Product Description

The iPod In-Ear 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.

Product Details

• Brand: Apple
• Model: M9394G/B
• Released on: 2004-01-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Features

• Enhances the sound quality and bass response to your iPod
• Supremely comfortable for long listening sessions
• Three different size caps ensure the headphones fit comfortably and securely in your ear
• Block outside noise well
• Universal accessory for all iPod models as well as all digital audio players compatible with 3.5mm mini-jack

Amazon.com Product Description
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

Customer Reviews

It's all about the fit
I've read the reviews here and at other sites and there are all conflicting. I think the nature of these type of headphones is that they vary from ear to ear and position is EVERYTHING. I think these headphones sound great for me and the part where Apple went wrong is in their manual. They have no diagrams, instructions, etc. for how to fit these into your ear. I will try to explain what I do below:
If you are trying to insert the RIGHT headphone, use your LEFT arm and put it over your shoulder, behind your head, and grab the top of your right ear. Pull your ear upward so as to "straighten" out your ear canal. Then insert the headphone and swivel it in a circular motion to slide it into your ear. The orientation of the chord from the ear plug should be downward just like with the ear-buds. Once they are in you should be able to pull lightly on them and they will not move. If when you pull on them they move, then you either have not put them far enough in your ear or you should try a different size cup. I would recommend trying all three sized cups and use the one that fits the best. Do the similar thing for the other headphone and you should be good to go.
As a note, if you buy a pair of earplugs, they have a similar (albeit better then mine) instruction on how to insert them into your ear. You will see that you get a much snugger fit and better seal if you lift your ear as described here. I hope this helps and gets those one-star reviewers to change their mind!

Don't Give up Just Yet!
As many of you see, the reviews for these buds are either really good or really bad. The really good ones come from the people who have found out the correct way to place the earbuds in the ear. The really bad ones are the people who either gave up trying or have a serious earwax problem.

Before throwing these away (I know that line has been said 50 times in other reviews), look at the reviews and take the advice of the people who know how to put these in the ear (using the opposite hand to pull the top of the ear up and out, etc etc). All of a sudden, that "tiny" sound and lack of bass will transform into an audio experience on par or sometimes surpassing anything costing 150 bucks or more.

The reason some people get tiny sound is that these drivers are meant to ONLY move the small amount of air in your ear canal, nothing more. If you don't get a good seal with your ear canal, the drivers suddenly become underpowered as they now have to move 100 times more air to get the same effect. So before you give up, try the advice given by these reviews. Try scrubbing your ears with a q-tip, try the different sizes, try pushing this as far as possible into your ear (you won't damage your eardrum, its much further in). Your few minutes spent experimenting will pay off with hours and hours of enjoyment. Most of you will then see that this is by far the single most important investment for your iPod. Period.

Great Headphones - Just follow this advice:
Amazingly, my headphones arrived the day after I purchased them (Thanks, Amazon!) and I have to agree, they are much more comfortable than the OEM headphones that arrived with my iPod mini.

One reviewer suggested that by lifting up the top of your ear with one hand and inserting the bud with the other hand would help the headphones stay in better. He was right; this is the way to properly insert the buds into your ear. You'll get a better fit. Furthermore, be sure to choose the correct size bud (these headphones come with 3 sets: small, medium, and large) to help them stay in better.

Otherwise, I really appreciate the hard plastic case they come with as it helps keep the cord neat and organized within my carrying case.

A final thought: I have been experimenting with the equaliser and have found that some genres of songs benefit, while others do not. It all depends on your preference. I find the sound response improved with these headphones as well.

Overall, 4 stars for the headphones...one more star if they came with some type of clip on band for over the head during exercise or other vigorous activity.