Double-BA in-ear with two-way crossover. That's still quite rare and unique in this price range, and was even more so a few years ago.
Packaging design quite similar to that of the EarPods.
Comes with a small spindle with fitted caps that holds the silicone ear tips (yeah, I like that).
Just like the EarPods, the In-Ear Headphones come with a protective plastic case with transparent lid. In case of the in-ears, it's triangular instead of square, though. Anyway, I'm not using it but have built one my one as the included one is less good for the cable's durability.
In addition, one pair of replacement mesh filters comes included.
The design is easily recognisable as Apple's, and the cable is the same one as the one that's used on my EarPods (wherefore it isn't the best or most durable appearing cable, however quite flexible).
The remote/mic unit of my Apple in-ears is similar to the one as on my EarPods, and it is very good, with easily distinguishable buttons and a clearly defined accentuation point.
The only disadvantage is that the remote is in an awkward spot if the in-ears are worn with the cable around the ears, but to Apple's defence, that's not how they were developed in mind.
The only disadvantage is that the remote is in an awkward spot if the in-ears are worn with the cable around the ears, but to Apple's defence, that's not how they were developed in mind.
The nozzles have protective screw-on mesh filters.
Sound:
I'm using low impedance sources as well as the largest included silicone tips.
Tonality:
Very natural; overall with a mildly downwards-sloping signature from the very sub-bass towards the upper treble.
The never annoying bass lift is implemented very well, with around 8 dB more than diffuse-field neutrality in the lowest sub-bass (there's no roll-off at all) and ca. 7 dB in the upper bass around 100 Hz. Above that, the lows decrease evenly towards about 700 Hz where they become neutral again.
So yeah, well-implemented bass with an ultimately slightly greater sub-bass focus and some moderate, mild warmth.
The midrange timbre is natural with just a moderate tendency to warmth and slight darkness.
Nicely, the highs are mostly diffuse-field oriented although ultimately slightly south of that with a mild recession around 2 kHz and another, even slighter one somewhat higher in the middle highs.
Even though the treble sounds nice and lacks any nastiness, it is ultimately less even and realistic compared to Etymotic's old and new ER4 models, with a slightly metallic middle treble touch.
Thanks to the lower of the two dips, the mids are never exhausting and gain a slightly relaxed character.
Resolution:
The Apple in-ears are superior to most dynamic driver and pretty much all hybrid in-ear models in the $100 range when it comes to speed and tightness in the lows due to the (thankfully) typical BA control. Nonetheless, for pure BA standards, the lows are a bit on the softer side, although not slow or anything like that. And the bit of added body doesn't sound bad at all but natural and controlled.
Speaking critically, there's a bit of a lack of definition in the lows and lower midrange/fundamental range compared to better models.
Midrange and treble resolution are good with decent speech intelligibility and details. Note separation is good but not on the same level as that of better multi-BA in-ears or very good single-BA in-ears (to be fair, there are only very few pure multi-BA in-ears in the sub-$200 range, and even fewer in the sub-$100 range, and of those I've heard in the latter, none was as good as my Apple in-ears).
Even though the Apple in-ears are ultimately somewhat more resolving and controlled than many decent single-BA in-ears in the sub-$100 range and have the cleaner note separation, coherency is ultimately not on the same level as that of the vast majority of decent single-BA models.
It's not the rarely found "giant killer" whatsoever, however very respectable and performs rally well for an in-ear in this price range (regardless of driver technology), and even very well compared to many similarly priced non-BA models on the market; I'd definitely take my Apple in-ears over much of the crap that the market has to offer around and below $100.
The value for the money is definitely good, and was even better years ago (can you imagine that? Well-tuned and well-performing multi-BA in-ears for less than $100!).
Soundstage:
Decent spatial width (the 'stage leaves the base of my head by the thickness of a finger to each side). Not nearly as much spatial depth, therefore ultimately oval with flat tendencies; not as circular, round or deep sounding as the better single-BA in-ears in this price range, but with superior spatial width.
Imaging decent. Layering somewhat diffuse. Instrument separation quite clean.
Conclusion:
Good value, tuned very well and technically capable, too.
Often underrated and overlooked for absolutely no reason.
The never annoying bass lift is implemented very well, with around 8 dB more than diffuse-field neutrality in the lowest sub-bass (there's no roll-off at all) and ca. 7 dB in the upper bass around 100 Hz. Above that, the lows decrease evenly towards about 700 Hz where they become neutral again.
So yeah, well-implemented bass with an ultimately slightly greater sub-bass focus and some moderate, mild warmth.
The midrange timbre is natural with just a moderate tendency to warmth and slight darkness.
Nicely, the highs are mostly diffuse-field oriented although ultimately slightly south of that with a mild recession around 2 kHz and another, even slighter one somewhat higher in the middle highs.
Even though the treble sounds nice and lacks any nastiness, it is ultimately less even and realistic compared to Etymotic's old and new ER4 models, with a slightly metallic middle treble touch.
Thanks to the lower of the two dips, the mids are never exhausting and gain a slightly relaxed character.
Resolution:
The Apple in-ears are superior to most dynamic driver and pretty much all hybrid in-ear models in the $100 range when it comes to speed and tightness in the lows due to the (thankfully) typical BA control. Nonetheless, for pure BA standards, the lows are a bit on the softer side, although not slow or anything like that. And the bit of added body doesn't sound bad at all but natural and controlled.
Speaking critically, there's a bit of a lack of definition in the lows and lower midrange/fundamental range compared to better models.
Midrange and treble resolution are good with decent speech intelligibility and details. Note separation is good but not on the same level as that of better multi-BA in-ears or very good single-BA in-ears (to be fair, there are only very few pure multi-BA in-ears in the sub-$200 range, and even fewer in the sub-$100 range, and of those I've heard in the latter, none was as good as my Apple in-ears).
Even though the Apple in-ears are ultimately somewhat more resolving and controlled than many decent single-BA in-ears in the sub-$100 range and have the cleaner note separation, coherency is ultimately not on the same level as that of the vast majority of decent single-BA models.
It's not the rarely found "giant killer" whatsoever, however very respectable and performs rally well for an in-ear in this price range (regardless of driver technology), and even very well compared to many similarly priced non-BA models on the market; I'd definitely take my Apple in-ears over much of the crap that the market has to offer around and below $100.
The value for the money is definitely good, and was even better years ago (can you imagine that? Well-tuned and well-performing multi-BA in-ears for less than $100!).
Soundstage:
Decent spatial width (the 'stage leaves the base of my head by the thickness of a finger to each side). Not nearly as much spatial depth, therefore ultimately oval with flat tendencies; not as circular, round or deep sounding as the better single-BA in-ears in this price range, but with superior spatial width.
Imaging decent. Layering somewhat diffuse. Instrument separation quite clean.
Conclusion:
Good value, tuned very well and technically capable, too.
Often underrated and overlooked for absolutely no reason.