Earbuds v Over-Ear ANC Headphones -- What's your preference?

[MrSquished]

I understand people in rural areas and some suburban areas not having sidewalks, and thus making walking without hearing your surroundings well dangerous.

Do a lot of people here not have sidewalks? It's either one or the other.

 

[Brainonska511]

I understand people in rural areas and some suburban areas not having sidewalks, and thus making walking without hearing your surroundings well dangerous.

Do a lot of people here not have sidewalks? It's either one or the other.

It's a good possibility that most Americans can't imagine a life not centered around an automobile.

 

[nakedfrog]

I understand people in rural areas and some suburban areas not having sidewalks, and thus making walking without hearing your surroundings well dangerous.

Do a lot of people here not have sidewalks? It's either one or the other.

No sidewalks in my neighborhood, but there's no through-access anywhere else from the neighborhood. I've walked a mile or more here every day for over a year and never had any cause for concern. Lots of people out here walking, probably I'd hear about it if there were an incident since I'm well-known as "that person who's always out walking"

 

[MrSquished]

It's a good possibility that most Americans can't imagine a life not centered around an automobile.

Yeah cities are still so automobile centric. In the last few years New York City and Houston have had about the same pedestrian fatalities, except Houston has a quarter of the population.

Actually stayed in Houston for a few days in a hotel across from some big mall I think called the galleria. I remember walking to it and thinking this was insane. And I've walked many a mile in New York. It was the most bonkers pedestrian experience I've had in the world. I've been to a lot of cities in the US, some in Europe, and even China too and neither of those topped that experience.

 

[MrSquished]

No sidewalks in my neighborhood, but there's no through-access anywhere else from the neighborhood. I've walked a mile or more here every day for over a year and never had any cause for concern. Lots of people out here walking, probably I'd hear about it if there were an incident since I'm well-known as "that person who's always out walking"

My sister lives in the burbs and they have no sidewalks but it's quite safe. I guess I wasn't implying that they all are unsafe . Her neighborhood is actually very safe. I guess late at night when there might be some buzzed people driving around I'd be skeptical, but during the day I would walk with earbuds in no problem and I see people doing it all the time.

 

[purbeast0]

I prefer ear buds. I sweat like a mofo and wearing over the ear ones while working out would just make me even hotter.

That is like 95% of my headphone time. The other 5% is when flying or when doing yardwork. I like the ear buds that basically make a seal too.

I've had expensive Senheiser ones, some Jaybird's, and my current ones are like $30 ones I got on Amazon that I prefer and they have better codecs than the name brand ones. With the name brand ones, playing Switch with them would have a delay which was super annoying, and it was due to the BT codec.

 

[lxskllr]

I can walk my neighborhood with very little chance of issues, even though there's no lighting at night. It isn't just about safety. I need to hear what's going on around me. Maybe there's a bird I'd like to see, maybe I want to checkout the warthogs flying over my head, maybe I just want to hear what the wind sounds like... I don't like isolating myself from the world... Well, I like isolating myself from humans, but it's gonna take more than earplugs to make that happen...

 

[MrSquished]

I prefer ear buds. I sweat like a mofo and wearing over the ear ones while working out would just make me even hotter.

That is like 95% of my headphone time. The other 5% is when flying or when doing yardwork. I like the ear buds that basically make a seal too.

I've had expensive Senheiser ones, some Jaybird's, and my current ones are like $30 ones I got on Amazon that I prefer and they have better codecs than the name brand ones. With the name brand ones, playing Switch with them would have a delay which was super annoying, and it was due to the BT codec.

Yeah great point about the heat I forgot about that. Someone gifted me a pair of Solo 3 on ears and I tried them on a warm summer day and that's the last time I did that.

Yeah there is an AptX low latency codec that is good with less latency for games and movies. I don't play games on my phone but I do watch videos and I don't notice latency with just the regular AptX adaptive codec

 

[MrSquished]

I can walk my neighborhood with very little chance of issues, even though there's no lighting at night. It isn't just about safety. I need to hear what's going on around me. Maybe there's a bird I'd like to see, maybe I want to checkout the warthogs flying over my head, maybe I just want to hear what the wind sounds like... I don't like isolating myself from the world... Well, I like isolating myself from humans, but it's gonna take more than earplugs to make that happen...

