Headphones | Glenn Ward

Alternative Apple iPhone 3GS headphones / earphones as recomended by twitter followers

UPDATE 26.02.12: I thought I’d update this post as there are a few more headphones on the market that will work as per the Apple iPhone headphones (and cheaper) for the 4 and the 4s. I had a look in my local tescos the other day as I have lost another set of Apple headphones and both sets of Addidas Seinheisers are out of action.

I bought these and they work perfectly KIT Sound iPhone Stereo Earphones with Microphonebut also while I was there I saw these Bliss Black Metallic Earphones available in various colours and for those (like me) who loses or breaks them all the time, pretty cheap to.

Please add anything else you find to the comments on this page to keep it up to date, thanks!

After not having too much success with a google search for an alternative replacement set of headphones for my iPhone 3GS I turned to Twitter for some advice. I got quite a response so I thought I would share the tweet recommendations. Note: I have popped into a reseller and they did tell me that apple would replace a faulty set still within the 1 year manufacturers warranty.

Apple [Link]
Replacements for the headphones that ship with the iPhone £21 and the in ear earphones are £59 on the Apple site.
Z.buds [Link]
These look awesome, durable, not to expensive and all the iPhone functions.
Griffin [Link]
SmartTalk and TuneBuds Mobile. Two solutions and not too expensive, both do not have volume control though.
Bose ipod buds [Link]
A little more expensive, in line microphone but no volume.
Klipse Image S4i Earphones [Link]
Looks like a good set of headphones, a little expensive although comes with a 2 year warranty, microphone but as far as I can see no volume control.
Etymotic hf2 Hands-free Headset [Link]
Again going for the sound quality higher end of the market, a little expensive mic, control, but again no volume.
JVC HA-KX100 [Link]
Affordable, mic and control but again no in line volume.

My issues identifying and fixing headphone mic not working on my iPhone

Just a quick one again in the hope that I can save someone the time it took me finding out how to fix my in line mic that was not working on my iPhone and possibly save some expense too.

Firstly, my mic stopped working but I’m not sure when so could not pin point the problem. I performed the usual google and began reading forums and blogs. Here’s what I found. Firstly some said that the issue had occurred during a software update on the phone, my iPhone was relatively new and I had performed no update so I rulled that out. Secondly and it would seem the most common problem is a small piece of lint or hair in the socket, I advise shining a touch in before you go prodding around and then attempting to get whatever it is out. One person even demonstrates how to clean the socket with a cotton wool bud and a squirt of Windex but I’m not promoting this one, although I did try it. I was then going to send the phone off to be refurbished as recommended by many, but before I did, I thought rather than be without my phone for ages, for the sake of a fiver I’ll buy some new headphones. Bingo, that was my issue. I am writing this post as not many places on the net suggested a fault with the headphones, so hopefully this might save you a bit of time, money and effort.