As you all know my old portable audio rig was a Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5 Pro, Govibe Petite Amp and Cowon D2. SuperFi 5 Pro is a very well designed IEM that produces excellent quality audio and I get very good seal with my Comply earbuds. Sound won’t leak out (those standing next to me will not hear what I am listening to), and outside sound won’t come in (I hear nothing but the music itself). The Govibe Amp, being an Amplifer, is able to increase the volume to very high levels.
So on a particular day last week, I was booking out from camp, wearing my civi (military speak for “non-military clothing”), and listening to my SuperFi 5 Pro. My shirt was tucked out (I am not supposed to do this) and I was walking towards the gate.
Then suddenly, a car stopped abruptly right in front of me. The windscreen went down and a fierce looking head popped out. “TUCK IN YOUR SHIRT!” a voice thundered. My balls shrinked as I promptly did so. Shit, will I get into any trouble?
“AND WHAT IS THAT? A HEARING AID? OR A EARPHONE?”
“A…a.. ear…earphone,” came the timid reply from my mouth.
“DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO USE EARPHONES WHILE WALKING IN CAMP?”
That is a new one to me. I only know that it is actually a military offence to be seen in the public with earphone when wearing military uniform. But in civi? No way. But not willing to argue with this seasoned soldier who had no doubt throw 30 years of his life to punish NSF like me than to fight war, I tried to change the topic, although feebly.
“Er… er.. Encik, actually it is a hearing aid…”
“ARE YOU SURE? COME LET ME TRY. IF I HEAR MUSIC THERE IS NO CHANCE FOR YOU TO GO HOME UNTIL NEXT WEEK.”
With shaking hands, I pass my precious Super Fi 5 Pro to him, hoping that he would not destroy this $350 gem in his crude hands.
With perfect disregard for the design or ergonomics of Super Fi 5 Pro, he quickly and anyhow-ly (if there is such a word) plugged the earphones into his ears. And with a small unseen twist of my thumb, I turned the volume knob on my amplifer up a notch. Ok. not a notch. I turned it to the max. At half volume, using that amplifer with Super Fi 5 Pro already produces loud enough sound that makes you feel as if your ears are going to explode. At max volume, I do not wish to imagine how it most feel like.
Emitting a curious cross between a scream and yell, he yanked my Super Fi 5 Pro off his ears cover his ears with his hands. This gesture is totally useless, as the damage has already been done.
“Sir, sir? Are you alright?” I asked.
“Huh? What what what? What you saying? F***” came the reply.
Leaving him to enjoy the new found silence in his life, I strolled towards the gate and exited the camp.
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Disclaimer: Oh well, the above is WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED during an encounter between me and a warrant officer who stopped me from booking out because I am using my earphones. I have gone through the army disciplinary guidelines countless time due to my nature of work in the army, and wearing earphones while in civi clothing does not infringe any army rules. In the real incident, the warrant officer was very contented when I remove the earphones and hold it in my hands after he gave his instruction. And I promptly pop the earphones back into my ears after he drove off.
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