Artbook Review: Shin Moeru Headphone Reader

by eternal on March 17, 2009

shin-moeru-headphones

Headphones. Gotta love ’em. We love them so much, in fact, that some company in Japan decided to publish an entire artbook dedicated to the good old headsets/cans/whatever you like to call them. And, like all good things related to Japan, the object in question must, in some way, shape, or form, be connected to either giant robots or cute girls.

I don’t think I need to tell you which category this one falls under.

The book is designed with one page dedicated to art – various artists contributed to the final product – and another page dedicated to information. There’s actually a ton of information in there, most likely related to headphone technology and the pros/cons of different models, but it’s all more or less gibberish unless you can translate the text. Still, the book serves its purpose quite well even if you only look at the pictures, of which there are quite many.

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Most of the pictures are of the typical moe-moe variety, though some of the styles are certainly more distinct than others. Still, it’s ultimately male-targetted…not that I’m complaining.

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For lack of better phrasing, the random old guy in the top picture was more than a little entertaining. He looks just a tad out of place, doesn’t he?

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Yes, she’s supposed to be upside-down.

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There are quite a few more pictures, of course, but I only scanned the ones that were of interest to me.

Anyway, due to the sheer number of artists that worked on this thing, there’s not much that I can say other than “what you see is what you get.” Not that that’s a bad thing, since it makes the decision to purchase all the more simple, but it does mean that there’s little to criticize. That said, I don’t know enough about art to criticize anyway.

If you can read Japanese, though, I’d recommend this one without hesitation. I suppose it’s also mandatory that you’re interested in headphones/technology, but if you weren’t, then you probably won’t be reading this anyhow. The pages that have text actually have a considerable amount of text, not to mention what looked like specific information on each model, so I’m guessing it’s the kind of thing that would make any audiophile squeal with joy.

And if you’re the kind of otaku that squeals with joy at the site of pictures like these, then I guess that makes it twice as appealing.

Name: Shin Moeru Headphone Reader/Headphones Catalogue & Guidebook
Scans/Reviews: Hunting the Elusive
Purchase from: JBox

~ ETERNAL
つづく

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

De JaY March 17, 2009 at 5:55 pm
zzeroparticle March 17, 2009 at 5:57 pm

If I could get my hands on this book, I’ll never lack for pictures to use for my filler posts ever again. A lot of those pics that you have are those that I’ve seen while searching through danbooru, so until I make the purchase, my current method of obtaining moeriffic headphone wearers will have to do.

zzeroparticles last blog post..One Outs Original Soundtrack – Review

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lelangir March 17, 2009 at 6:14 pm

lol’in at the picture with the old dude overseeing a girl listen to something. I’m demented like that ^_^.

lelangirs last blog post..musings: cadential phrases [2]

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animekritik March 17, 2009 at 8:39 pm

those pics look great. it makes me wanna translate the whole thing even though my headphones cost 30 baht (less than a dollar) and they’re probably not in the book…

animekritiks last blog post..Two Dilemmas in the Millennial Queen movie

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TheBigN March 17, 2009 at 9:36 pm

I need to get this artbook. Great find. :3

TheBigNs last blog post..Ueno: “Uncool Japan” talk at MIT 17 March

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gonzomehum March 18, 2009 at 3:01 am

Argh. If the girls presented were just slightly less loli, I’d be too dead from profusing nosebleeding to be typing this comment right now. Headphone girls… my biggest weakness…

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gonzomehum March 18, 2009 at 3:02 am

(profuse nosebleeding. Too tired, can’t type gud…)

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moritheil March 18, 2009 at 4:12 pm

Headphone moe!

I actually had a lengthy discussion with someone just yesterday about headphones as a character design element. Normally when you have a GAR character with headphones, it’s supposed to signify rebellion, like he isn’t interested in “listening” to authority. I might turn that into a full-fledged post at some point.

Great pics; thanks for sharing them.

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digitalboy March 18, 2009 at 5:02 pm

I LOVE headphone girls, but none of these ones look like they share my taste in music…

digitalboys last blog post..End of Evangelion Conclusion: Any Way the Wind Blows…

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Blowfish March 19, 2009 at 2:48 pm

Ohhhh an Artbook that caters to one my my fetishes ^^
Thanks for posting

Blowfishs last blog post..Gift Saber Outdoor Shoot

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