one thing i love: huge dorky headphones
November 6, 2007 by Cash
During the summer months my iPod shuffle rawks me thru Apple’s standard issue white earbuds. They’re lightweight, easy to stash in my pocket and comfortable enough (I guess) for short bursts. Once the colors change and my breath starts showing in the morning air? It’s time to upgrade.
Bring on the huge, dorky headphones.
My huge dorky headphones arn’t top of the line (they’re a cheap pair of Aiwas I picked up at Best Buy 5 years ago)- unlike my studio grade AKG-240’s at home. They’re not in the best shape either. They do however have three things going for them that make them indispensible during the colder months:
1) THEY SOUND GOOD
Not great, but good. Something about the complete enclosure of my ears really intensifies the listening experience. Having larger drivers and a slightly better frequency response helps too. Bottom line is, the sound quality blows my puny ear buds away.
2) THEY BLOCK OUT ANNOYING IDIOTS ON THE BUS/TRAIN
There is something to be said for socializing on public transportation. When the stars are aligned (which usually involves me being impossibly drunk) fun, friendly interactions can occur. The rest of the time? I’m stuck overhearing (literally) a conversation like this:
Huge, Lawrence Fishburn looking guy on a cell phone in the middle of a packed commuter bus:
Yeah man, but that’s the THING with these bitches. They come out from California? You KNOW they’re gonna be strippin. I’m just saying if they’re staying at your place you should be PIMPIN DEM HOES. Hell no you don’t need sex. You can get that anywhere. You need to get the DOLLA BILLZ”
What I would have given for my huge dorky headphones that night.
3) THEY DOUBLE AS EAR MUFFS
In addition to being incredibly comfortable for listening, huge dorky headphones actually keep my ears warm. I mean really warm. Last winter, when the temperature dipped below 0 for several days, I found that a hoodie over my headphones was enough to keep me toasty warm.
In conclusion; Are my huge dorky headphones a fashion statement? Hell no. I promise you I look like a Star Trek extra wearing them.
Are my huge dorky headphones the best thing to happen to cold mornings/nights spent waiting for the bus? Hell yes.
Fuckin’ right, Cash! I even get people admiring my cheap Sony headphones at work when I’m trying to block out the sounds of my neighbors up in the cube farm. Headphones will never be fully replaced by ear buds. They have their place!
OMG Shenna.. cube farm; another place HDH’s are essential
[...] There are plenty of things I love about “Kobe”, my silver iPod shuffle. Size-wise, she’s the perfect gym companion. Even in the midst of a brutal cardio workout I hardly know she’s there. She also sounds great, even driving a pair of huge, dorky headphones. Knowing her as well as I do though, she still manages to surprise me. This past weekend I found myself falling in love with her all over again. [...]