| Armature price destruction !? Listen to Apple genuine canal-comparable to the 20,000-30,000 yen model with a remote control for 9,400 yen |
| Now on sale Standard price: 9,400 yen |
There are three main reasons why these earphones are attracting attention. One is that it is a genuine Apple canal type earphone. The other is a price of 9,400 yen. Lastly, it has a remote control function that allows you to perform various operations by combining it with a compatible iPod.
Of particular note is the price. This "Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic" (hereinafter referred to as "In-Ear Headphones") is different from the usual dynamic type driver, and is a "balanced armature unit" that has become a trend in recent canal type earphone luxury machines. It is installed. In addition, the armature unit is a 2-way type equipped with two drivers, one for low frequencies and one for wide areas.
Most of the earphones for armatures are expensive models of 10,000 yen or more, and recent models are Shure "SE110" (single armature / actual sales around 12,000 yen), Klipsch "Custom-1" (single / 14,800 yen), creative. Only single driver type is available in the 10,000 yen range, such as "Aurvana In-Ear Earphones" (single / 9,800 yen). When it comes to dual, Shure "SE420" (actual sales around 50,000 yen), Audio-Technica "ATH-CK10" (37,800 yen), Ultimate Ears "IE-30" (32,970 yen), "Super.fi 5 Pro" (32,970 yen) Even cheap models such as "Super.fi 5 EB" (24,990 yen) will be in the mid-20,000 yen range.
Compared to them, it is no exaggeration to say that the price setting of 9,400 yen, which is cheaper than the single driver model while having a remote control function with a dual driver type, is "price destruction of balanced armature earphones". I immediately tried to see how good it was.
■ Highly designed packaging and accessories
Let's take a look at the designs and accessories before listening to the sound. The case is the same clear type as the iPod nano, and has an Apple-like design based on white. Accessories such as the internal earphone carrying case and a huge medicine capsule (?) Can be seen through in the upper left. The apple mark in the upper left is cute.
When removed from the case, the earphone body is enclosed in a triangular carrying case. What is worrisome is the capsule underneath. "L" and "S" were written on the surface, and I shook my head as "Isn't it L / R (left / right)?", But when I removed the white caps on the left and right, earpieces appeared from inside. The size is different on the left and right, and "L" means large and "S" means small.
| The case is a clear type | carrying case | A mysterious case like a capsule of medicine |
The earpieces are skewered into rod-shaped parts and will not fall apart even if the cap is removed. There are some earphones that come with earpiece cases, but it is rare that the pieces themselves are not scattered. It's a small point, but it's well thought out, and I hate the fact that it's realized without compromising the design.
| It was a storage case for earpieces | The earpiece was skewered with stick-shaped parts | Replacement mesh |
| The cable is Y-shaped and the length is about 1.3m. |
Other accessories are only the instruction manual and the quick sheet that focuses on how to use the remote control. A replacement mesh is attached to the inside of the case containing the instructions. It is a part attached to the opening of the earphone, and it is for replacing when it gets dirty and clogged.
The cable is Y-shaped and has a length of about 1.3 m (1,065 mm from the input terminal to the branch / 330 mm from the branch to the earpiece). It is a slippery rubber covering film, and there is a fair amount of touch noise. The remote control unit is mounted in the middle of the right unit side, and its position cannot be moved. It also has a slider. Extension cable is not included. Weight is 10.2g.
■ Although not supported, iPhone 3G can also be used except for volume
The rectangular remote control unit has a simple design, with "+" and "-" marks on the top and bottom. The center is slightly recessed and painted gray. Compared to the remote control unit attached to the earphone attached to the iPhone 3G, it is vertically longer and has a notch on the side as well. The front and back parts of this remote control are separated, and when you pinch the entire unit with your fingers and apply force, you can push it in like a switch.
By changing the position to pinch with your fingers, you can close only the upper side or only the lower side like a seesaw. Push in the "+" side to increase the volume, and the "-" side to decrease. You can play / pause music and video by pushing in the hollow part in the center. Double-click to go to the next song, and triple-click to go back to the previous song. It has a built-in microphone on the back, and when connected to a compatible player, the voice recorder function can be used. The plug is a 4-pole type stereo mini. No gold-plated paint is applied.
| Remote control unit | Seen from the side.The whole is like a switch | Built-in microphone on the back |
| Above is the remote control part of the earphone attached to iPhone 3G | The plug is a 4-pole type |
| Voice recording is possible with nano |
I tried connecting it to the 4th generation iPod nano, but I can operate it comfortably with just the feeling of my fingertips without looking at the remote control. Volume adjustment is always positive on the upper side and negative on the lower side, so you won't get lost. When connected, the voice recorder function appears in the nano menu. When you select it, the microphone icon will appear and you can record your voice as it is. The recording sound quality is also good.
