Tonight on GeekNights, we talk about one of the most ancient topics in our fanbase: headphones. Earbuds are also included. What kind of headphones should you buy? Are more expensive ones actually worth it? All will be revealed. For reference, Rym uses these guys as the GeekNights monitor headphones.
I still use my ancient Koss Pro 4AA headphones when I actually care about quality:
I used to have a mic mounted on them but it broke at some point. Day to day I have a decent USB headset for gaming / skype and use cheap earbuds when out and about.
They’re too big for out and about for me but at home on the computer I love them. They are surprisingly good quality, could use a better microphone but they sound really good and fit nicely to keep outside sound out.
Personally I hate noticing the fact that I’m wearing headphones, so for me the heavy over-ear style is just as bad as earbuds. The only thing I’ve found that I’m actually comfortable wearing for hours at a time are ear clip headphones like these.
I never gave them back, and I think I may have a history of leaving jobs and taking stuff from them. Oh well fuck-em. Headphones are fine I guess. They work, they’re adequate. A bit uncomfortable if I wear them for too long.
Rym saying “I’m always within reach of my device so I have no need for bluetooth, and wired is fine” is how I used to think. Then Apple solved all my bluetooth headaches with the W1 chip in the BeatsX (and EarPods and other things) and now wires seem utterly barbaric.
The change is like going from a phone attached to the wall by a long cable and a wireless phone. You THINK you don’t need wireless, as you never need to speak on the phone away from where the phone is attached… right?
Turns out: once you go W1 wireless, you can’t go back.
I see people jogging or working out with wires looping between pockets and clothes and up to their earbuds… and I have nothing but pity. I can’t believe all the pain I went through doing the same thing. It’s just uncivilised.
