I’m a sucker for good sound. I love to watch movies and also listen to music, and to that effect, I spend a lot of money on getting premium sound systems. I have a portable Bluetooth speaker with really mad sound. I have a home theater system for my TV. I have a Bluetooth headset, I have a regular wired headset (mostly for my online meetings, because Bluetooth gets shaky), I have an AirPod, and I also have about two pairs of regular earpieces that I don’t even use at all.
All these were bought at different points in my life, but they’re all functional, and I use them all. I’m the kind of person who likes to experience the full experience of whatever I’m doing. I love it when my system can pick up even the tiniest sounds. And with a surround sound system, you can get everything the exact way the sound engineers want you to.
I have a chronic hate for regular sounds, like using my phone speaker to watch a movie or listen to music. I can’t even use the TV’s speaker to listen to the news. It just has to be with the sound system, or I will be totally put off by it. And as a result of all this, I love the effect they provide. I love how my house shakes when I’m watching action movies with my home theater. The way the bass causes everything to tremble. I also love how every tiny sound is picked up clearly in the headsets and portable speakers. Showing that regardless of the situation, I’m covered.
But all these things come at a high price. Most of the time, to really get lost in the movie or music, I have to listen to them at high volumes. Whether with headsets or speakers, I do them with high volume, and it really messes with my eardrums. There was a time that I listened to music for so long that for more than an hour after I stopped, I could still hear songs playing in my head, almost as if I still had my headsets on. This also happens when I binge-watch a series. When I finally pull away from it, I can still replay it in my head. Which can be really stressful.
In the past, I used to do all this without caring about how it affected my neighbors, but I soon stopped that because it didn’t make sense that others would be disturbed by my movie. So, I made it loud enough for me to enjoy, but not too loud as to disturb others. But this still came with its troubles, because when I watch movies or play music like that, I’m basically in a bubble. A gunfight could be going on outside, and I won’t know because of the loud noise.
Back when I was in school, I was watching an action movie on speakers when the lodge close to mine was raided by the police. I didn’t know, and if not for my neighbor calling me to warn me to shut the damn speaker off! Because when things are happening outside, I couldn’t even know at all. And most of the time, it will be until it’s too late.
So, did I change? Nah! I only made adjustments. I still listen to them at high volume, but I make sure now that it doesn’t disturb my neighbors. I also make sure that my phone is close to me at all times, and my data is on, so I can easily see texts or calls should anyone call me. Also, during the movie, I don’t watch it in a stretch, every thirty minutes or so, I get up to walk about and make sure everything is in order. That way, I’m keeping myself in check.
I never use my headsets in public, it’s too dangerous to use on the road. I only use it when I travel or on the plane. Other than that, I use one piece of my AirPods. That helps me with calls and listening to voicenotes while on the go. With only one ear plugged, I can listen to music without being in danger and still be aware of everything going on around me.
So yeah, I know I’m not doing my ears any favours with the constant assault I do on them, but I can’t help it. I just can’t see a movie without speakers or headsets, and I guess I’m paying the price for such a preference. Well, let him that hears keep hearing!
Let’s see how we go from here.
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