Much has been written over the years about the anemic earbuds Apple ships with its iPods; they’re often considered the product’s Achilles Heel. When you look back from the original iPod to the most recent iPod Touch, the device itself has changed substantially, but those cheap white earbuds are virtually the same. Someone looking at an original, 2001 vintage, white iPod with its click scroll wheel and tiny monochrome display sitting next to a current black, glass and polished chrome iPod Touch would be hard pressed to find much of a family resemblance between the two. Put the earbuds that shipped with each of these iPods side by side, and there’s little difference to be seen. Since 2001, the included earbuds have been good enough, at least for many people. In all fairness, Apple is under pressure to keep the price of their players competitive, so it’s not unreasonable to make the choice to ship buds that are good enough for most people, and leave it to the more demanding customers to upgrade to higher quality headphones. That iPod DNA is very evident in the iPhone as well, and no-where as obviously as the iconic white earbuds that Apple includes. The same ones that are so mediocre on the iPod sound just as mediocre on the iPhone. Upgrading is a slightly different story with the iPhone, though. While audiophiles have no qualms about moving to full headphone sets with a portable music player, they are reluctant to do so with a phone (even though it is also being used as multimedia player). So the upgrade of choice for iPhone users is typically a high quality set of replacement earbuds. There are a lot of manufacturers trying to take advantage of this market and it’s not hard to move into territory where the experience is actually worse than Apple’s freebies. Keeping that in mind, here are a few pointers to look for when shopping: â€Replacements for the OEM earbuds from Apple list for around $30. It goes without saying that third party earbuds cheaper than this are probably not going to be an improvement. â€For ultimate iPhone functionality, make sure the replacements include a microphone and inline volume control. A noise-canceling mic makes for noticeably clearer calls. â€Ensure the jack is compatible with your model. â€Look for multiple bud adapters to ensure a good fit. â€A wide dynamic range and quality speakers give bass a boost. â€A tangle-free cord will make your life much easier.
Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
