I've always used earphones, so this is my first pair of headphones. This time, I decided to get the same ones as Wel.
These are a reissue of the K550 model by a brand called AKG. They look a bit rugged, so I added a dog sticker to make them a little cuter. There's one on the other side too. When I told a friend that I bought them to match with my buddy, they said, "That's cool. You’re listening to almost exactly the same sound." What a neat way of thinking. I really like that.
Let me write a bit about how they feel and sound. A friend told me that cheap headphones tend to clamp down hard on the sides of your head, making your ears hurt, but these headphones live up to their price and are super comfortable. The soft padding around the ears is nice and cushy. Also, the ear pads swivel and can lay flat, which I really like. It feels flexible, and it helps keep the pads in place when I'm lying on my back and using them.
As for the sound, it feels more balanced compared to earphones. The earphones I’ve used up until now emphasized deep bass, making it feel like a band was playing right inside my head. With these headphones, the sound feels more even, like it’s coming from outside my ears rather than directly into them. At first, I felt they lacked a bit of impact, but it seems that headphones are meant to deliver this kind of refined, expansive sound. If that’s the case, I’ll enjoy them that way.
The cord is 3 meters long, so it’s a bit excessive for my usual needs, but I’ve accepted that these are for indoor use, so it’s not an issue. In fact, these seem to be headphones intended for use with electric instruments like guitars, so if I ever get the chance to use them that way, this length will probably come in handy. I’ve been thinking about picking up an electro-acoustic guitar someday too.
I've also started setting aside some time before bed to relax and listen to music.
Last night, I revisited a song I first heard ages ago and found myself reminiscing about the past. Starlight Vision is a song I knew even before I knew about Touhou. Back then, I lived high up in the mountains, I was a bit rough around the edges, couldn’t speak English, hadn’t met Wel yet, and I listened to this with a pair of earphones that cost about 500 yen. I used to get irritated just by having people I didn’t like around me—honestly, I was a completely different person compared to now. I definitely don’t want to go back to that time. But staying up all night, watching the sunrise over the ridgeline while listening to this song and then drifting off to sleep—it was such a peaceful feeling. That nostalgia is quite pleasant.