It's a simple and easy-to-use remote control, but it's important to note that there aren't many compatible players. Specifically, it is only compatible with the 4th generation iPod nano, iPod classic (120GB model), and 2nd generation iPod touch. The early story is that only the iPod / iPod touch, which was announced at the same time as the earphones in September, is officially supported. Since the plug is an ordinary 4-pole type, it is clearly stated that sound can be produced even with a conventional iPod, but the low versatility of the remote control function is a shame. It's also strange that the iPhone 3G isn't included in the compatible models even though it has a built-in microphone.
So, I tried connecting to the iPhone 3G, 1st generation iPod touch, and 5th generation iPod (60GB) in the editorial department. With the 1st generation touch and iPod 5G, you can only hear the sound and cannot operate the remote control at all. On the other hand, although the volume adjustment does not work on the iPhone 3G, it can be played / stopped, sent by double-clicking, and returned by triple, and it is possible to make a call by clicking when receiving a call and to end the call by clicking after a conversation. Of course, the microphone was also effective, the microphone on the main unit was turned off, and I was able to talk comfortably with the microphone on the remote control side. It's not officially supported because the volume doesn't work, but you can think of it as having the same remote control that comes standard with the iPhone 3G. On other non-compatible iPods, it will be used as pure earphones.
■ Playback sound with good cost performance
The included earpiece is a silicon type and comes in 3 sizes of S / M / L. It seems that Apple only has white-collar workers. The material is silicon and soft. Of note is the shape, only the sound path forming part is made of a hard material. Similar to the hybrid earpieces found in recent Sony products such as the "MDR-EX500SL", it retains the sound passage and suppresses the effect of shape changes on the sound, and has the effect of facilitating mounting on the main unit. That's it.
| Attached earpiece.The one on the left is turned inside out to expose the sound path. | I installed it.Easy to wear because the sound path is hard |
The housing part draws a gentle curve, and the material seems to be the same plastic as the earphones attached to the iPod, but because the area is small, there is a sense of luxury created by the high density. The design accent is the silver metal parts that are fitted toward the front. Since the housing is small, it is relatively easy to insert it into the back of the ear, and because it is light, it is difficult to remove. It can be said that wearing stability is high if you choose a piece of the size that fits your ear canal. There is little sound leakage, and even if you sit down on the train, you don't have to worry about the next person.
| A housing that draws a gentle curve | There is a hole on the back that seems to be a bass reflex port | I removed the earpiece |
The reproduction frequency characteristic is 5Hz-21kHz. Impedance is 23Ω. The sensitivity is 109dB / mW. I listened to it while imagining the "too good treble" that is often found in cheap armature earphones, but the balance is unexpectedly good. Play "Don't be late" from Macross Frontier's soundtrack "Daughter Flo." If you turn up the volume, the high range of vocals will be too tight for cheap armatures and it will hurt your ears, but with "In-Ear Headphones" it is moderately "know" and the high range will not penetrate too much.
| Audio-Technica "ATH-CK9" |
The single driver model Audio-Technica "ATH-CK9" (22,050 yen) in the editorial department has a weak low range, and it is a playback sound peculiar to a single driver that can not be balanced unless it is pushed into the ear canal, but "In-Ear Headphones" Then, just by wearing it normally, abundant low frequencies are output. Even in songs such as Ikimonogakari "HANABI" where the number of sounds and sound pressure change frequently, there is a good contrast between the transparency when vocals simply sing chorus and the scene where drums and electric guitars overlap and the sound is powerful. It's out.
The solid bass supports the music, which gives a sense of stability to the reproduced sound, and also handles songs where low-frequency sound pressure is important, such as classical, jazz, and rock live recordings. At the same time, the treble that stretches is also moderately thickened, so it is not the "cheap and dry sound" that is typical of armatures. Female vocalist Astrud Gilberto's "Corcovado" also sounds glossy.
| Klipsch "Image X5" |
Klipsch's single armature adopts a small unit and a slender housing, and it is characterized by realizing low frequency reproduction that is not like a single by inserting it deeper into the ear canal, but the lower model of the "Image" series with this feature " It's a good match compared to "Image X5" (29,800 yen). The X5 has a well-connected playback sound that seems to be a single driver, and lets you hear the bass that is comparable to "In-Ear Headphones". He is also good at summarizing the whole sound, so I personally give "X5" a gunbai.
