EarPods That Work
November 28, 2014 4:46 PM Subscribe
I recently purchased the Iphone 6 and love using it, but the EarPods do not work well for me. Help me find an alternative.
There are two main issues, first being that they fall out off my ears at the slightest breeze or movement. Secondly, they have excellent sound quality but are not very loud. I find myself jacking the volume to 90-100% when I am out on the street just to listen to music and hear all of the vocals and detail clearly- but this is too loud. I think the problem is a combination of the EarPods not keeping outside noise out and somewhat weak audio power on their part. What is a good alternative that provides a comfortable fit and noise isolation with all of the functionality of the factory EarPods for the Iphone 6: (good audio quality, inline controls, built-in mic, etc)?
There are two main issues, first being that they fall out off my ears at the slightest breeze or movement. Secondly, they have excellent sound quality but are not very loud. I find myself jacking the volume to 90-100% when I am out on the street just to listen to music and hear all of the vocals and detail clearly- but this is too loud. I think the problem is a combination of the EarPods not keeping outside noise out and somewhat weak audio power on their part. What is a good alternative that provides a comfortable fit and noise isolation with all of the functionality of the factory EarPods for the Iphone 6: (good audio quality, inline controls, built-in mic, etc)?
Best answer: assuming you want ones that aren't really stuff-in-your-ears in ear headphones, get the bose ones(these seem to be a new version of these, which i've owned for years). they're one of very few of that style of headphone that sits in your earlobe, but not in your ear canal i've seen. they're VERY comfortable.
If you don't care about in ear rubber tipped stuff, and want audio isolation, then get some cheap ultimate ears or for a serious jump in quality, these shures.
I own those bose, and higher end models of both the shure and ultimate ears. I've tried the basic models of both though. The sound quality and isolation would go something like shure>UE>bose. The bose are still pretty good though and easily spank the earpods. I'd say the UEs are the best value.
All 3 have full control and mic functionality.
Another cheap alternative people seem to really be enjoying is xiaomi pistons, but i haven't tried them out. They're getting rave reviews for their price though, kinda like the monoprice earbuds(which i would have suggested as well since they're a slamming deal, but they lack music controls and a mic).
As jon1270 said, you didn't state a budget, but i'm assuming you're going for "cheapest that doesn't suck and does all those things" which is sort of what i shot for. There's plenty of other good stuff out there from say, sennheiser, but i haven't tested it out.
another thing i'd say is that the shures are EXTREMELY well made and have a replaceable cord. i've had mine for the better part of 7 years.
posted by emptythought at 5:00 PM on November 28, 2014
If you don't care about in ear rubber tipped stuff, and want audio isolation, then get some cheap ultimate ears or for a serious jump in quality, these shures.
I own those bose, and higher end models of both the shure and ultimate ears. I've tried the basic models of both though. The sound quality and isolation would go something like shure>UE>bose. The bose are still pretty good though and easily spank the earpods. I'd say the UEs are the best value.
All 3 have full control and mic functionality.
Another cheap alternative people seem to really be enjoying is xiaomi pistons, but i haven't tried them out. They're getting rave reviews for their price though, kinda like the monoprice earbuds(which i would have suggested as well since they're a slamming deal, but they lack music controls and a mic).
As jon1270 said, you didn't state a budget, but i'm assuming you're going for "cheapest that doesn't suck and does all those things" which is sort of what i shot for. There's plenty of other good stuff out there from say, sennheiser, but i haven't tested it out.
another thing i'd say is that the shures are EXTREMELY well made and have a replaceable cord. i've had mine for the better part of 7 years.
posted by emptythought at 5:00 PM on November 28, 2014
Put EarSkinz on the EarPods and you'll solve the fit problem, which will also solve the volume problem by sealing the opening. I went from hating the EarPods to using them for my every day listening, since they're replaceable but now sound pretty darn good.
posted by kcm at 5:16 PM on November 28, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by kcm at 5:16 PM on November 28, 2014 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: Budget: Under $30. I can be stretched up to $50 if incredible sound quality warrants it.
posted by incolorinred at 7:08 PM on November 28, 2014
posted by incolorinred at 7:08 PM on November 28, 2014
This might now help, but I really really really like the ear pods. Make sure you are putting them in correctly and try them out for a few hours/a run/a commute, and see if you don't end up liking them!
posted by bbqturtle at 8:56 PM on November 28, 2014
posted by bbqturtle at 8:56 PM on November 28, 2014
Ultimate Ears are cheap and great. I find the apple style astonishingly painful in my ears for some reason, and the in-canal style of the UE's help with that too.
posted by Sebmojo at 9:23 PM on November 28, 2014
posted by Sebmojo at 9:23 PM on November 28, 2014
I've been using the $17 Sony MDR-EX37B earbuds for over a year and have been happy with them so far. They don't have a mic, though. I'm a big fan of The Wirecutter's exhaustive reviews: http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-headphones-under-30/
posted by waninggibbon at 10:35 PM on November 28, 2014
posted by waninggibbon at 10:35 PM on November 28, 2014
I haven't messed with the new iPhone, but is there a volume control in the Settings that's perhaps set a little low for your tastes?
posted by kuanes at 12:37 PM on November 29, 2014
posted by kuanes at 12:37 PM on November 29, 2014
Response by poster: These are some great suggestions. Thank you all! It seems like I should give serious thought to the Ultimate Ears as they are closest to my budget. The higher end products, like the Shures and Bose, seem really great, but I am having a hard to justifying expensive portable listening solutions right now since dropping a good amount on in-home hifi stuff earlier this year. It is strange to me why the EarPods are so low in the volume department. Yes, I have checked over the volume control in Settings and it is at maximum. I have read similar complaints from others on message boards dealing with EarPod volume and there doesn't seem to be a hardware fault or iOS bug associated with it. It seems like it is just a combination of certain people's ear anatomy, noise sensitivity, and listening preferences that make the EarPod a subpar performer for us. Thanks again- great suggestions and comments thus far.
posted by incolorinred at 9:45 PM on November 29, 2014
posted by incolorinred at 9:45 PM on November 29, 2014
Seems like you skipped over my advice to get the EarSkinz. They will fix the fit problem, and that will fix the volume problem. The cost is minimal compared to a new set of headphones that may or may not fix better.
posted by kcm at 8:15 PM on December 4, 2014
posted by kcm at 8:15 PM on December 4, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jon1270 at 4:57 PM on November 28, 2014