• edric@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    9 months ago

    There’s a difference between using closed-back noise-cancelling headphones in an office or plane and using open-back headphones or bone-conduction while riding a bike or running so you can hear vehicles and other runners/cyclists around you.

    Open-back headphones are not just niche usage. They are also used for music production, watching movies at home (feels like you’re listening to speakers in the room with you instead of small headphones), and gaming (open soundstage makes pinpointing sound around you like footsteps more accurate).

    • solrize@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      9 months ago

      Yes, it’s walking around outside while listening to music that is a niche usage. I know that some people do it and can’t live without it, but I tend to feel that is unusual. It’s annoying to see “these earphones let you keep hearing other people’s conversations around you” as if that was a desirable feature, which it almost never is.

      • BearOfaTime@lemm.eeEnglish
        01·
        9 months ago

        The Walkman, introduced in the 80’s, would like a word. As would the first electronic handheld radios in the 60’s.

        Niche? You keep using that word. I do not think that word means what you think it means.