If you’ve flown with Southwest Airlines recently, you and I have something in common: we both own headphones. Or at least we once shared this truth; chances are you threw yours in the garbage, assuming you were in the unfortunate position to have accepted them in the first place. I should take a leaf out of your book. Maybe I’ll chuck these Philips Flexible Earhook Headphones in the garbage, or perhaps I’ll fashion them into a wiry shoelace. All I know is I’d rather do anything than absorb music through my earballs with these stupidly uncomfortable ear-nemeses.
To be fair, I paid $10 for these headphones. That’s the only reason the score isn’t a zero – they’re cheap. I like cheap things and so should you because it means we have money to buy either a) more stuff or b) even more stuff. Problems only arise when said cheap equipment disregards par and can’t even perform up to triple bogie. Where’s the bass? I’m not asking for concert hall surround sound here, but how about a little low end? Percussion instruments sound like an ancient vinyl recording of mice slapping bottlecap tops – scratchy, tinny, and distorted. Also, hilariously bad.
You might be able to get 20 minutes of low-volume listening out of these headphones before your ears begin screaming in agony. I’ve been more comfortable with the doctor jamming his otoscope in the side of my face while cupping my testicles. I would often imagine the aforementioned scenario in an effort to reduce the abhorrant discomfort the Philips Earhooks caused. (It worked slightly.) I know this next gripe is largely irrelevant but Earhooks, seriously? An ear hook isn’t something that sounds remotely comfortable anywhere on the body. Ironically said hook barely touched my ear and will only serve well those with ears of a certain size, so it was the least of my worries. It especially didn’t make a difference because earbud headphones don’t require additional support. Essentially, the Flexible Earhook Headphones are Southwest’s complimentary set with 2 inches of unnecessary plastic attached. Thanks a lot, Philip.
