What's With Everyone Wearing Headphones Recently?

[Scorekeeper]

I always have a pair of small JVC headphones that turn flat either over my ears or around my neck. The trend of people wearing massive headphones hasn't caught on here, so I didn't even know it was a thing. The headphones look like this: http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HAS160B-Lightweight-Headband-Headphones/dp/B004JRYLG4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327823100&sr=8-2

EDIT: I also hate earbuds and I feed the cord through my shirt and into my pocket.

 

[Yureina]

The internet hath spoken. Grab your coat, pack a lunch, and go survey a thousand people. You can't come back until you have. I don't care if your town only has five hundred people in it; make some more if you need to.

OT: Still using pairs of cheap earbuds. Haven't noticed anybody wearing large headphones at all.

There's 150,000 people in my town. >_<

And its full of rednecks and crazies.

Live on the internet instead.

That is so what I do. ^_^

 

[Akimoto]

Advertisements of headphones and the sudden realization people have that the Itouch/Phone is also an MP3 player. I have a personally theory that if the I*insert-word-here* was not famous people probably won't give a flip towards earphones. Once they did brands suddenly started popping out, like jumping on a band wagon.

Confession of an elitist: Shure and Ultimate Ear only.

 

[rabidmidget]

I've never really like earbuds as much as headphones, the sound quality is way worse and they're more uncomfortable. Generally if I'm being fairly mobile, I'll use earbuds, but otherwise I'll wear my headphones.

 

[devotedsniper]

Headphones (i don't fit into your 2 groups i have Sennheisers) are for gaming/blasting music, out and about/at uni i use the in ear style ones.

 

[kasperbbs]

I wear headphones on the bus or when i'm on my way to somewhere, the ones that fit in your ear, it helps me kill some time and protects my ears from the wind, and i simply like my music.

 

[Sonicron]

What do you mean, 'recently'? I've seen hordes of people running around with these things on their heads for several years now.

 

[Lost In The Void]

I don't really see the trend but I'm not out in town that much anymore due to working a night shift. I suppose they were picking up a little bit when I started night shift.

As for headphones I have one pair for playing games like Amnesia but those stay by computer, branded Skull Candy and I've had them since 2010.

My buds are also Skull Candy and I use them for when I listen to music while snowboarding.

 

[BlackStar42]

Honestly, I just prefer them to earbuds, they keep falling out. I have £30 headphones, and the sound quality's pretty good from my perspective. Plus, they fold up small enough to just about fit in a pocket, what's not to like?

 

[LordFisheh]

I always got the impression that it has something to do with how music seems to be a bigger and bigger part of people's identities. The subcultures around different genres thrive, people proudly proclaim what they listen to, and there are few better ways of saying 'I like music' than a pair of big, obvious headphones.

 

[David Bjur]

One word: Christmas. The best thing with headphones is that they make a better sound than the in ear headphones, so when people decided what kind of stuff they would buy for christmas, they probably chose headphones, 'cause they're the best IMO.

 

[farscythe]

ive just got plugs for when im out n about (cycling in traffic still having some outside noise is a good thing) on my 3rd set of skullcandys and each of them had a different sound :S(last one was bassy n the ones i have now are kinda tinny far as i know they've all been the same type tho)

have got a couple big cans for indoors tho especially like the turtlebeach headset i got for my xbox surprisingly good n comfy for the price

 

[MrGseff]

I dont see a problem with headphones, I use them more for editing purposes but when I'm just out and about I wear some sennheiser earbuds.

 

[torzath]

I have mixed feelings about the Beats, on one hand, I hate that people are getting ripped off basically because Dr. Dre's name is on them and they think that's the best a headphone could ever sound, but I really like that they have introduced a whole generation to the idea of spending a decent amount of money on a good pair of headphones.

I have no idea how many times someone looked at me like I'm crazy for dropping more than a hundred bucks on headphones, while they spent three hundred on an iPod, then didn't even bother to get anything that makes that iPod sound good.

 

[surg3n]

I can see why people prefer these big cans, with more bass - but the skull candy and dr.dre thing is just a brand thing, they aren't necessarily very good. I mean, what does dre do in the research and development of his headphones?, sit in a booth and say ''crank the base up about 12%''... not a good reason to buy, stick with manufacturers that concentrate on quality, not marketing.
I have a chunky pair of sennheiser HD215's, and they kick ass, not the prettiest but load and clear, mainly for gaming. I have a little pair of Bose in-ear, and they're pretty great as well. I paid about £30 for the cans, and the Bose in-ear were about £25. I really don't see the need to spend a fortune on something that'll probably be mugged off you once the neds catch on.

 

[Versuvius]

Because when i ignore everyone around me i like to do it to the tune of Manowar.

 

[AngloDoom]

I've always thought large headphones were cool, but they just used to be feckin' ugly black monsters. Now they come in pretty colours, so people buy them.

I personally don't have any, since I seem break enough headphones as it is and I need my glorious fluffy hair at it's maximum - something large headphones destroys.

 

[Weealzabob]

I think the whole resurgence of using headphones is based around the fact that most earbuds only last for about a year, and don't sound anywhere near as good as headphones. But concerning people walking around with them, it probably more to do with image.

Personally I hate wearing my headphones when I'm walking around, they look pretty goofy, as well as being kind of dangerous. (Noice cancelling headphones, surrounded on all sides by people who I can't hear. Bad combo.)

 

[Xanthious]

The answer is because most young people aren't very different from you average lemming and at some point some person or company convinced enough of them initially that the larger headphones were hip and stylish again and the rest just followed suit over the proverbial cliff after that.

Now I'm sure if you asked them most have rationalized their own reasons for wearing them they would give you, as demonstrated by this very thread, but at the core it they actually mean "That's what everyone else is doing"