Note: Starting at $60, it's available with either a 3.5mm or 4.4mm cable. First 200 purchasers get both cables free. Want to keep your Lobsters safe? Be sure to check out the Apos x SATCHELZ IEM Clamshell Carry Case. 

THE LEGEND OF THE LOBSTER

The history of rock is full of legendary frontpeople: from Freddie Mercury, who could command a stadium with his voice, to Ozzy Osbourne, who could level a hotel room under the influence of whatever he was on at the time. Henry Rollins, Jimi Hendrix, Karen O: artists who embody freedom, fearlessness, and a really good time. These were our inspirations for the Rock Lobster.

We set out to create an IEM you could take anywhere, plug into virtually anything, and count on to hold its own in any corner of the rock genre. Something you’d always want with you, whether you’re connecting it to a phone, a portable player, or a desktop DAC/amp. We wanted an IEM that could do justice to the rumbling power of a John Bonham drum fill without drowning out the delicate croon of Robert Plant. One that could shimmer like the chimes at the start of a Cure song without wearing you down with sibilance. A pan-genre, everyday-carry IEM for lovers of rock music. 

Where Is My Mid?

When most people think “rock headphone,” they think big, pounding bass and sparkly treble, but the unsung hero of a great rock IEM is the mids. You need enough separation to pick apart the guitars, singers, backup singers, synths, and everything else crashing together in the mix. The Rock Lobster delivers just that: natural mids with clarity and space, and deep-digging bass and sparkling treble. 

Baby Driver

With a low impedance of 32Ω, the Rock Lobster is easy to drive. Plug it into your phone, iPod, or laptop and you’re good to go. But don’t mistake “easy” for “basic.” Give it the proper gear and it really comes alive. We’ve been loving it on everything from a trusty old 5th gen iPod to a FiiO DAP to the Gremlin/Merlin stack—and it scales beautifully with all of them. 

K.I.S.S. (Keep it silicone, stupid) ear tips

We went through dozens of ear tips to find the right ones, testing everything from silicone to memory foam. Some muddied the mids, some choked the bass, some did unspeakable horrors to the treble. In the end, we landed on a simple pair of silicone tips that brings a satisfying and enveloping low-end kick without smothering the separation in the mids. Sometimes simpler is better. 

Walk the line: A Cable that doesn’t go overboard

Tuning a rock IEM is tricky, and the cable is a big part of that equation. Some rock, like punk and garage, actually suffers from too much clarity and detail: all those imperfections get laid bare like when the houselights come up during the middle of a set. On the other hand, a bad cable just muddies everything, which kills the separation and texture you need for bands like TOOL or Radiohead. After testing everything from bargain bin wires to boutique cables that cost more than the IEMs themselves, we landed on a cable that strikes the right balance: enough clarity to reveal the details, but not so pristine that it robs the Ramones of their gritty charm. It’s available in both 3.5mm and 4.4mm. 

I’ve Just Seen a Faceplate

Like the best frontpeople, the Rock Lobster knows how to strike a balance: understated when it needs to be, electric when the spotlight hits. The black “lobster tail” faceplate is cool and muted, easy to wear on the subway or in the office without attracting attention. But when you pop them out of your ears, that’s when the spotlight hits, and they become bold, fiery, and impossible to ignore. 

Specs

• Connector: 3.5mm wired, 4.4mm wired
  
• Driver: 10mm liquid crystal polymer (LCP) dynamic driver
  
• Impedance: 32Ω
  
• Sensitivity: 105dB
  
• Socket: 0.78mm 2-pin
  
• Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz

What’s included

• Rock Lobster IEMs
  
• Detachable 3.5mm or 4.4mm cable
  
• Assorted ear tips
  
• Manual 
  
• Clamshell Leather Case (if chosen)
  

Rock Lobster Playlist

Specially selected by us at Apos, these tracks by AC/DC, Fugazi, The Cure, and others, show off what the Rock Lobster is capable of. Listen to it now on Qobuz, Apple Music, and Spotify. 

AN APOS 𝒙 PRODUCT

Apos 𝒙 is the next generation of grassroots products. It bridges designers, manufacturers, and the community to turn ideas and feedback into unique creations. By involving the community at every stage and supporting designers, Apos 𝒙 ensures that products reflect the desires and creativity of their users. Want to audition the prototype of these IEMs? Participate today.

APOS 𝒙 CREDITS

Community Participants

These affiliates, influencers, and audiophiles gave us early feedback that helped refine the final version of the product. If you’d like to participate in future launches, fill out our form. 

Andy Cook

Matthew Jabloner

Apos Team

Tom Mounce

John Soriano 

Kunal Kumar

Sean Flynn

Peter Carelli

Alex Peterkin

Steven Hortizano

Bella Deng

Richard Gao

Zhenlin Sun

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