Slashdot Mirror
Comfortable Stealth Headphones?
rhetoric asks: "I work in valet parking, and I got an iRiver unit for Christmas. This is great because I can listen to music in one ear while parking cars or in both ears while idle, and with the right headphones, no one can tell I'm wearing them underneath my coat and hat. The problem is that the iRiver headphone cord is horribly short and poorly proportioned, and the headphones are rather uncomfortable. Could anyone recommend some comfortable yet small headphones that wrap around the back of the head, so that the cord can go down the back of one's neck?"
Use the headphones it sounds like you were already using?
There is always the Bone Fone. Personal sound, with nothing in your ears.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
Right here
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Dear Slashdot,
I am looking for a way to secretly do something at work that I am not supposed to be doing. My job entails the operations of heavy machinery that has been entrusted to me. These people also tip me for taking such good care of their vehicles. Can you please help me?
Thanks!
P.S.: I would also like whatever is suggested to be comfortable as well. And not too expensive, either.
watch this
How much do you typically make in the valet parking business? I seem to remember reading it's quite lucrative, along with the baggage handling at airports (where they take $10 "tips" every 5 minutes).
these
I've used these headhpones almost exclusively for casual listening for about a year now. They're no good for serious audio quality, but for a discman or an mp3 player I like them the best. They come in multiple colors now too, ooooh.
The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
what does a valet parker does reading slashdot??
I ran a simple search on amazon.com. There is a good selection to choose from depending on what you need....
Try it yourself on theor website or here are the links for In-Ear Headphones and Over-Ear Headphones
There was a very funny first post, talking about CmdrTaco's bloody anus. It was removed. Bring it back. It was too funny.
I just got earmuffs with a headphone ulit inside them. I think they were from JCPennies. They are called 180's. They have headphones that slip inside them and the cord comes out he back of the earmuffs. www.180s.com
This site is THE place to go for headphone info and a really decent place (good prices, great selection) to buy most 'phones too. There is a buying guide for portable 'phones that should tell you what you need.
The great thing about headphones (if you care about sound quality) is that for about $500 you can get a 99th percentile system (say some etymotic er4s's and a total airhead portable headphone amp) whereas that kind of fidelity will cost you tens of thousands in a stereo. And with the right selections you can do proportionaly as well for less.
whose grammer is so poor reads slashdot.
"Eve of Destruction", it's not just for old hippies anymore...
verbosity asks: "I often park in valet parking, and I got a nice car for Christmas. This is great because I can get to where I need to go in style, but never have to park my own car. The problem is that the valets always seem to be wearing illegal and distracting headphones while driving my car. Could anyone recommend some cheap yet effective EMP devices that I can install and use to 'disable' music players, without damaging any car components?"
-Adam
Go to a Bang & Olufsen store and get their earphones -- they're silver and black, very comfortable, quite stealth, and have GREAT sound.
.@.
You may want to check into these retractible ear-buds, or the retractible handsfree cell earbud might be better.
_______
2B1ASK1
although these aren't behind the head type earphones, they are both slim and comfortable, and could be worn with the cord going behind the neck. I received a pair as a gift and was impressed by the sound quality.
Yawn.
I got an iRiver 390T for Christmas and they neglected to put headphones in the package. I got them to mail me a set. If the cord's short and the headphones are uncomfortable, maybe I would've been better off without them?
*Sigh*
Cruising the internet on my TI-99/4A @ a whopping 300 baud!
How can you surf /. all day while being a valet parker? Do they provide you laptops with wireless connections or something? Am I missing something?
Wear a suit and sunglasses to work. Make sure to always stand with your hands crossed behind your back. Get an earpiece that goes in your ear, with a curly phone-type cord. Wrap the cord around the top of your ear, and run it down the back of your shirt. Lift up your collar occasionally, and mumble something into it.
If anyone criticizes you, just put your hand in your jacket pocket, point your finger at them, and tell them to move along.
"If you think you have things under control, you're not going fast enough." --Mario Andretti
These discreet earbuds work perfectly when you're trying to blend in. As you can see, they're virtually undetectable. Come with a comfortable, expandable cord
Karma: Chevy Kavalierma.
