Apple
Revised: The plug on Apple's In-Ear Headphones now comes with a hard-plastic cap, instead of a rubber one.
(Andrew Heining/The Christian Science Monitor)Photos (1 of 1)
Apple quietly updates In-Ear Headphones
By Andrew Heining | 07.13.09
Remember these? The $80 Apple earbuds “engineered for superior acoustic accuracy, balance, and clarity,” whose built-in volume control didn’t work with the then-current iPhone 3G?
Looks like sometime in the recent past Apple changed their design, swapping out the rubber 3.5 mm plug-surround for a hard plastic one that closely resembles the company’s Mag-Safe notebook power adapter.
What’s the big whoop?
These are the headphones that were roundly beaten around for their problems – from their easy-to-lose silicon ear tips (and Apple reportedly doesn’t sell replacements) to their incompatibility with the iPhone 3G, to their easily-unglued rubber cord sleeves (the issue responsible for this writer’s complimentary Apple Retail Store replacement).
Other reviews on Apple’s product page for these – there are 876 as of this writing – complain of their lack of bass response (Apple sez: make a good seal), poor performance in cold weather, and wind noise transmitted through the cable. And don’t forget that though these were unveiled at a September 2008 Apple event with a promised ship date of mid-November, they weren’t available until almost a month later.
These were also the buds that launched numerous Apple support discussions because of their unnerving tendency to transfer static electricity from the air into people’s eardrums (yow! – Apple’s response: avoid very dry environments, stay grounded.)
With the new plastic hardware, has the company changed anything else to address complaints about this much-maligned product?
Asked for comment on the design change Monday, Apple has yet to respond.
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2. julian | 07.14.09
the current iphone 3gs headphones also use this
they are very hard to take off the iphone
3. Noah | 07.14.09
Yes, please sound off if you have the new version… is anything “really” that different?
4. Adam | 07.14.09
I just got a replacement for mine because of fraying. Nothing is different except the fact that part of the cable is harder plastic. They’re great, if expensive, earphones — if you have the cash, get a pair! 
Very satisfied with mine.
5. Chksix | 07.14.09
Just got a AT&T 3G and I noticed that the headphone plug is as “Julian” indicated very hard to take off the phone (and insert for that matter). It seemed as though I was pushing way too hard. Is this normal? Anybody else care to comment?
6. Mell Schoening | 07.14.09
Give apple a break! They haven’t made many mistakes, rather they are usually way out in front.
7. Scotty | 07.14.09
Ah ha! I saw Fry’s selling these last week at $10.00 off. Thought it was a good deal. Now it looks like they were just clearing out old stock.
Anyone have the new ones? Do the silicone tips stay on better (I’m about to superglue mine)? Does the volume control work on the iPhone 3G? I’d love to know.
9. Josh Marihugh | 07.14.09
BOSE = Buy Other Sound Equipment.
I’ve been nothing but pleased with the JBL Reference 220s.
11. environ sa | 07.14.09
no you twit
BALLMER is pure ego and HBS scum
MS is his vehicle to hell
gates hofjuden
got out just
before the FALL
12. Jim | 07.14.09
Yet another reason why I avoid Apple products. They’re vastly overrated. Competing products don’t look as cool, but they usually work better and don’t have compatibility problems.
13. Derek | 07.14.09
If you want headphones of any type i’d recommend Sennheizer. Sound quality is always fantastic. Picked up a pair for $35 (new zealand dollars that is)the other day and quality is much better than the apple one’s i’d had before.
14. Dave mcCurry | 07.14.09
I just discovered these new and innovative headphones - http://www.coolestheadphones.com
15. Frumious | 07.15.09
This is really big news. Important news. News worthy of the CSM. Perhaps a Congressional investigation is in order. Definitely.
16. Frumious | 07.15.09
This is really big news. Important news. News worthy of the CSM. Currently the #3 most viewed article on CSM. Perhaps a Congressional investigation is in order. Definitely.
17. zendog | 07.15.09
environ sa (11)has some personal issues that really don’t belong on these pages. He or she or whatever should check their facts and keep their bigotry in check.
18. BWAGS | 07.15.09
They are constantly falling out of my ears and in turn make them very irritating to run with and even some normal weight lifting will throw them out.
19. JW | 07.15.09
You guys do realize that these headphones are readily available on ebay for $35 brand new. Only missing the retail packaging and probably the mesh caps. For that price they are a steal.
20. Nick | 07.16.09
I picked up a pair at my local Apple store a few weeks ago. If you use the right size tips, the bass is pretty decent and it blocks out almost all the sounds around me. The controls on the headphones work great with my 3GS.
Overall the sound is not quite as good as comparable models from Sure or Sony, but it definitely isn’t bad. Being able to control volume and playback from the controller switch makes up for it in my opinion.
21. RevWillerup | 07.17.09
I just don’t understand why in the world they’d release such a darned good set of canalphones without double checking if they’d work with hundreds of thousands of would-be customers? I bought them anyway because I love how they sound, especially if the seal is good and they’ve had time to break in. But someone up there in Apple world sure did blow a real shot at a big market.
22. Peruanodan | 07.18.09
I just got a 3GS and plugged in my old (rubber connector) in ear headphones and must say that there is a noticeable improvement in sound clarity and bass response. I hate the pack-in headphones Apple puts out with their iPhones and iPods and had been looking for a solution that would allow me to have the pack-in functionality with in-ear sound, comfort and noise canceling (I even tried to splice a set of Sony in-ear headphones with the pack-in cable on my first set - which resulted in frying both sets of headphones), so I was happy when these came out, but I was pissed when I found out the volume function wouldn’t work. Now that I have the 3GS and all the functionality is available, along with the ability to use Voice Control to change albums or playlists without pulling the iPhone out of my pocket, I’m ecstatic.
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1. Peter Sundell | 07.14.09
Shortly after the iPhone 3GS was released, I ventured down to my local Apple store to pick up a pair of these. I purchased a pair about a year ago when they were released and wasn’t impressed with the sound quality. Now that the 3GS is “compatible” with these headphones, I decided to pick up a pair. Some of the headphones had the old base and some had the new base. I shuffled through and got a pair with the new base. I have been happy with the performance and don’t have any major complaints. The volume control is very handy.