I mean I totally understand not wanting to be isolated from your surroundings all the time. I like to soak in not just the sights but also the sounds of many places I go to.

This is generally always the case when I'm going someplace new. Not on the plane ride but when I'm actually visiting places. I definitely don't want to isolate myself then. Even just going on a hike, I want to hear what's going on around me the nice pleasant sounds of nature.

But if I'm doing something repetitive or somewhere I've been many times the power of music is just moving. Can really change your mood, be very uplifting along with your endorphins found from moving at a brisk pace.

It's also sometimes nice to just enjoy your surroundings with some of your favorite music on. Whether that's a cool cityscape or after a couple snacks at the end of your hike gazing at the view. I can really enjoy the sights and sounds of New York City just as much as a beautiful hike. But sometimes it's pretty amusing to watch the crazy action of an urban landscape when all you can hear is your music.

I don't think listening to your own curated favorite music is only situated to being home or in a car, or basically anywhere not outside. I think music is very situated to being on the go as well, on your feet.

45 minute long dog walks are usually nicer with some great tunes. Of course not always. Sometimes I don't wear them but that's a definite opportunity to do it. I'm tapping my hip while walking, maybe even a little discreet dance move here and there to a great guitar lick or beat.

 

[nakedfrog]

I prefer ear buds. I sweat like a mofo and wearing over the ear ones while working out would just make me even hotter.

That is like 95% of my headphone time. The other 5% is when flying or when doing yardwork. I like the ear buds that basically make a seal too.

I've had expensive Senheiser ones, some Jaybird's, and my current ones are like $30 ones I got on Amazon that I prefer and they have better codecs than the name brand ones. With the name brand ones, playing Switch with them would have a delay which was super annoying, and it was due to the BT codec.

I've done some pretty good hikes in the nearby woods where I get pretty sweaty (maintaining a heart rate over 160 for 10+ minutes and all) and I didn't really feel like my over-ears made a whole lot of difference in how warm I felt.

I can walk my neighborhood with very little chance of issues, even though there's no lighting at night. It isn't just about safety. I need to hear what's going on around me. Maybe there's a bird I'd like to see, maybe I want to checkout the warthogs flying over my head, maybe I just want to hear what the wind sounds like... I don't like isolating myself from the world... Well, I like isolating myself from humans, but it's gonna take more than earplugs to make that happen...

I split like 50/50 on wearing them in the woods, depends on the day/hike, sometimes I want to hear music, sometimes I want to hear the birds and leaves and so forth.

 

[nakedfrog]

But if I'm doing something repetitive or somewhere I've been many times the power of music is just moving. Can really change your mood, be very uplifting along with your endorphins found from moving at a brisk pace.

Definitely this, running through the woods listening to viking metal or pirate metal is a glorious thing

 

[Torn Mind]

I can walk my neighborhood with very little chance of issues, even though there's no lighting at night. It isn't just about safety. I need to hear what's going on around me. Maybe there's a bird I'd like to see, maybe I want to checkout the warthogs flying over my head, maybe I just want to hear what the wind sounds like... I don't like isolating myself from the world... Well, I like isolating myself from humans, but it's gonna take more than earplugs to make that happen...

 

[BoomerD]

I understand people in rural areas and some suburban areas not having sidewalks, and thus making walking without hearing your surroundings well dangerous.

Do a lot of people here not have sidewalks? It's either one or the other.

Our little town has NO sidewalks. Seems like all the new people bitch about wanting sidewalks...until someone informs them how much it would cost to put them in...(Oh! I thought the city would pay for them!)

