I remember listening to a mix on my crappy Bose laptop speakers and getting depressed at how boomy the bass sounded and how far back the mids seemed. Then I listened to a Donald Fagan track on the same speakers and I heard the same problem. So I stopped worrying about it.

I remember listening to a mix on my crappy Bose laptop speakers and getting depressed at how boomy the bass sounded and how far back the mids seemed. Then I listened to a Donald Fagan track on the same speakers and I heard the same problem. So I stopped worrying about it.

I think it's critical to use good reference mixes as John points out. If you make a mix sound great on a bad pair of headphones alone then the chances are its gonna sound bad everywhere else. At least by listening to a great mix through the monitoring tool(s) of your choice you will get a great perspective in the way they colour the sound.

Bibs

Remember that earbuds are not all the same. There are cheap ones (quality of construction) and there are nice ones. I have compared a few side by side in my MP3 player and there is a big difference in their overall frequency responses.
 
 

Thanks for all the good thoughts.
 
I have more than one set of near-field monitors and my mixes sound the same in both.  They sound good (but not 100% the same, of course) in the headphones singers use for tracking and in the AudioTechnicas I use for listening.  I also check mixes in several other environments (boom boxes, cars, computers, etc.).
 
Apple in-ear (iPhone 5), Philips, and several other earbuds seem to have a bump in the upper midrange.
 
For my current project, I am going to mix as best I can and then call in an outside engineer for the final mix (since I have heard the material thousands of times).  I am currently seeking a mastering house to finish this project (plus a rock album that is already mixed).
 
Feel free to disagree, but my opinion: like them or hate them, earbuds will be the delivery system for over 80% of your audiences.
 
 

 
If you're optimizing specifically for stock Apple earbuds, here's what you're up against. 

Funny and sad but true: Apple's own spec sheet claims 20-20KHz frequency response!

Now I'm depressed I didn't know they were that bad. I don't think I have ever used an iPod. Now I know why.

I hate ear buds. Even when they're so-called "quality" models, the only time they stay in my ears is when I sit perfectly still. Any head movement whatsoever and they're slowly popping out. I've tried loads of them, even those recommended by people who say they're designed to fit perfectly. I always try all of the covers that come with them, none of them are the right shape or size. When I wear them on the treadmill at the gym, the sound quality is great for about 10 seconds, then one of them shifts slightly and all of a sudden I've got less bass in one ear. I spend the whole workout trying to ram them back in. 
 
Years ago I read somewhere that because many ear buds are designed and manufactured in Asia, they tend to be more suited for Asian ears. I have no idea if that's BS or not, but for what it's worth my girlfriend is Chinese and she runs with the stock iPhone buds and says they fit perfectly. I can't even get the iPhone buds to stay in my ears when I'm sitting still. 

John
Now I'm depressed I didn't know they were that bad. I don't think I have ever used an iPod. Now I know why.

You do know you can wear any headphones you like with an iPod right