What's With Everyone Wearing Headphones Recently?

[Sean Hollyman]

I still use my ipod headphones..

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

1) It's healthy (compared to earphones)

Why are earphones unhealthy?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Why+are+earphones+unhealthy%3F

Short answer: bacteria (though that's new to me tbh), but mainly they fuck up your hearing compared to the headphones as you put them into your ears.

Surely they only mess your hearing up if you dont scale down your volume compared to headphones? I never have my player turned up for more than halfway for just that reason...

Also, unless youre using them wrong, I dont think bacteria is gonna be that much of an issue either - unless youre really digging them in to your ear canals, you dont get waxy bacteria on them, and if you are using them properly theyre touching the same parts of your ear as the headphones...

You're spot on with the first part (seriously, they're more likely to cause damage because they put out a higher SPL for a given amount of power. That's why you turn down the volume when you use them), but a bit off on the second part. The most common type of earbud these days are canalphones, which have these little rubber inserts that you actually insert into your ear canal. They produce much better sound than the varieties that don't actually go in, and they tend to provide 20-30 decibels of noise reduction (which allows you to keep them quieter in noisy environments than other types of earbuds), but you do have to be religious about cleaning the wax out of your ears if you don't want to get a gob of wax every time you pull the things out. You don't ever want to share them, is what I'm saying.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I switched from almost exclusively using earphones to headphones. I'm citing comfort and generally better quality sound as my reasons as well as the fact headphones last longer.

Never even touched a Skull Candy set yet.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

The most common type of earbud these days are canalphones, which have these little rubber inserts that you actually insert into your ear canal. They produce much better sound than the varieties that don't actually go in, and they tend to provide 20-30 decibels of noise reduction (which allows you to keep them quieter in noisy environments than other types of earbuds), but you do have to be religious about cleaning the wax out of your ears if you don't want to get a gob of wax every time you pull the things out. You don't ever want to share them, is what I'm saying.

Oh good lord, I hate those things. I find them uncomfortable, easy for wax build up and they always fall out of my ears. I still like earphones when I'm lying down in bed but headphones at all other times.

 

[OrenjiJusu]

I've alway worn headphones, the in-ear ones preferably. I suppose i just dont like making loud noises, or people hearing what im listening to without my permission.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 215's and love them, they sound fantastic while I find the skull candy and beats leak sound and have way too much bass. I wear my headphones out because I am an audiophile

 

[DJ_DEnM]

"Better quality in sound" I believe. Personally I just use earbuds, and use headphones when DJing.

 

[Griffolion]

For whatever reason, the Beats by Dr. Dre range of headphones have been advertised loads recently. I've seen several phone adverts making a big thing out of the Beats headphones/earbuds you get with them, so perhaps that's contributed to the trend? Also, whoever mentioned dubstep and other bass-heavy types of music being in fashion recently is right as well, I reckon.

In fact, I'm a part of this trend, as I got some headphones for Christmas. They're the really nice noise-cancelling range by Bose, so they have terrific sound quality and block out pretty much every outside noise (which may or may not be a good thing, depending on whether anyone's trying to get your attention)

At least you got proper ones, I'm really not a huge fan of this Skull Candy/Beats Audio gimmick. If you want the best, you get Bose or Sennheiser. Like many other things, Beats Audio and Skull Candy are fashion statements.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

I just have a pair of clip-on headphones, I listen to most of my music at home, plugged in, on my laptop. I might consider getting a large pair, but they're not something I'd carry around with me, they're just too inconvenient on the go and I don't listen to music on the go (or leave the house) often enough that they're required. Maybe they're a fashion statement, maybe they just like better audio quality or maybe they're just a giant 'FUCK OFF' symbol to anyone within relative proximity. Hmm, on second thought maybe I should get a pair...

 

[ParadiseOnceLost]

Also...
(cue hipster moment)
Recent? Pff. I've been wearing headphones for years. Before they were cool.

Me too back when I started high school I had an old Sony mini disc player (god I miss those things) and for the past 10ish years I have constantly worn some form of headphone while out and about. Listening to music is just more interesting then the sounds of the real world.

 

[Xanadu84]

Here's an alternate hypothesis. Being tech savvy is no longer unfashionable. So when a small trend in headphones starts, everyone realizes hey, better sound quality and no one will mock me for my audiophile tendencies. No reason not to.

Also, headphones have turned into a social tool. Avoid talking to people. Its that much eeasier to advertise that when you have big, noise canceling headphones.

 

[soren7550]

I think one of the big reasons why headphone are gaining popularity again is because a lot of celebrities are making their own, which automatically makes them cool.

Me personally, I've always preferred headphones over earbuds. (hoping to one day get a good pair that doesn't cost much, so I'm looking for suggestions)

 

[SckizoBoy]

*meh* I've always had headphones... whether I've used them in public is the matter at hand.

Earphones have always sucked (for me) and I keep breaking/busting my buds, so fuck it, got myself a sturdy set of 'going out' headphones (Kitsound, don't know if they have a reputation or not, but I've whacked them a couple times and they're doing well). I don't even think the DDBeats/SkullCandy look that good and they don't even cover your ears properly. Yeah, I've seen them on a lot of commuters on my way to work. One of the girls at work has a pair and she regrets wasting her money on them (I used them for a bit to compare sound, and yes, they suck).

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

I personally use Shure in ear-monitors for just about everything. They have a near reference quality frequency response, and a good decibel reduction for drumming in recording sessions or live. I've been considering buying a pair of Sennheiser HD 550's or something like that for home use as they have a better frequency response in the low end than in ear monitors.

 

[NorthernStar]

I was honestly wondering whether this was a very old topic. Where I live (Europe), headphones have been standard on the streets for a couple of years.

I remember that about 6-8 years ago my headphones were practically glued to my ears. They were real convenient too, with a little strap that you could hook around the back of your ears, the headpiece would fit against the back of your head. Used to wear them around my neck when I couldn't listen to music. Loved those things to death.

Right now I'm using Skullcandy headphones and am liking them a great deal. I should take my music with me more often, somehow I've lost the habit.

But yeah, to me the headphones aren't exactly a recent trend

Also, well, this basically:

Here's an alternate hypothesis. Being tech savvy is no longer unfashionable. So when a small trend in headphones starts, everyone realizes hey, better sound quality and no one will mock me for my audiophile tendencies. No reason not to.

As a locally famous geek recently remarked: "In the old days, people would call you a nerd or a geek and they'd give you a wedgie. Now they walk up to you and say: Congratulations!'

 

[Something Amyss]

Haven't noticed, but I've een wearing headphones since the early 90s.

 

[fix-the-spade]

frameless glasses,

Nah, I think that's because all the hipsters woke up one morning and realised they looked like Dwayne Dibley in those thick thick plastic frames they all loved before.

Begs the question though, if having an expensive set of headphones is cool, what's having more pairs than you can keep track of plugged into every audio device with a 3.5mm (or 8mm) jack plug?

Obssesive?
Weird?
Posessed of a desire not to get arrested for noise polution?

 

[IamQ]

I wear them because I can't wear earbuds. They fall out of my ears all the time. I would if I could, since with Headphones, it's not possible to wear a hat, and I like my fedora.

But overall, I like my headphones. Their comfy, don't fall out, and have great sound.

Also, if interesed in what I've got, it's these:

Spoiler

Steelseries Siberia v2