headphones don't fit?

This is really annoying. You have to buy an adapter to use most non-Apple headphones. It's at the Apple Store online and in store. Ten bucks.

Yeah it's odd.

Many brands of Audiophone headphones have strange adapters and require modification much of the time. Sennheiser HD495/HD555 have the 1/2 inch plug which requires a ten dollar adapter to work on most portables and it's so huge most people go out an buy a Grado adapter or similar.

But still it's lame UNLESS they have some reason for doing this, which I hope they do.

I think that would be because of the mute button on the headphone cable. Compare the plugs: They may appear to be the same but standard stereo headphones have 3 metal parts separated by 2 plastic insulators. The iPhone has 4 metal parts because the wire carries more than just audio. (Similar to the iPod Video adapter)

Geez, after paying $99 for Bose earphones for the iPod just a couple of months ago, I now need to spend an additional $10 for a headphone adaptor, so they can work on the iPhone?

MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.10)

I had specifically asked the guys behind the registers at the Apple Store if my Bose earphones would work with the iPhone, and showed them the earphones on my iPod--at first, the answer was "we don't sell those", till I pointed out that I had purchased them at an Apple Store. Then they said "yes", the earphones would work on the iPhone. Nothing about needing an adaptor. You all are a lot more helpful. Thanks.

MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.10)

The only answer why this "new" headphone hole was done was to keep people using the white iPod headphones and for the cell phone part of the iPhone. How would you answer a call without the new headphones. You would have to take them off. Apple want you to leave them on and use the answer switch.

The white iPod headphones also is good advertising for iPods.

I'm not quite so conspiracy-minded. There wouldn't much point to using a 3.5mm headphone jack if you wanted lock-in. You could use 2.5mm instead! My guess is that either ergonomics played a part (the iPhone's back is much more rounded) or they felt it was more important to protect the jack.

Folks, this is really pretty easy to fix (although it's rediculous that we should have to).

I've used an Xacto knife to fix 3 sets of headphones (Bose Quietcomfort, Bose earplugs, Ultimate Ears). I just shaved off the rubber ring at the base of the plug and they fit right in.

How about people report on what works? For what it's worth, I heard the Ultimate Ears Super.FI 5 Pro didn't work. Just got them today and confirmed that with the existing jack but ironically, the package includes an airplane jack adaptor.

Tried that and it works!

Although it's probably not the best adaptor for walking around as its angled, I'll probably have to pop into the Apple Store to get the Belkin adaptor.

Such is life.

Took a closer look at the base of the Super.fi 5 Pro headphones and there's just a little extra rim of plastic at the base of the plug. Took a very sharp knife and around the base cut along all around. Then put a nail against the spot and a little piece started to come up and then the whole small circular piece.

No damage to the connection at all and put it in and it works!

(Now don't blame me if you try this on any other model. On these Ultimate Ear model, the base is a more soft plastic than the standard black type you see.)

Not only that, since the earplugs actually have a plug in to the line, if they do wear or break you can replace them easily.

Now boy do these sound great! You can get them online for around $160.

Used the same fix here... Took a sharp knife to the headset plug and shaved a little off the outside. Works perfectly.