# Apple Earbuds on Ebay? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931 "2014-11-30T01:41:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pauly01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Pauly01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pauly01)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/1 "2014-11-30T01:41:35Z")
I have owned many apple earbuds throughout the years. However, many months or maybe 1 year, these earbuds would no longer work in one ear or maybe even both of them. Im sure many of you all have the same issue with these earbuds. I know many years ago i had bought 1 or 2 fake ones as i was pretty stupid buying it for under 10 dollars and thinking it was the real thing. I see the current price is around 30 dollars or so on the apple website. I do see few of them on ebay and many of them are around 23 dollars or so and they sold countless of them and have extremely good feedback. Would you say its worth buying it fromthem? I dont see that many sold though. > **[Apple EarPods with Lightning Connector In Ear Canal Headset - White for sale...](https://www.ebay.com/p/129587713?iid=121390857451)** > > Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Apple EarPods with Lightning Connector In Ear Canal Headset - White at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products! ---
**Author:** ![Pauly01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Pauly01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pauly01)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/2 "2014-11-30T01:43:43Z")
I also see this type sold by another person. This is the old apple earbuds. I always had these types. I mean if over 30000 are sold… and this player has this much good feedback, i assume these have to real then right? [http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Apple-iPod-earbud-In-Ear-Earphones-White-Brand-New/120455889141?\_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&\_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27538%26meid%3Dffd9ff7fbd8b4eca96803144f6f1c8d2%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D11353%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D111031281330&rt=nc](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Apple-iPod-earbud-In-Ear-Earphones-White-Brand-New/120455889141?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27538%26meid%3Dffd9ff7fbd8b4eca96803144f6f1c8d2%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D11353%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D111031281330&rt=nc) ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/3 "2014-11-30T03:02:54Z")
Why do you want Apple earbuds? They are notorious for being [poor quality at a high price](http://gizmodo.com/5943222/apple-earpods-review-less-terrible-still-garbage). ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/4 "2014-11-30T03:39:41Z")
Yeah, the first thing I do with any newly unboxed Apple product is to throw those useless and awful earbuds away. ---
**Author:** ![Pauly01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Pauly01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pauly01)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/5 "2014-11-30T05:28:03Z")
what do you recommend then? ---
**Author:** ![DeptfordX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DeptfordX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeptfordX)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/6 "2014-11-30T22:41:02Z")
Almost anything. No Seriously. Pick up any in-ear set of headphones, that cost more than $25 (or £15 for me) and you’ll get a better experience. Looking on the Amazon store you can pick up some Sony headphones for $25. I am genuinally suprised you like them, i’ve always considered the headphones you get with Apple products total rubbish. Poor sound, terrible fit, rubbish noice cancellation. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/7 "2014-12-01T01:35:30Z")
> **[The Best Earbuds Under $50](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-headphones-under-40/)** > > The 1More Piston Fit BT wireless earbuds are comfortable and solidly built, and they sound far better than they should for the money. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/8 "2014-12-01T21:17:56Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > [The 12 Best Headphones Under $100 of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter](http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-headphones-under-30/) Thanks for that link. I am going to try the Panasonic ear buds that they recommend. I’ve been using the standard Apple ones that came with my iPhone 6. I am interested in seeing if I can tell the difference. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/9 "2014-12-02T02:14:41Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Thanks for that link. I am going to try the Panasonic ear buds that they recommend. I’ve been using the standard Apple ones that came with my iPhone 6. I am interested in seeing if I can tell the difference. Sony, AKG, Sennheiser all make good headphones. My personal favorite ear-buds are Etymotics which are designed by an audiologist. [Headphone.com](http://Headphone.com) is an excellent resource. All they sell is headphones, and they have the most trustworthy set of reviews I’ve found. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/10 "2014-12-02T02:31:26Z")
> [@Pauly01](#): > > what do you recommend then? > **[Amazon.com: Panasonic ErgoFit Wired Earbuds, In-Ear Headphones with Dynamic...](https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Headphones-RP-HJE120-K-Ergonomic-Comfort-Fit/dp/B003EM8008)** > > Product Description The Panasonic ErgoFit In Ear Earbuds Headphones RP HJE120 K are the perfect combination of style, comfort and most of all, high quality sound. With three included sets of earpads (S/M/L), you’ll get a custom, comfortable... There are a variety of good earbuds for under $20, even the sub $10 ones can be good. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/11 "2014-12-03T17:45:16Z")
