Pros:
Design
Excellent sound quality 
Superb form factor and build quality
Hands-free, compatible with iMac
In-ear, without being invasive


   Cons:
Bass sounds a bit “digital”
Confusing fit the first few times

The Bottom Line
The Apple EarPods are damn good, and the best you can get in the price range. They’re not invasive, like many in-ear headphones and miles ahead of the original.
9 | Awesome
Rs. 2100/-
N/A
FULL REVIEW





Way back in 2004, when the first iPods were launched, Jobs had insisted on a white pair of headphones which became a cult hit with their iPod AD campaigns and soon everyone wanted one of them. While the entire Apple range has moved on and up from there, the earphones had been neglected. Up until now. The new EarPods, with their unique design, have piqued the interest and curiosity of everyone, everywhere, and while they may look undoubtedly cool, two questions are at the top of those minds. Is it worth the upgrade? What's so innovative about it?

After every product launch, the design and tech gurus at Apple make their signature white background videos, opening with Jonathan Ive talking about how revolutionary the design is. The EarPods were subject to the same treatment, and we were told how the design was years in the making and the tech powering these small headphones was nothing short of unique. One look at the EarPods reinforces that they really do look like they’re from the future, or at least from another planet, with fin-like cuts on the sides, and a deep funnel into a oval outlet.

The theory behind the strange, otherworldly shape is that the designers at Apple wanted a pair of earphones that fit in all ears. A huge undertaking, but a great observation, as normal headphones don’t sit well in some ear sizes: too large and the sound gets dispersed and too small means the headphones are painful.

Born of this need, in-ear headphones started flourishing. However, the problem with in-ear headphones was that it required you to insert the rubber prong in your ear, which to some, is extremely uncomfortable. Not to mention that with the changes in pressure on flights, it could be a painful affair for the jet-setting types. With all that in mind, the idea was to build a standard shape, except like a sea shell. The EarPods would function as a funnel, pulling in sound and pushing it directly into your ear canal, no sound wasted outside. The fins and openings on the outside let air in and out of the headphones to push the sound in. In true Apple fashion, the build quality is exceptional, though the hands-free volume play-pause keys feel as though it would go kaput after a few hundred uses.



So, to answer the question, yeah, the EarPods work and the effect is excellent. The sound, at first, is a bit odd and roomy, but at once, you’re delighted by the way it pushes out ambient sound to some extent, as the music takes dominance. While it’s far from the effect most noise-cancelling headphones deliver, the EarPods are still a great dampener.

The overall quality is very good, though not excellent, and the overall effect is sort of like listening to the sea in a shell. There’s some sound lost in translation, but barely noticeable. Listing the plus points, though, the effect is cavernous. The bass notes sound really good - tapering at the edges, giving a sense of space. The treble is perfect, with crisp, close-cut, refined notes. Just the openness that these headphones give music is refreshing, from symphonies right up to dubstep, and perform admirably, while keeping most of the ambient sound out.  

As for fitting in my ear, Apple has got that down right. The earpiece neatly hooks onto the lobe and sits there comfortably. With the predecessor, the opening to my inner ear used to get irritated by the mesh, but with these, it fits snug for long hours of listening. I also gave the EarPods to friends and family to try on. The first thing that came up was that they always put it in wrong the first few times, and to be honest, so did I. The main nozzle has to face in the direction you are looking at, or you have to carefully look for the R and L marks to make sure they go in right. Once my guinea pigs figured it out how to put them on, they loved it: the sound was incredible, especially the “pumping bass.”

The few negative points most audiophiles would point to is that the sound sounds very digital, as if it had been subjected to multiple pass-throughs of some digital software. Though that’s a small quibble, the headphones do what it says on the box, and much better than expected. On another note, with the new EarPods, you can adjust your volume on your iMac too.



Should you buy one?
With an ever-increasing range of headphones to choose from, the EarPods definitely do stand out from the crowd. At Rs. 2100 a pop, I’d say it’s worth it, beating the original headphones by miles, and the styling makes it perfect for pairing with an Apple device.

Of course, there are other choices - you can get Skullcandy in-ear headphones for about Rs. 1500, with a mic and hands-free or you can check out the upper-level Sennheisers and Bose noise-cancellation units if you’re obsessive about sound and have the moolah. But if you want great sound at a mid-range price with a pair that fits comfortably, nay perfectly, the EarPods are the best you can buy.