Big difference between S3 and S4 earbuds?

[jensigner]

I measured the impedances of the S3 and S4 stock earbuds at 1 kHz. They are both very similar and roughly 32 - 35 ohm.
I did come careful listening tests using my S4 (no EQ ... default settings) and there is a huge difference in sound quality between these buds. The S3 buds sound much better to me and the S4 buds sound tinny with not nearly enough bass. Has anyone else noticed this? I know from a review that they are in fact different but should they sound THAT different? or do I have a bad set of S4 buds?

 

[scaryhumor]

Did you install the batteries in the ear buds for the powered subwoofer?

 

[CR6]

You may want to ask for a new set of earbuds. I know when the S3 came out, quite a few people reported poor sounding earbuds. A lot of folks on our forum asked for replacements and it made a big difference.
(There are no batteries in the earbuds)
Good luck!

tap'n

 

[jensigner]

well after trying a few more things, it seems to be the shape and material of the plastic tip! The default ones on my partners S3 buds seem to have a thinner center part and are translucent. The various plastic tips that came with the S4 are a lot harder to snap on the earphone and are made of whiter plastic. I plut the plastic tips originally on the S3 on my S4 buds and they work perfectly (therefore the actual earbuds aren't bad). There is only one pair (I think it is the "elliptical shape" one) of tips that forms a good "seal" in my ear so I get a really nice response. Maybe I have a strange inner-ear structure

 

[Ventura726]

I think they sound fine for regular listening. Not sure how they compare to the S3, but they weren't bad enough for me to notice while listening to my music.