reliable remote, bad bass
by p1rat3 on January 5, 2009
Pros: handy remote/mic, good sound (except the bass),
Cons: sensitive cord, poor bass, not worth it for the price
Summary: These headphones have great sound quality (you can hear every instrument/sound in a song). The remote is also very handy, especially when walking around. Although these are some good ...
Summary: These headphones have great sound quality (you can hear every instrument/sound in a song). The remote is also very handy, especially when walking around. Although these are some good pros, the cons outweigh them. The cord is very sensitive to movement, so when moving around and listening to music you will most likely hear a ruffling noise from them. The bass on these headphones is also not that great. I have to set my ipod's eq to bass booster just to get a sub par bass sound from songs. Finally, for $30 i bought a pair of sony in-ear headphones and compared to the apple ones (aside from the remote), they are better.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very disappointed, will be returning them.
by macmacmack on December 30, 2008
Pros: Sound is crisp if they're positioned exactly right and I sit very still.
Cons: 1. I can't get them to fit securely and comfortably (I tried all three sizes of eartips).
2. When the cord moves, I hear sounds like someone tapping on a microphone.
3. Poor bass unless eartips are positioned exactly right.Summary: I was hoping for something that fit better than the standard IPod Touch earbuds, and improved sound would be a bonus (I've always thought the IPod Touch was somewhat ...
Summary: I was hoping for something that fit better than the standard IPod Touch earbuds, and improved sound would be a bonus (I've always thought the IPod Touch was somewhat lacking in bass response). Volume control is not important to me. Not only do these fit me worse, but the sound created by the cord moving is surprisingly loud.
Others do seem to like them, though, so maybe they're just not right for my ears.2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Bottom line poor sound.
by ctsbell on December 29, 2008
Pros: Packaging was nice.
Cons: Poor sound, NO BASE, both my wife and I agreed the stock headphones sounded richer and deeper. Will be sending these back to Apple. Maybe we received a faulty set?! Regardless this set was very poor sound quality, tinny, and no depth.
Summary: Look elsewhere for headphones.
Summary: Look elsewhere for headphones.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent for the price
by GrumpyMD on December 12, 2008
Pros: Cheapest dual driver headphones. In ear fit is good without going too far in. Good sound
Cons: No foam earpieces. Same cord as stock headphones. Volume controls don't work with iPhone 3G
Summary: The headphones are quite good for $80. The cheapest dual drivers you can buy (as far as I am aware). The mic works well, but the volume controls do not ...
Summary: The headphones are quite good for $80. The cheapest dual drivers you can buy (as far as I am aware). The mic works well, but the volume controls do not work with the iPhone 3G, which is a curious omission. The sound is warm, but the highs are not as well defined. The sound quality is about as good as my set of Shure 310's. Unfortunately, the phones do not come with foam earpieces, which I prefer to the silicone tips, as they give better sound isolation and stick in the ear canal better. However, the silicone tips work adequately. I do prefer that these phones do not go as deep in the ear canal as the shures and ultimate ears. Sound is still transmitted strongly when the cords are rubbed, but I suppose short of covering the cords in fabric like the skullcandy lines, this is unavoidable. On the subject of the cords, they do still feel as flimsy as the stock earbuds, but more durable than the ultimate ears. The Shures still have a decided advantage there. Even though I would rate the Shure 310's slightly better for overall sound, I don't think you can go wrong with these cans for about 1/3 of the price, which also includes a remote control which is a $50 extra for the Shures. I rate these at a 4.5 only for the lack of foam earpiece and non-functional volume controls.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Waist of time & Money
by swizzreese on January 16, 2009
Pros: OEM, Sleek Apple Look, Built in MIC. Ok High's
Cons: Sound Quality absolutely horrible.
Summary: Bass doesnt exist in these earphones. Stock earphones 10 times better. I thought mine were defective too uforntunately for apple they werent. Returned my earphones the next day.
