Review: Macally TunePal

review by Bill Palmer

While the best iPhone earbuds have prices that run into the triple digits, those users on a budget should be pleased to learn that they too can drastically improve their listening experience simply by replacing their iPhone’s bundled earbuds with almost any in-ear earbuds at any price point. And while the number of options is reduced if you’re looking for earbuds that include iPhone-specific functionality including a built-in mic and play/pause button, there are in fact a few iPhone-specific in-ear earbuds that clock in under the $20 mark. And while their audio quality is likely to get scoffed at by those accustomed to the aforementioned $100+ earbuds, those used to using the bundled iPhone earbuds will be pleasantly surprised at what twenty bucks can them – as most recently evidenced by Macally’s TunePal earbuds for iPhone.



These all-black earbuds look fairly stylish for their price (I’ve seen more expensive earbuds that looked cheaper), and while many inexpensive earbuds suffer from lack of bass, the TunePal goes in the opposite direction by cranking the bass up to a level that’s higher than most other earbuds I’ve tested at any price point. It’s not a particularly sophisticated bass like you’d get from more expensive bass-leaning earbuds, but it’s not bad, either. It certainly adds to a user’s options at this price point. As far as overall sound quality, however, you can do noticeably better by paying five dollars more for RadTech’s competing ProCable earbuds.



So you really only want to lean toward the TunePal if you’ve got a specific reason, such as being a bass lover, or liking the all-black styling, or if your budget is tight enough that $19.99 sounds that much more attractive than $24.95. While it seems like a fairly random inclusion, the TunePal’s free bundled headphone splitter may also come in handy for you. Is the TunePal the best-sounding option in this price range? No. However, it’ll still represent a marked improvement over the audio quality of the iPhone’s bundled earbuds, without losing any of their functionality. [No star ratings one way or the other for sub-$20 earbuds.]

Learn more about the TunePal at Macally.com.