Stereo earphones are amazing! They are a great sounding accessory... an accessory to the ipod or cell phone for which they are being used. However, as more and more people are finding the true enjoyment of being an audiophile (a music lover, especially with their Ipod's and other MP3 players), they are discovering the value that a earpiece with sound provides. Not only in reducing exterior sound, but by creating an environment to truly enjoy music.
As such, these new earphones are becoming more like a concert hall, more and more manufacturers are bringing out their own models. Makers such as: Shure, SkullCandy, Ultimate Ears, Sony, Panasonic, Etymotic Research and many others.
So,what kind of accessories can an audiophile get for his or her favorite music device? Here is a sampling:
Amplifiers are normally considered to be necessary for a large stereo system to drive the speakers. Something not required of course with a MP3 player. However, the larger the speakers, the bigger the amp required! Since the beginning of sound, the small electrical current coming out of the listening devices was enough to power the or the listening device (like the Walkman or portable stereo) had its own small amplifier built right in. But not anymore. Today, audiophiles want great sounding devices that need their own power source for full enjoyment... either for volume or for clarity. Enter the special head phone amp. These look similar to regular amps but are a little smaller. However, they are not as portable as the older style head phones that were attached to listening devices with built in amps.
Carrying cases are another must-have. It can be frustrating to be traveling and being unable to find your earphone. Nothing's worse than being on an airplane and watching the television and trying to read lips! A carrying case can be as simple as a little bag to keep them in.
Cable clips are a great way to keep your headphone cables from getting out of control as you listen to music. If there is sudden movement while plugged in, they can really hurt your ears, make your hair look terrible, pull off your glasses, or even damage your listening device! Clips keep your cables out of harm's way.
Any time you have an intricate piece of machinery, you'll need replacement parts. It's no different with an ear phone. The most common replacement parts include jacks, cables, and ear pads, all of which can become disconnected from the headset with excessive use. If you just own a cheap set, you could probably buy a new better sounding set for less money than the replacement parts. But if you are a serious audiophile and you want serious sound, you'll also want some replacement parts just in case the music makes you dance too hard!
Lastly, consider getting some rubber alcohol or cleaning solution to keep everything sanitary. After all, they are around your ears and your hair for a long period of time and they can get a little grimy and wax can build up in your stereo in ear headphones after excessive use. Keep them clean and you'll enjoy them more besides getter better sound from wax buildup.
Am I alone in my grieving for the early childhood of my daughter? I look back to those pink and white glory days with nostalgia, dreaming of when she sat before a collection of dolls or plastic ponies, combing manes and tails and humming a tune from the latest Little Kitty movie.
Her bedroom was swathed in cotton candy pink tulle, large bows everywhere; a collection of powder puffs bright patches of color in the sunlight filtering through chiffon drapes. Where has that darling little girl gone?
She seems to have disappeared and been replaced by a delinquent demon in black holey tights, sporting a skull and crossbones pendant and wearing a collection of perpetual accessories; earphones and mobile phones. Every few days or so she reappears, glossy hair nudging against my cheek, usually just before the head disappears again, into the refrigerator.
There was never a bedroom like my daughters bedroom. She has collected the worst objects in the house and arranged them around her room to make it look as ugly as possible. Somewhere under an untidy mountain of laundry there is a bright blue rug with cream flowers. Somewhere in her wardrobe there is a clean item of clothing, but not on a hanger.
Shoes have been deemed by her as strange things only worn by pretentious people trying to be something they are not, apparently. Trainers are worn by normal human beings, especially worn out trainers bearing the stains of unidentified substances trodden through during several rock concerts.
Blonde hair has been color washed with a shade somewhere between purple and magenta, with luminous qualities in direct sunlight for some reason I prefer not to investigate. The friends of her bosom seem to reflect her own strange cult fashion sense, one young man actually has his ears not pierced but almost torpedoed by these curious bolt like things, which stretch the lobes, making the pierced cavity at least half an inch in diameter and causing onlookers to cringe away in horror.
A few nights ago she appeared in the kitchen wearing a long black coat which reached to the floor, fishnet tights, a black mini skirt with silver studs down the side, a black peasant blouse and black nail polish. She wanted to know what she should wear to a black witch themed birthday party. She was not actually in costume as yet! I suggested she put on a black frilly ankle length petticoat over boots and add silver jewelry. She refused on grounds of my ideas not being feminine enough!
Teenagers reach the age of thirteen with a disorder firmly set in place called ETP - Exact Teenage Programming. This condition is easy to overcome providing you observe the following guidelines.
When you want your teenager to bring used cups, glasses and plates from out of his/her room to the kitchen, remember to add 'And put them in the dishwasher.' On no account risk an instruction such as 'Bring them upstairs,' as I did one afternoon and then was surprised to find a collection of dirty dishes on the top step.
Other wonderful phrases such as 'can you put some washing in please darling' should be qualified with 'preferably a selection of everybody's, not just your own.'
'Can you take the garbage out?' must be the best of all. There are so many points of abandonment between the kitchen and the trash can. Be specific.
Teenagers are incapable of throwing an empty carton in the bin, but will walk a further distance to return the empty carton to the fridge, can you explain that? Always decant cartons when only half empty, that way you will avoid hearing the husband roar when he helps himself to a drained carton of juice.
Loo rolls are carefully removed from their wall mounted holders in bathrooms and rolled across the bathroom floor so they unravel around the room like some sort of sanitary festoon. I have now purchased one of those Poor Man Dispensers that ration three sheets at a time and lock against further unraveling. They have them in prisons, mental institutions and our house.
I wait patiently for the dark one to progress out of the black teenage stage into the light of adulthood and femininity. Sooner or later my little girl is going to come home again and when she does I shall be waiting.