A real nerd would cut the current cable and make one to his/her own spec.
loser
There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
Not sure if anyone recommended these yet - they fit in your ear canal and block out all external sound. They sound great and the cord goes down the back to stay out of your way.
seriouslyexcited.net
Everybody's going the wrong way with this. Hide them in plain sight. Get a cheap 2-way radio and run a cable into the headphone jack. Make it look like the earpiece going into your ear is going into the radio. Bonus points for busting open the radio and hiding the iRiver inside it, thereby also hiding the iRiver. Nobody will ask why you've got a 2-way radio clipped to your belt - even Gap workers have them these days, for crying out loud.
What's your damage, Heather?
I work in a high noise enviroment. Poke a hole in standard ear plugs and add the Plugs. 25+ db of noise reduction and music. Best of all they look like regular ear plugs on a cord. People that think that earphones are somehow more dangerous than operating a modern car with all the sound insulation and huge stereo are just lying to themselves.
I'd like to thank everyone who has pointed out how stupid I am, and how illegal and dangerous driving with headphones can be. Trolls.
While driving and listening to headphones CAN be dangerous and is illegal in SOME (not most), states, I'd really rather not have my intelligence insulted.
I've worked as a valet for a a long time, and I do my job well. I have never even come close to damaging a car in the slightest. I'm one of the best and fastest valets where I work, and I think I do a hell of a job serving customers. There is alot of downtime in between parking and bringing back cars, especially at big events where everyone is coming in at once, and leaving all at the same time. It's great to listen to my mp3 player when I have nothing to do, but I still feel rude if customers see the wires (although I could pass it off for a 2way or cell headset). Also, one of my superiors, a particularly shortsighted and moronic fellow, would have an attitude similar to you self-righteous assholes in regard to the legality and safety of my using the headphones on the job. As far as actually driving with headphones in, if I do, it's when I don't have to drive far, or in traffic, to park or bring up the car. Also, I only wear one headphone while driving, ever, so that I can still hear what's going on around me. Maybe you can't drive like that, but that's why you're not valets.
So, if you think my question is dumb and I should have used google (which I did use before asking), fine, I'm sorry for asking, but back off with the personal attacks. Trolls.
btw if you are one of the people who posted these remarks: you are probably also the type of person whose car I would fart in before I brought it back to them, because they suck.
"where words meet intent, lies rhetoric's lament"
Have a look at this TidBITS headphone article which discusses the merits of several different brands and models of headphones for use with portable music players. Very informative and well-researched.
By the way, there's a section that deals specifically with the type of headphone that you described (i.e. behind-the-head). The Koss KSC-55 (mentioned in the article) gets a good review. It's one of two headphones in this style that actually sound decent. Also, it only costs $19.99 US.
D.
If you don't mind having earphones shoved way into your ear canals, these are great.
They don't have actualy noise-canceling abilities, but they go a long way to block outside noise, and they have a longer cord for the right bud so you can wear them behind your neck.
Here's my favorite. This style uses an "ear clip" to essentially dangle an earbud-sized earpiece in front of the ear opening. The wire runs behind the ear (as with the sony headphones mentioned above), and there's something about how the earpiece only rests on the ear that keeps any heat issues down. I like this headset enough that I got an adaptor at Radio Shack to use this headset on my computer.
Get yourself a pair of 180s Earwarmers. They have a headphone accessory, where the speaker is inserted into the earmuff. They wrap around the back, so your cord could easily go down the back of your jacket.
The perfect solution for winter, but you'ld look pretty funny wearing them in July/August.
Long hair and high school. It is an amazing cover, I had a discman coveted away in the top of my pants and ran the headphone wire up my back. Put one little bud earphone in for classes where they might call on you, both for classes you really don't need to hear (English, Calculus), pull the hair down over the ears, smille, stare at the teacher. Only my nearest neighbors ever knew, pissed them off to no end (because I did better on the tests, and they knew no homework or listening in class was occuring), but they didn't squeal. I imagine it would work in your situation too. Just remember you will have to cut your hair to get a real job....(mine is waist length now and I've had a "real" job for 4 years...and now I do whatever the hell I want since I work from home).
andy
These are a cross between ear plugs and ear phones. Have a look at: http://www.shure.com/earphones/index.asp They are usually used by musicans. (Note, they are not headphones where the sound has been modified, but in-ear monitors) I have a pair of E2s and an older pair of E1s with custom ear molds. They reduce background noise by 15-25dB hence you can listern to music at a lower volume. Also you maybe glad to know they come witha 3ft cable and they fall down the back of your neck. Reviews: http://www.shure.com/earphones/eseries_reviews.asp
And it has almost 22nd Century technology in it.