I actually haven't dabbled in otaku stuff for a while, but my love for cat ears (or nekomimi 猫耳) resurfaced when Rhea-chan shared with me the link to these super kawaii Mix-Style Nekomimi Headphones last month. Suffice to say, we made some very impulsive decisions and patiently waited a month for these babies to arrive.



Boy oh boy, I couldn't wait to unbox them! These are actually my second pair of Mix-Style headphones, the first being the round ones with a star in the middle, which was really popular about 4-5 years ago. My brother bought them for me when he was in Japan at thaat time.


I really love the bold colours and minimalist design utilized by Mix-Style for both their products and packaging. 

There are 10 designs for these Nekomimi Headphones, with 3 main colours (black, white, pink) for the headband part. I was torn between white and pink, but after seeing what happened to my previous pair (the rubbery parts became gooey and sticky), I decided pink would be a better choice because 1) I already have a white one, and 2) the pink was just so eye-catching and totally me. (๑>◡<๑)

(Photo: CDJapan)

To be honest, I was a little disappointed by the actual colour of the headphones, because I expected them to be more of a bright pink shade, rather than the slightly purplish fuchsia colour. The colour does look exactly the same as in the official photos, so I can't really complain, lol.


As you can see from the photos (above), the headphones can be flipped to one side when not in use to make it flat and easier for storage. There are left and right side indicators on both sides, although I find there's really no difference whichever side you put it on. (⌒_⌒;)


The headphones are also foldable, making them more compact and convenient to carry around.

The slider part allows you to adjust it according to the wearer's size

I wish they'd made this part padded so it won't hurt the scalp

The slider allows the headphones to fit any head size (?), which is pretty standard, but due to the material being plastic, it does feel kinda fragile, so I usually adjust the length before wearing them, instead of putting it on my head first then adjusting the length. Another reason is because the headband part isn't padded, thus the pressure while pulling the slider down really hurts my scalp. (๑>︵<๑)


The standard 3.5mm stereo jack makes it compatible with most audio devices. The 120cm cord is more than long enough, as I don't think many of us actually move more than 50cm from whatever device we use it for, haha! The cord itself, although very soft and flexible, does feel kind of thin. I guess I kinda expected a better quality - or at least thicker - cord for the price.


In terms of sound quality, I'd say these Mix-Style Nekomimi Headphones are pretty okay. I get that the main attraction is the cute design, but that doesn't mean they have to compromise on its functional aspects either. I'm no music major or headphone connoisseur, but these have fairly good (if just slightly too much) treble, whereas the bass seems a little muted - until you crank up the volume a bit, that is. Surprisingly, ballads sound quite good through them - I listened to 'See You Again' and '광화문에서', and loved how the singers' voices were sharp and clear.


Let's just say that it's more than good enough for long commutes on the train, but if I'm at home trying to enjoy a good album without disturbing everybody else, I'll be using my trusty Sennheisers (both for quality and comfort).


You're probably scrolling down and wondering how it looks like when worn, and I won't want to disappoint you since you've read until this point. ( ˘ ³˘)♥

A video posted by Laura Lee (@lauraleia) on May 31, 2015 at 5:58pm PDT

And a bonus nekomimi version! HAHAHAHA

#buaypaiseh

Okay, so basically what I'm trying to say is that these headphones are adorable to the max, and the sound quality isn't too shabby either, for what most people would consider novelty headphones.

They definitely make for some interesting conversation, and are awesome costume or photo props!
(。⌒∇⌒)。Would you get a pair of these, or do you think they're a little too 'cosplay-ish' for everyday use?