Industry insiders say casual music lovers are spending more money on headgear in recent years because smartphones have made it easier to use music as a lifestyle or fashion statement.
“Because of the smartphones, more people bring music with them and want to listen to the music with better sound than the earphones that come with the handsets,” said Koji Hata, a marketing manager for Pioneer Corp. said at the festival, held in Akihabara.
According to Hiroyuki Hori, a manager at Kanjitsu Denki Co., a headgear importer and wholesaler, units costing over ¥10,000 are quite popular, with orders for units between ¥50,000 and ¥100,000 surging. Many enthusiasts now own several pairs, he said.