This review is for earbud (not Earpods) use with the free Dirac music player app. Dirac's DSP does far more than EQ, basically removing the effects of resonances and other bad things in the earphone, so the end result with earbuds (later versions) is a decent quality portable for outdoor and casual use, having a hi-fi signature with some bass weight but no deep bass impact. The Dirac player requires iPod Touch G4 or later, iPhone4 and recent iPads work as well.

These ubiquitous earbuds are notable for being mediocre - but certainly not as awful as many might claim. They're perfectly satisfactory for monitoring audio-books, and even some compressed movies can seem natural. The cables have only minimal issues with knotting and tangling, and easily fit into a coat pocket.

- You'll start noticing the problems with music: the highs are clipped, mids unnatural, and bass only satisfactory. Although many obviously have no problem with the sound, I found them musically unlistenable.

- As with most ear buds, the phones are pulled from your ears too easily. At the same time, these are only moderately uncomfortable, and it's possible to listen even for several hours with little discomfort - and never pain.

- Getting replacement ear buds should be your first job after getting an iPod. Cheap, decent-sounding models by Senn (and so on) can really open up the sound, allowing the iPod to show off the quality of its sound.

this headphones are comfortable regard to their price range and a lot more comfortable than my skullcandy smokin buds, portable (maybe the most portable headphones), but because of their sound quality i use them only for audiobooks or bad ripped music