Yesterday, alongside the announcement of the iPhone 5, Apple showed its new EarPods. The new headset is far superior to the previous model which was generally regarded to be uncomfortable and of lower than exceptional quality.
The completely redesigned headphones have been hanged drastically from previous models. The new design is defined by the geometry of the ear and has ports drilled around it to prevent extra noise and improve acoustics. The design of the headphones prevent them from falling out of the ear without using a seal to create a vacuum.
Cult of Mac elaborates on the matter:
For most earphones, that seal creates a vacuum that impends the speaker diaphragms from making outward progress when they move back and forth.
Apple poked holes in the EarPods so that the vacuum is no longer there, giving the speaker diaphragms more mobility and better acoustic performance.
The ports built into the headphones each have a purpose, explained by Apple head of design Jon Ives in the EarPods promo clip:
A port in the back tunes mid-range frequencies and provides a consistent listening experience from one person to the next. To provide rich, powerful bass we’ve built ports into the stand that actually work in sympathy with the speaker. By letting air flow in and out of the acoustic chamber they relieve pressure in and out of the speaker to move more freely, producing greater low-frequency sound.
A redesigned and improved iPhone means redesigned and improved headphones. We can’t wait to hear how these sound ourselves.
