Wired headphone sales are exploding • Hacker News Board

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#541

Post by Lio » Sat, Mar 14, 2026, 5:00 PM UTC

bluGill wrote: post #372

Lio wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, yes they do wear out but the rate is pretty slow if you look after them. I have some of my father’s old early LPs and they still sound pretty good. You can get rid of a surprising amount of surface noise with a static gun and a line contact stylus (where shape is close to that of a cutting head so you get the biggest contact patch). I think most people only copied to cassette if they want to use a Walkman, pl…

He said tape not cassette. Tape would mean real to real tape in this context - cassette doesn't make sense. Tape can be wider than cassette, only two tracks, and run faster - all give you a lot better sound quality. Not as good as a good digital system and it costs more but still very good.

I actually still have an old Grundig reel to reel somewhere, although I can't claim it as ever really hifi.

I would stand by recording to reel to reel tape for quality being even less common recording to cassette tape.

Quality domestic reel to reel decks were just not that widely owned here. Maybe it was different where you lived.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#542

Post by nine_k » Sat, Mar 14, 2026, 5:01 PM UTC

ReptileMan wrote: post #517

letmetweakit wrote: post #512

"Bluetooth does not work," Kravitz said in a recent interview, and it's not just headphones, but Bluetooth connections in general. "It's ruining important moments. Imagine the amount of times that you're with someone on a date, you're trying to set a vibe, and then you have to forget the network. On a date!" The quote above makes absolutely zero sense to me, it's like ChatGPT 0.3a decided to write something about Blu…

On a date the only acceptable bluetooth usage is for teledildonics.

That's when you especially badly don't want a sudden disconnect, or the battery dying.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#543

Post by heraldgeezer » Sat, Mar 14, 2026, 5:02 PM UTC

beloch wrote: post #83

This isn't a Vinyl vs CD thing where a clearly inferior technology lives on due mainly to sentimental reasons. There are a number of concrete advantages to wired headphones over bluetooth headphones. - They don't need charging. Charging may seem like a minor inconvenience, and we're used to charging a lot of devices. However, even a minor inconvenience is still an inconvenience. - They're harder to lose. When Apple a…

I always try to use wired mouse and keyboard and headset at a PC for this reason. Charging. 0 reason to use wireless.

For mobile devices I can understand it and do use it.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#544

Post by _DeadFred_ » Sat, Mar 14, 2026, 5:03 PM UTC

If you are on Windows don't forget to setup Equalizer APO matched to your headphones. On Android check out Wavelet. It can really bring music alive.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#545

Post by heraldgeezer » Sat, Mar 14, 2026, 5:04 PM UTC

The article ofc focuses on girls instagram and not us gamers who have been using wired for decades.

We are opressed. Unironically I am so annoyed. It was an "ick" before and now its cool again. Okay whatever.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#546

Post by reactordev » Sat, Mar 14, 2026, 5:05 PM UTC

mbajkowski wrote: post #503

reactordev wrote: post #408

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those hd380’s will last your lifetime. Almost like Sony’s MDR-7506 if you can keep it from getting sat on.

100% this. I have had the MDR-7506 since my DJ days about 30 years ago. These are by no means expensive headphones, but compared even to much more higher-end Bluetooth headphones they can easily hold their own. They have good depth and are well balanced. They are just about indestructible, only requiring the occasional pads replacement. Probably one of the best purchases I ever made

Relationships come and go but MDR-7605’s are for life!

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#547

Post by randycupertino » Sat, Mar 14, 2026, 5:10 PM UTC

NikolaNovak wrote: post #335

beloch wrote: post #83

This isn't a Vinyl vs CD thing where a clearly inferior technology lives on due mainly to sentimental reasons. There are a number of concrete advantages to wired headphones over bluetooth headphones. - They don't need charging. Charging may seem like a minor inconvenience, and we're used to charging a lot of devices. However, even a minor inconvenience is still an inconvenience. - They're harder to lose. When Apple a…

- they last forever . I still have sennheiser hd380 pro cans from 25 years ago that sound great. - cannot overstate lack of lag and simplicity. You plug in and it works, perfectly, every time, forever. - easily switch devices. I use my headphone on my phone, tablet, laptop, Synthesizer, Groovebox etc without a blink. And my phone never stops playing music and connects to our car my wife just started the way bluetooth…

I got wired headphones after repeatedly losing airpods falling out of my ears onto the floor of planes. I like to sleep with my headphones in falling asleep to audiobooks, and I'm a side-sleeper so airpods would rub on the pillow and get lost in the seat machinery.

Wired headphones at least if they fall out are still connected to a rope to get them back!

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#548

Post by mock-possum » Sat, Mar 14, 2026, 5:10 PM UTC

I mean yeah - generally wired devices are better in every way… except for the inconvenience of needing to be tethered to your device during use.

My default is always to buy wired devices, and only consider wireless in situations where the convenience specifically outweighs the downsides - wireless earbuds while exercising or working outside, or while traveling light to listen to a podcast or work at a cafe.

The rest of the time? Wired keyboard, wired mouse, wired headphones, wired controller, wire microphone, etc etc etc.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#549

Post by oohaba » Sat, Mar 14, 2026, 5:11 PM UTC

I'm not seeing anyone mention that there is a recent social media trend of people touting that AirPods emits "harmful" radiation. I only mention this because otherwise intelligent health-nut friends were trying to convince me of the same.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#550

Post by skyberrys » Sat, Mar 14, 2026, 5:12 PM UTC

I never gave up on my wired headphones. I'm so bad I have to use a stretchy cord (ahla old phone cord) to tie my phone to my body just so I don't drop it. There is no way I can go wireless headphones just so I can lose half my sound. When my Pixel finally abandoned the headphone jack I was forced to get USBC headphones and I just don't like them as much, probably because of the ear shape more than the port but I feel like USBC port plug doesn't stay as secure as the old headphone jack.