Summary: Bass doesnt exist in these earphones. Stock earphones 10 times better. I thought mine were defective too uforntunately for apple they werent. Returned my earphones the next day.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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NOT Compatible with i-Phone 3G
by Howie-L on January 2, 2009
Pros: Sleek packaging, nice advertisement on Apple website, decent sound in ONE earphone only!
Cons: Apple has absolutely no disclaimer at the Apple Store that these headphones are NOT compatible with the i-Phone. The earphones are useless with an i-Phone.
Summary: I bought these to replace the headphones that came with my i-Phone 3G. From reading CNET's review FIRST, then going to the Apple Store to place my order, I ...
Summary: I bought these to replace the headphones that came with my i-Phone 3G. From reading CNET's review FIRST, then going to the Apple Store to place my order, I assumed that headphones were compatible with the i-Phone, save the features of remotely controlling songs on the i-Phone. The very presence of a microphone on the headphones would lead anyone to believe they would naturally be compatible with the i-Phone. NOT SO...
I received the headphones pronto from Apple and plugged them into my i-Phone to listen to music, which initially sounded very good. But then a call came in on the phone. Like with the stock earphones, the volume decreased and I pressed the in-line button on the headphones to answer the call. Strangely, my caller's voice came through in ONLY the right earphone (the side with the switch). After the call, when I clicked on the switch to go back to the music, I could hear it only through the right earphone. Repeated efforts at clicking the switch, unplugging/replugging the earphones, stopping/starting the i-Pod function of the i-Phone did not solve the problem.
Thinking that I had defective earphones, I called Apple customer service and was told the in-ear headphones are NOT compatible with the i-Phone. The customer service rep referred me to the compatibility info on the advertisement page that I'd not noticed in my enthusiastic haste to buy this product. Apple, by the way, has a 10% restocking fee once a product is open, so in addition to postage, my purchase decision, based on the misleading review by CNET, would cost me at least $15. Fortunately, the customer service rep took pity on my apparent ignorance and agreed to waive the restocking fee (though I still have to pay return postage).
I think CNET should update its review of this product immediately to reflect the true incompatibility of these earphones with the i-Phone. I noticed some references to incompatibility in the original review, but those appeared to apply to the trade-offs of not being able to use the remote to control songs, etc. CNET is my primary source of helpful information whenever I'm making a high-tech purchase, so I rely upon the reviews to accurately reflect the true compatibilities of the product.
To be fair, I suppose Apple's in-ear headphones to fit the i-Phone, that is, the plug fits the socket. And it does produce sound, though only in one earphone. And Apple will take them back, albeit with a 10% restocking fee and postage cost. So, if you can overlook the facts (and also disregard CNET's review), these may be the earphones for you.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: MA850G/B
- Description: The Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic are engineered for superior acoustic accuracy, balance, and clarity. So you hear details you've been missing with other, lesser headphones. Unlike many small headphones, each earpiece of the Apple In-Ear Headphones contains two separate high-performance drivers - a woofer to handle bass and mid-range sounds and a tweeter for high-frequency audio. These dedicated drivers help ensure accurate, detailed sound across the entire sonic spectrum. The result - you're immersed in the music and hear details you never knew existed. Even when listening to an old favorite, you may feel like you're hearing it for the first time. Hear every detail of your music every time you tune in with the Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic. They offer pro audio performance and impressive sound isolation, and convenient buttons let you adjust the volume and control music and video playback.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Product Type Headset
- Weight 0.4 oz
- Recommended Use Digital player
- Additional Features Play/pause button,
Volume control,
Remote control Headphones
- Headphones Type Headset - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor In-ear
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Frequency Response 5 - 21000 Hz
- Sensitivity 109 dB/mW
- Impedance 23 Ohm
- In-Cord Volume Control Yes
Microphone
- Microphone Operation Mode Mono
Connections
- Connector Type Headset ( Mini-phone 3.5 mm 4-pole )
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included Headset cable - Integrated - 3.6 ft
- Included Accessories 2 additional caps,
6 ear tips,
Carrying case Power
- Power Device None
- Battery None
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Apple
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
