Earbuds etiquette question?

[dontpanicbobby]

If you want someone to listen to the song you're listening to do you give them one earbud or both?

I was a rabid over the ear headphones fan so naturally I would offer the whole rig to my friends.

I've seen teenagers listening to one earbud each... BUT, not only does that practice seem incredibly risky germ-wise to me but wouldn't the other person be listening to only one half of the stereo mix?

 

[lunatic59]

not only does that practice seem incredibly risky germ-wise to me but wouldn't the other person be listening to only one half of the stereo mix?

Yes, and yes.

I am not a germophobe, but I really don't savor the idea of sharing earwax. I would personally just recommend the song and let the other person decide to check it out. As far as the stereo mix goes, I really don't think kids know the difference, so I have no opinion with teens listening to one earbud as long as they don't do it on my lawn.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

I never thought of that. Not having experienced mono how could they tell the difference.

I had frequent ear infections when I was a child and the doctors linked it to my swimming in a highly chlorinated pool with other naked children (Long story... ) The cure for that was to squirt out all the earwax.

Young People listen... Please don't share earbuds.

 

[mikedt]

Love is....

 

[Deleted User]

I never thought of that. Not having experienced mono how could they tell the difference.

I had frequent ear infections when I was a child and the doctors linked it to my swimming in a highly chlorinated pool with other naked children (Long story... ) The cure for that was to squirt out all the earwax.

Young People listen... Please don't share earbuds.

Yeah well I wouldn't share an ear bud, and much less inclined to go in a public swimming pool. God knows what state of cleanliness people are in when they take a swim <shudder!>

 

[dontpanicbobby]

Aww.. it's not that bad. It's not like they let people in with draining sores; plus it was all boys at the Boy's Club. You had to have a suit to swim in MDC pools.

Don't share earbuds folks. It's nasty.

 

[Deleted User]

Let's just say, if I was in charge, a pre-swim thorough shower would be compulsory.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

It was of course. We're civilized in Boston.

 

[Hadron]

Actually that reminds me of how long it is since I've seen kids do that. Seems to be out of fashion here.

I think the risk of infection is probably low if they are these horrible cheap things that balance in the ear and are almost as loud for other people as for the wearer. And if you are using those you probably don't notice the sound quality either. Phones that go into the ear canal though... no, just no.

Personally I gave up on in-ear phones a few years ago anyway - simply happier and more comfortable with over-ear phones.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

Nor in the canal these are right at the tip of the canal on my 5'10" ear canals. No felling of stuffing the in at all and they sound as good as my high range way late 20th Century OTE Sony's. Mr something or over. These buds are something new.

 

[twister6]

If you want to keep people away from borrowing or sharing your IEMs (in-ear monitors), just get Customs Talking about in ear monitors made from your ear mold impression, so only you can use it

But yeah, the thought of someone's earwax all over my eartips makes me wonna throw up... Planning to attend audio show next month in NYC, and will be bringing my own eartips to use with in-ears on display.

 

[mikedt]

If you want to keep people away from borrowing or sharing your IEMs (in-ear monitors), just get Customs Talking about in ear monitors made from your ear mold impression, so only you can use it

That's exactly the same reason why you never seen see people wanting to borrow and share hearing aids.

 

[mikedt]

Actually that reminds me of how long it is since I've seen kids do that. Seems to be out of fashion here.

It's still popular in China, especially with young couples on buses and trains. Doesn't matter if TF Boys or Leehom Wang or Justin Bieber or Bruno Mars or Miley Cyrus or Kim Kardashian or Richard Clayderman or whatever is in one ear only

"stereo mix"... What's that?

 

[no one]

Well, some music can not be listened to with only one earbud. You need both to get the full effect.

 

[mikedt]

Well, some music can not be listened to with only one earbud. You need both to get the full effect.

When you're listening to Mandopop, K-pop or Billboard Hot 100, one ear or both doesn't really matter.

 

[Jhayzone]

Main reason why I only use over the ear headphone and only listen to jazz, country and heavy metal.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

marcdoc started this thread which made me even think about using earbuds again.

 

[Davdi]

Forget earbuds - Koss Porta-Pro's take some beating, they'll beat most phones under gbp 100. You want deep bass - look no further. They're superb for Bach organ music and jazz with an upright bass.

 

[dan330]

with a stranger.. hell no

with friends... as long as they are clean friends. I have a few friends.. that are not so clean and i would not share with them.

 

[Raymond1701]

A lot of the early stereo recordings I listen to have the music on one channel and the singer on the other, you can't really listen to just one in these cases.

 

[Deleted User]

with a stranger.. hell no

with friends... as long as they are clean friends. I have a few friends.. that are not so clean and i would not share with them.

Do you inspect the state of their ears?
Thing is, earwax is a natural, and normal thing to find in a ear. Doesn't mean someone is dirty if they have it.

 

[dan330]

i can tell.. when someone is a normal daily ear cleaner...

i clean mine every day after a shower.... so does my gf..

 

[Deleted User]

i can tell.. when someone is a normal daily ear cleaner...

i clean mine every day after a shower.... so does my gf..

What do you clean them with. You know sticking Q-tips in your ear is not recommended, besides ears are apparently self-cleaning

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/01/no-more-q-tips-your-ears-really-are-self-cleaning

 

[dan330]

ears are wet from shower... I use a Q-TIP.. to wash it out and help dry the inside.

yeah.. i know what they say.. dont care.