The other day, KAZUKIN went to an electronics store for the first time in a while to audition audio gear.
From high-end audio to portable Bluetooth speakers, headphones and earphones, audio equipment lined up in a row.
...Dangerous.
In places like this, I start wanting things I don't even need.
The audio spirit that had been sleeping inside KAZUKIN quietly stands up.
Bluetooth connections are quietly busy
These days, apparently the standard way to audition is to connect your own phone via Bluetooth.
This is very welcome.
I can check the sound with songs I normally listen to.
But every unit, a Bluetooth connection.
The next model, another connection.
And the next, another connection.
...
I came to listen to audio, but partway through it becomes a Bluetooth-settings tournament.
It's convenient, though.
BOSE and SONY: a matter of taste
I listened to a variety this time, and both BOSE and SONY delivered good sound as ever.
SONY has clear bass and treble, very crisp.
To KAZUKIN's ears it leaned a bit V-shaped (a so-called “donshari” sound, with boosted bass and treble), but the sound level is still very high.
BOSE, as always, has a thickness in the low-mids and a feel of pulling everything together pleasantly.
Rather than one being better, this is entirely a matter of taste.
That's the kind of world it is.
Portable speaker division: no open roster spots
One disappointment was that I couldn't find a model that felt like a direct successor to the BOSE SoundLink Mini II.
BOSE's recent portable speakers are mostly lineups emphasizing waterproofing and portability.
Of course, that's convenient in its own way.
But in KAZUKIN's case, the outdoor speaker already exists.
ANKER, ¥4,980.
Yes.
That one is working energetically.
I take it to basketball and skating, and even if I handle it a bit roughly, the mental damage is small.
In other words, in the KAZUKIN household's portable speaker division, there are almost no open roster spots for high-quality, high-priced models.
ANKER is strong.
A value stock.
The latest headphones are on another level
And SONY's flagship-class headphones.
Looking at prices, there are models over ¥80,000 lined up.
...So headphones have become that kind of world.
Of course the sound is good.
Noise cancelling, ambient sound, various auto-controls, app integration, touch controls.
Features are crammed in to an absurd degree.
Cover the headphones with your right hand and the music stops and switches to ambient sound.
That was honestly quite handy.
But before I master it, a battle with the instruction manual looks set to begin.
In the old days it was “volume up,” “volume down,” “play.”
That was it.
I think that's what the world was like.
Audio has become quite smart.
What I noticed back home: the length of the shelf life
That day I listened to all kinds of the latest headphones and went home satisfied.
And on a whim, I put on my BOSE NC700.
...
It's perfectly good.
Quite good.
I also played music on my ONKYO CR-S1.
...
This is perfectly good too.
No, more than good enough.
KAZUKIN thought for a moment.
With phones, comparing a model from 15 or 20 years ago with a current one, the performance gap is overwhelming.
Camera, communication speed, screen, processing power, battery.
You'd hardly think of using a 15-year-old phone as your main now.
But audio is different.
Even amplifiers and speakers from 15 or 20 years ago have models where, listening now, I normally think,
“That's good sound.”
Of course, the latest gear has evolved.
Noise cancelling is stronger, Bluetooth is stable, operability is better, and plenty of convenient features have been added.
But looking only at the pure “sound,” sometimes I don't feel a gap as overwhelming as 15 or 20 years would suggest.
If anything, older equipment sometimes even suits my taste better.
In other words, in KAZUKIN terms, audio equipment has a very long shelf life.
Once you find a sound you like, you may be able to stay with it for 10, 15, 20 years.
There's no need to chase short-cycle model changes.
This is, well, a long-term stable blue-chip.
Even if somewhat old, earnings... no, sound quality is healthy.
Even when new products appear as catalysts, no need to hurry and switch.
Hold on.
That's the feeling.
I have no intention of denying the latest models.
If anything, I enjoy playing with new features and honestly marvel at technological progress.
But precisely because I listened through the latest gear this time, I noticed the goodness of the old audio at home anew.
I went to look at expensive new products and came back reevaluating what I own.
...
I bought nothing, yet only my satisfaction went up.
That, too, is the best cost performance.
Summary
Audio really is deep.
And probably, the swamp is deep too.
...Saying that, I should add that a feeling of “the latest models do seem a bit interesting” has sprouted.
I'm no different from an investor who says he'll hold his long-term stable blue-chips while eyeing the charts of new stocks.
Audio is great, right?
KAZUKIN Rating
- 🎧 Ability to judge sound taste — ★★☆☆☆ (BOSE and SONY are both too good to decide)
- 🔵 Patience for reconnecting Bluetooth — ★★★★☆ (dutifully pairing for every audition)
- 💪 Durability of the ANKER speaker — ★★★★★ (finishing the outdoor job at ¥4,980)
- 📖 Understanding of the latest headphones' manual — ★☆☆☆☆ (too many features to keep up)
- 📈 Reevaluation of owned gear — ★★★★★ (bought nothing, satisfaction skyrocketed)
オーディオっていいよね
This article is a personal opinion and record of use. KAZUKIN LAB has no relationship with BOSE, SONY, ONKYO or ANKER. I'm just an audio-loving customer. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
The illustration is an image based on KAZUKIN's experience. It may differ from real stores and products. It is not an official manufacturer image.