As a comparison with the dual armature, I prepared Audio-Technica's "ATH-CK10" (37,800 yen), but this difference is very interesting. At first glance, "CK10" sounds more "brilliant" in music. Because the high range is emphasized, the cymbals popping with Bashan and the squeal of the electric guitar are attractive. The low range is also more exciting than "In-Ear Headphones", and the undulating bass of TM Revolution "resonance" pulls the music. Not only the high range but also the low range has a high resolution, and the movement of the strings of the acoustic bass and the left hand of the piano are extremely clear.
| Audio-Technica "ATH-CK10" |
However, in other words, it is a "donshari" sound that emphasizes the high and low frequencies, and because the sound separation is good and the resolution is high, it is "high fidelity sufficient", so it cannot be said that the balance is good. Compared to that, "In-Ear Headphones" seems to suppress the high range and the volume of the low range is a step inferior, but personally, I felt that this was preferable because it sounded a well-balanced playback sound.
If you look for a comparison partner in terms of price, it will definitely be a dynamic type. Sony's new canal type EX monitor model "MDR-EX500SL" (actual sales around 10,000 yen) is available. The volume of the low range due to the large 16mm diameter unit is still in the dynamic type, which makes the music even more powerful. I thought that the armature would be superior in terms of resolution, but the "EX500SL" also has almost the same level of resolution, and you can clearly see the movement of each instrument.
| Sony "MDR-EX500SL" |
What you notice in comparison is the amount of information in the mid range. I wrote earlier that "In-Ear Headphones" is "balanced", but it is a result of comparison with other armatures, and there is no midrange that matches the exciting high / low range compared to the dynamic type. Notice that. As an image of a spectrum analyzer, the armature sounds like a cross section of a plate, compared to the dynamic type with a mountain-like shape.
In the actual sound, with the above-mentioned cymbals, electric guitar squeal, etc., in the dynamic type, the high-pitched sound propagates to the space and spreads as a lingering sound, but in the armature, the first blow is stimulating and intense, but it is masked. I can't hear the faint lingering sound. As a result, the sound field feels narrow and the sound becomes tiring to listen to. "In that case, even armatures should increase the number of drivers to improve the balance," and the triple driver model equipped with three drivers comes into play. However, the price range is over 50,000 yen, so it can not be said that it is a comparison target of "In-Ear Headphones" and "EX500SL".
■ Ideal for getting started with armatures
The conclusion of the sound quality is that you can enjoy a well-balanced playback sound compared to cheap single armature earphones, and the high / low range emphasis is suppressed to an appropriate level, so it can be said that it is an "armature earphone that is easy to listen to with less discomfort". That's it. The price of less than 10,000 yen is price-destroying as a dual armature, and it can be said that it is a model that affects the trends of other companies. In that sense, it can be said that it is an ideal product as an introductory machine for users who are "interested in armatures but have never bought it because it is expensive". Of course, since the playback sound is significantly different from the inner ear earphones that come with the iPod, it is also suitable for replacement with standard earphones, including the convenience of a remote control.
However, the character of the reproduced sound itself is significantly different from general dynamic earphones. If you are dissatisfied with the poor separation of dynamic sound, lack of resolution in the low range, insufficient extension of the high range, etc., it seems that such dissatisfaction can be improved, but the volume of the low range and well-balanced playback sound etc. There are some inferior parts in terms of. Even with the dynamic type, when it comes to high-end models around 10,000 yen, the number of products that cover the above-mentioned weaknesses is increasing, which is annoying. The difference between armature and dynamic sound tendencies can be easily determined even with an over-the-counter listening device, so it is important to first try "Which sound do you like?" If "armature is good", there is no doubt that it is a "bargain model".
□ Apple homepage http://www.apple.com/jp/ □ Product information (canal type) http://www.apple.com/jp/ipod/inearheadphones/ □ Related article [September 10] Apple, Canal type earphone with controller / microphone-2 way armature for 9,400 yen. Inner ear type is also http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20080910/apple4.htm [September 11] Apple staff talks about new iPod and earphones, Genius-nano that sticks to curved surfaces. Canal type earphones are not compatible with iPhone http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20080911/apple.htm
(December 11, 2008)
[ AV Watch editorial department /yamaza-k@impress.co.jp ]
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Copyright (c) 2008 Impress Watch Corporation, an Impress Group company. All rights reserved.
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