I’ve been very pleased with Sony earbuds. I never understood all the love for Apple’s earbuds…mine didn’t work right at all (crackly/staticky left bud). When the ex-cleaning lady at work developed a case of sticky fingers, however, the first things to disappear from people’s desks were the standard Apple earbuds. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/12 "2014-12-03T17:47:46Z")
I suggest the really excellent ones by Brainwavz- they have a variety at several price points. Try Amazon for best prices. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/13 "2014-12-03T21:09:41Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > I’ve been very pleased with Sony earbuds. > > I never understood all the love for Apple’s earbuds…mine didn’t work right at all (crackly/staticky left bud). When the ex-cleaning lady at work developed a case of sticky fingers, however, the first things to disappear from people’s desks were the standard Apple earbuds. Other than your cleaning lady, I don’t think there is a “all the love” for Apple earbuds. I think the opposite is true, in that they are universally panned for bad audio quality. I think they are “popular” just because they are included as a throw in freebie with ipnones and iPods. So you see lots of people using them. Maybe some of those people think they are okay quality wise just because they’ve not heard how good a better quality set of earphones can sound. Now that I used up my daily allotment of unnecessary quote marks, I’ll "sign off ". ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/14 "2014-12-03T21:44:39Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Other than your cleaning lady, I don’t think there is a “all the love” for Apple earbuds. I think the opposite is true, in that they are universally panned for bad audio quality. I think they are “popular” just because they are included as a throw in freebie with ipnones and iPods. So you see lots of people using them. Maybe some of those people think they are okay quality wise just because they’ve not heard how good a better quality set of earphones can sound. > > Now that I used up my daily allotment of unnecessary quote marks, I’ll "sign off ". I go to a lot of live music, probably something like 70 shows a year, but I never gave much of a thought to my ear buds for some reason. I have been using the ones that came with my iPhone for my last four iPhones. The newer shaped ones that started with the iPhone 5 are definitely more comfortable that the previous ones but the sound seems to be much the same. Today I should be receiving the Panasonic ear buds that got the highest rating on the link that you provided up thread. I am very interested in seeing if I can notice an appreciable difference. For $20 including shipping, it’s worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/15 "2014-12-04T00:14:28Z")
My son buys earbuds at Dollar General a dozen at a time. He regards them as disposable. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/16 "2014-12-04T01:02:43Z")
I buy either the apple ones or the fake-Apple ones from eBay. Why? Because I’ve gotten hooked on that little button halfway up. I love being able to pause/adjust volume/skip ahead right from the cord, without having to touch my phone. Sound quality - meh. It’s tolerable. But that tiny convenience is invaluable. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/17 "2014-12-04T01:29:37Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > I buy either the apple ones or the fake-Apple ones from eBay. Why? Because I’ve gotten hooked on that little button halfway up. I love being able to pause/adjust volume/skip ahead right from the cord, without having to touch my phone. > > Sound quality - meh. It’s tolerable. But that tiny convenience is invaluable. [These](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E4LGVUO?tag=thewire06-20&linkCode=as2) are the ones that I just bought. They were rated by two different outfits as the best ear buds under $30 and they have the Apple compatible button thingy. Lots of models do. They are supposed to have much better sound and they cost less. My review, should anyone care, is forthcoming. ---
**Author:** ![Hayden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/91b2a8/32.png) [@Hayden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayden)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/18 "2014-12-04T01:38:20Z")
The Klipsch S4i are great budget earbuds as well. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/19 "2014-12-04T01:48:23Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > [These](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E4LGVUO?tag=thewire06-20&linkCode=as2) are the ones that I just bought. They were rated by two different outfits as the best ear buds under $30 and they have the Apple compatible button thingy. Lots of models do. They are supposed to have much better sound and they cost less. > > My review, should anyone care, is forthcoming. I was wrong about one thing. The thingy on the Panasonic only does pause and play. I do think that you can find models that have better controls other than Apple though. I listened to a couple of soundboards of live concerts and the sound is definitely better with the Panasonics. You can hear more of the music and it’s less muddy. The Apple ones are much more sturdy and come with a convenient case. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931/20 "2014-12-04T03:30:25Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Yeah, the first thing I do with any newly unboxed Apple product is to throw those useless and awful earbuds away. Don’t throw them out - they are perfectly acceptable for non-music purposes such as transcription, or emergency AM radio listening. I’d happily take them off your hands next time. I’ve worn out several pairs of Apple earbuds at work, and I’m now using $10 Sony earbuds for my transcription work at the office. 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-earbuds-on-ebay/705931.md?page=2)