Veronica176

Q: What are the materials used for the earbuds/earphones??

What are the materials used for the earbuds/earphones?? Like whats the plastic used and what are the speaker materials and the volume button???

iOS 7.1.1

Posted on Apr 29, 2014 8:01 PM

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Q: What are the materials used for the earbuds/earphones??

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  • by Meatplate,

    Meatplate Meatplate Apr 29, 2014 8:28 PM in response to Veronica176
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 29, 2014 8:28 PM in response to Veronica176

    Hello Veronica176

     

    The materials in Apple headphones include Neodymium magnets, oxygen-free electrolysis copper wire and a Nickel plated plug

     

    Apple uses Neodymium magnets in their headphones as it is much more magnetic compared to that of a ferrite magnet. This also further enhances the accoustics of sound and preventing any loss of sound. Because of this, you can get the same sound out of Apple headphones as the good ol' circum-aural headphones (image attached).

    Oxygen free copper wire is created through electrolysis which is furthermore considered an above average material for headphones, thus ensuring better sound quality. Oxygen free copper wire ensures a faster transfer time (as copper is one of the best conductors) and because of this, allows a faster transfer time, minimising loss. This means the sound quality of the music/sound playing may actually depend more on the quality of the MP3 file than the headphones.

    The nickel plated plug used by Apple is a standard connection and joins to a female connection into the iPod (for example) which is also nickel plated. Where gold plated plugs are renowned to transfer more data and superior sound quality when connected to any device. Connecting the same metals during transfer (nickel plated plugs and nickel female connections) ensures optimum sound as the signal will not be jumping different kinds of metal. The lack of gold plating also helps to reduce the cost in manufacturing and to the customer.

    If you have any more queries, please feel free to ask further questions, it is what we are here for 1600-HD280Pro_angle-300x240.jpg

     

     


  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Apr 29, 2014 8:46 PM in response to Veronica176
    Level 9 (54,749 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 29, 2014 8:46 PM in response to Veronica176

    Hear is a tear down courtesy of iFixit: http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Apple+EarPods+Teardown/10501

     

    Biggest change in terms of sound quality is the paper cone instead of plastic.

     

    @Meatplate: Do you have a source for your information. Apple normally releases no information about parts in their heaphone and the price would seem to be much hire is oxygen-free electrolyis copper was used.