As for me, I won't wear in-ear phones. Can't stand them. For some reason, I was "blessed" with narrow ear canals and within 30 minutes, my ears are screaming "I'M BLEEDING HERE!" (no actual blood, but they hurt like a motherfucker)
When we flew to Hawaii a few years ago, they handed out ear buds that were at least the size of a dime..."I'm supposed to stick these in my ears?" I deal with it on the plane, but shortly after landing, I found a Radio Shack and bought cheapo over ear headphones and an airplane adapter.
I have an inexpensive set of Monoprice over-ear bluetooth ANC headphones I wear when mowing the lawn and for some other "around the house" stuff, a pair of Sony 710 bluetooth headphones I wear while watching tv after Mrs. Boomer goes to bed at night, (and even occasionally if I want to take a nap in my chair during the afternoon) as well as a pair of wired Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro 250 ohm cans with a DAC/amp for PC use. (hands down, the best sound of the lot)

 

[MrSquished]

Definitely this, running through the woods listening to viking metal or pirate metal is a glorious thing

Ha. Perfect situation.

I'd absolutely love to ride in the city with my favorite music blasting, but that would be terribly stupid, for myself, and inconsiderate of others. Even just doing it on the Central Park loop or some of the Greenways where you cross no auto traffic is not really considerate in my opinion either, though much safer than in the streets. I wouldn't do that on country roads either though. Sometimes I put my JBL Clip speaker on in my basket when I ride though, not too loud, so that will have to suffice.

 

[purbeast0]

I've done some pretty good hikes in the nearby woods where I get pretty sweaty (maintaining a heart rate over 160 for 10+ minutes and all) and I didn't really feel like my over-ears made a whole lot of difference in how warm I felt.

I split like 50/50 on wearing them in the woods, depends on the day/hike, sometimes I want to hear music, sometimes I want to hear the birds and leaves and so forth.

I can guarantee that you don't sweat like I do lol. It's like a family thing where we just sweat so damn much. I don't even wear hats if I am doing something active because it'll make me hotter.

 

[MtnMan]

I don't want anything "in" my ears, or "over" my ears.

Bone conduction Shokz

 

[BoomerD]

I don't want anything "in" my ears, or "over" my ears.

Bone conduction Shokz

I remember the "bone fones" from about 40 or so years ago.

 

[pete6032]

Somewhere in between. Using the Jlab Epic Air Sport, which are neither buds nor over the ear.

 

[MtnMan]

I remember the "bone fones" from about 40 or so years ago.

Like many things, there have been improvements in the past 40 years.

 

[Exterous]

Depends on how much travel you're doing and if it's overnight on a plane. I love my Bose quiet comfort earbuds for long or overnight flights. They're the only headphones I can sleep wearing and, because they are wired, they revert to regular headphones if the battery dies. (and may planes don't have power outlets still or your outlet might be broken). Tiny size is a plus when traveling too

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Our roads are 20-25' wide, blacktop, no markings, no shoulders and in many places steep and deep ditches at the edges of the pavement. No where to step off the road if you must. Most passengers cars and pickups are fine. But there are the combines, sprayers and other Ag machines that take up the entire width of the road.

Aside from all that, there are many times where there is no human noise at all, no vehicles (including planes, boats or trains) or machines anywhere that I can hear. All nature. Trees rustling in the breeze, bugs buzzing around. Critters moving thorough low brush, birds everywhere.

 

[BoomerD]

Our roads are 20-25' wide, blacktop, no markings, no shoulders and in many places steep and deep ditches at the edges of the pavement. No where to step off the road if you must. Most passengers cars and pickups are fine. But there are the combines, sprayers and other Ag machines that take up the entire width of the road.

Aside from all that, there are many times where there is no human noise at all, no vehicles (including planes, boats or trains) or machines anywhere that I can hear. All nature. Trees rustling in the breeze, bugs buzzing around. Critters moving thorough low brush, birds everywhere.

And you get run over by an electric car...

 

[MrSquished]

And you get run over by an electric car...

bwahaha

Silent and deadly, even more deadly with Elon's vaporware eternal beta auto driving

 

[Mai72]

I wear cans kid. While I'm at the gym.

 

[ElFenix]

Yeah cities are still so automobile centric. In the last few years New York City and Houston have had about the same pedestrian fatalities, except Houston has a quarter of the population.

Actually stayed in Houston for a few days in a hotel across from some big mall I think called the galleria. I remember walking to it and thinking this was insane. And I've walked many a mile in New York. It was the most bonkers pedestrian experience I've had in the world. I've been to a lot of cities in the US, some in Europe, and even China too and neither of those topped that experience.

this city is the worst on the planet for using anything other than a car to get around.