Apple Earbuds (White with Gray Earbuds) Review

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(More customer reviews)(EDIT: While I stand by my five-star rating of these headphones and still love them, they are NOT good for use while exercising. Energetic jostling like that will probably dislodge them, and if not, the subtle feedback from the cable bouncing around will affect the quality of the sound. If your intent is to find something for the gym or running, I'd advise you to look elsewhere. I use the standard earbuds that came with the iPod for exercise.)
First off... let's address those one-star reviews: you folks either haven't inserted them properly, have irregularly shaped ear canals, or got a faulty product. Let me be clear: THESE HEADPHONES ARE AMAZING.
My old pair had been damaged and I needed a replacement set. After reading through the reviews, I was compelled to give these new headphones a try. Especially helpful was Steve from NJ's description of how to fit them correctly. So I took his advice and gently tugged up on the top of my ear with one hand while inserting the phone with the other (very much like putting in earplugs) and... was blown away. The sound quality just doesn't compare. They're better than the originals that came with the iPod. They're better than the Grundigs I was using as a temporary replacement. They're as good or better than over-the-ear models I've used. I fell in love with my iPod all over again.
Reasons to buy:
1. The sound quality (when worn correctly) is fantastic. I'm noticing bass and subtle highs that I missed with the old phones.
2. The headphones are very comfortable. The soft plastic is really easy on the ears and I've worn mine for over an hour so far. (One caveat: if you don't like wearing earplugs, DON'T BUY THEM. But why are you even reading this review if you don't want an in-ear product?) Which leads me to...
3. They act as great sound reduction. They're basically earplugs, so they significantly cut down on ambient noise. They help cut down the racket on the train when I'm commuting to and from work. Adds to the quality of music as well as peace of mind.
4. They (might) protect your ears. Because there isn't as much noise to compete with, you can turn down the volume and still get better sound quality. That means you're exposing your ear to less volume over the long run.
5. They (might) save battery time. Less volume = less energy output.
These last two items I say "might" because I have no way of proving them, but they seem so common sense, I'm including them anyway.
Reasons not to buy:
1. You don't like earplugs/in-ear headphones. 'Nuff said.
2. You have irregularly shaped ear canals. Not sure what percentage of the population you're in, but try a friend's pair if you're wondering.
3. You don't like the price tag. Can't help you there... the modest investment was totally worth every penny to me.
(EDIT: 4. You need headphones for when you exercise. I don't think any in-ear design will stand up to vigorous motion but your mileage may vary.)
So there's my $.02. If you're still undecided, go ahead and buy them. Be sure to wear them properly. Aside from a bit of cash, what have you got to lose? If you hate them, well... at least you can write a review here on Amazon and share your opinion with the rest of us. And if you don't hate them, come on back and post a 5-star review like this one to even the odds!!

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The Apple M9394G/A iPod Earbud Headphones have great sound quality and bass response, and come with three different sized caps to ensure the headphones fit comfortably and securely in your ear. The earbud-style headphones are powered up by Neodymium transducers, made of a rare earth magnet that significantly enhances frequency response and overall sound quality for a performance five times as powerful as headphones with aluminum, cobalt or ceramic drivers. The headphones block out outside noise well and are compatible with all iPod models.
iPod Compatibility iPod nano 1G, iPod nano 2G, iPod mini, iPod 3G, iPod 4G (Clickwheel), iPod Color, iPod 5G/5.5G Video, iPod Shuffle 1G, iPod Shuffle 2G

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