Edit: With the Dirac music player app (free) from the app store, the Earpods sound becomes very hi-fi. No amping is feasible with the app because the DSP is tuned for the headphone jack, and that's OK because the sound is spectacular. DSP in this case is not mere EQ - it fixes everything. I strongly recommend looking into it because it's coming for other headphones too. BTW, the $29 Earpods with Apple controls sound much better than the Earpods (without Apple controls) supplied with i-devices, having better bass and smoother, less harsh treble. With this app, I would rate the overall sound quality of the $29 Earpods as 7.5 to 8.

The Earpods have a surprisingly strong bass, reminding me of the Philips L1. The midrange is quite good with no obvious colorations or nasality etc. Highs are generally good, but if any EQ is applied to tone down the bass, the highs may sound a bit bright, or the peak around 6 khz or so could make some voices strident and slightly irritating. My view is that users who are OK with the extra bass are going to find this a very enjoyable hi-fi headphone.