what's more difficult: enduring fake airpods, or shelling out hard-earned cash to buy yourself quality earbuds? for an extremely frugal person (aka brokie) such as myself, the latter can be so daunting. however, carrying a pair of fake airpods which sounded like complete dogshit (hence why i instantly named them: Foop pods) was a lowpoint. it only got worse when the right side stopped working, so I was running on half a sound system for my ears during my 2 month solo stint in Europe earlier this year - yikes indeed.
enough was enough, i knew something had to be done. my eyes were set on noise cancelling headphones since i know the true power they hold. i lost a pair of bose QC45's (RIP) at the airport at end of last year, so the bar for shutting the world out was set pretty high. after some intense googling and a few suspiciously on-point targeted ads, i landed on the new airpods 4 with ANC. the lack of silicon cups - unlike the airpods 2 - improved technology featuring faster bluetooth connection and richer sound were all the green flags I needed. the price though? not exactly music to my ears.
thanks to capitalist western culture, black friday means the price-match fiends come out to play. this holiday season was no exception. armed with Amazon.com pulled up on my phone, i walked into Target feeling like this was a stick-up. my weapon of choice? a 22% discounted listing for the airPods 4. no violence necessaryâjust a polite conversation with the nice lady at the counter. and to my delight, she applied the discount.
the moment i walked out, i sat on a nearby bench and gave them a spin and boy oh boy... going from fake ass 'noise cancellation' to the real fricking deal? soul-stirring to say the least. music just hits different when the rest of the world shuts the hell up. but even beyond ANC, getting a true transparency mode experience was also mind-blowing. being able to hear your surroundings thanks to the built-in microphones makes me feel like i got superpowers - and definitely helps offset the tinnitus i'm lowkey getting from standing next to speakers at parties.
those Foop pods? may they rest in peace. the airPods 4 with ANC might be expensive, but trust me, they're one of the greatest investments you can make for your mental health. straight up.
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iâve had a few pairs of various off-brand airpods, all of which have fallen victim to unfortunate and really stupid demises (e.g. being dropped down a cliff, being flushed down the toilet, losing the right earbud in between the seat and the wall of an airplane). iâve been avoiding shelling out for real ones bc of this not excellent track record but i finally got a pair and the hype is absolutely real. theyâre kind of a game changer. trying so hard to not lose them in a ridiculous way lol.
Feb 13, 2025
i needed new earbuds to alternate with my old airpods pro 2, so i picked these up, since they were on sale for $70, $30 less than their original price.
the active noise cancellation isn't up to par with that of the airpods pro, but that shouldn't be expected at this price point.
all i need in backup earbuds is good sound quality, and these deliver. i'm actually blown away by how good they sound for the price. not quite as good as the airpods pro, but nearly just as good.
Nov 26, 2024
if you ask me, the correct thing to do is return to wired headphones. they aren't going to hurt you after a few years like every pair of true wireless headphones do. lately I've been rocking the Singolos through a lil Fiio Cable and the bass is life-changing again in a way that I haven't felt since everything went bluetooth. I've heard that the Hexa is like, as good as spending hundreds on earphones used to be, for like $70, although I haven't gotten to try them yet.
but that's not what I'm here to talk about. I got my pair of Space Travels for like, $20. they sound fucking incredible for $20 and I swear I never have to charge them. as someone who's had problems with most bluetooth buds I've owned, this is both the least I've spent on a pair while also being comparable to any of them performance-wise. the noise cancellation isn't great, so if you find yourself relying on that for travel or whatever, then this might not be for you. I don't really notice much once there's music playing! they absolutely punch way above their weight for their price, and are a good backup if you find the cabled life isn't the one for you
Jan 10, 2025
Top Recs from @wizmo_0
31 minutos is a Chilean kids TV program made with puppets, but calling it that completely understates its epicness. Think Sesame Street, but after 2 whiskey sours and 3 puffs of a sativa joint. Itâs a complete head high: hilariously wacky, totally irreverent while still managing to be educational - often raising awareness on environmental issues, a hallmark of Chilean culture. The showstopper though? The segment where they rank fake music videos, a funny nod to how awesomely bad 2000s music videos could be. I used to watch it as a kid but recently started rewatching it and can appreciate it so much more now that Iâm older and catch the creatorâs stoner-like humor. Itâs like talking to that cool aunt that was always so ahead of the curve and you just, like, totally get her now.
Dec 17, 2024
i watched this movie recently called Gangubai Kathiawadi, a 2022 Indian film set in 1960s India. it follows Gangubai, a sex worker (tragically forced into the life) who fightsâand succeedsâin advocating for the rights of other sex workers. beyond its incredible message and the compelling performance of the lead actress, one thing stood out to me: the soundtrack. it features Tabla drums, a percussive instrument common in traditional Indian music, with a hypnotic, buoyant quality that instantly drew me in.
curiosity struck, and i went down the age-old pipeline: Reddit. i came across a post where someone linked a track featuring the Tabla, and i fell in love with it immediately. itâs called The Key by Tosca, a mesmerizing trip-hop record that uses the Tabla to create a bouncy, rhythmic atmosphere.
the track is layered with a beautiful chord progression on buttery smooth, flowing synths. itâs grounded by off-time jazz instrumentation, and just when you think youâve figured it out, it surprises you. a panning vocal chop adds a psychedelic touch, and later, a reversed vocal sample sneaks inâmaking you stop everything and think, âhuh?â but in the best way possible.
listening to The Key feels like solving a secret: and you're the detective trying to unravel it. itâs a seven-minute trip i doubt youâll regret taking.
Dec 17, 2024
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I love that a new year means a clean slate. a waking opportunity to start anew, or at least feel like you are. That it's the first stab at whatever your intention is. it's a reminder that we aren't our last year, nor the one before. We won't even be defined by what comes this year, but we can keep pushing ourselves into the path we most desire. We can keep being empathetic and patient with our journeys, celebrate the wins and learn from the losses. Taking things as they come, soaking it all in and cherishing the people that make it special - that's what counts. Happy New Year:)
Jan 3, 2025