OK, so we’ve talked about immersion multiplexing previously:

• “A lot of the best business literature is in English and remains in English. I need access to it. But I need to get and stay used to Japanese and Chinese as well. What to do? Do both.” [Secret Immersion Technique: Multiplexing | AJATT Plus] goo.gl/EKZhjK
• “You can listen to music speech. It’s surprising how little they interrupt each other.” [What Would Happen If You Went Mad Like Sparta and Started Immersing Like a Time Vampire-Killing Terminator Robot? | AJATT | All Japanese All The Time] goo.gl/uYx45G
• “Multitasking is trying to produce multiple outputs at once. Like talking to someone on the phone while writing an email to someone else. Multiplexing is taking multiple inputs simultaneously. This, we can do. It’s loads of fun and the more we get used to it, the better we get at it.” [How to Do Immersion Multiplexing Using an Android Device (Tablet/Smartphone) | AJATT | All Japanese All The Time] goo.gl/MfQgHr

And we’ve even covered recommended hardware and software. Today, we are going to re-tread and extend the hardware/software discussion to include headphones.

Now, on a PC or Mac (laptop or desktop), multiplexing is pretty straightforward — just launch multiple tabs and/or multiple instances of your favorite tabs, and you’re done.

But things get more complex when you’re using a mobile device. Mobile apps and mobile OSes (especially iOS) generally presume uniplexing.

After dozens of purchases, returns, resells, repurchases and months of testing, here is a quick rundown of the hardware and software that carries the Khatzumoto Seal of Approval — the very tools I’m currently using to make multiplexing happen:

• Device #1 = Cheap unlocked Android smartphone (3 audio streams):
  • Software:
    1. Rocket Player
    2. Neutron
    3. PowerAmp/Audible/YouTube
  • Headphones: Bose QuietComfort 35 Bluetooth Headphones
    • If I recall correctly, the only difference between series I and series II is that the latter plays nice(r) with AI assistants like Google Assistant, to the point that they come built-in or something like that. Not sure. Series I is fine for our purposes.
    • [Amazon | Bose QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones II ブラック【國內正規品】 | Bose(ボーズ) | 家電＆カメラ] amzn.to/2DY2HKz
    • [Amazon.com: Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling – Black: Electronics] amzn.to/2DZZRVc
    • [Amazon.com: Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series I) Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling – Black: Electronics] amzn.to/2DYWRbN
  • Main Unit:
    • [Life One X2 | Live in the moment] goo.gl/P3Zmsh
    • [BLU Life One X2 – Full phone specifications] goo.gl/jENFt1
    • [Amazon | BLU LIFE ONE X2 – 4G LTE Unlocked Smartphone -64GB+4GB RAM -Rose Gold by BLU | スマートフォン本體 通販] amzn.to/2DZ5ULf
• iOS / iPhone (if you’re willing to settle for, say, a 6 or 7 instead of an 8 or a X (ten), your mobile provider might give you yours for cheap or free (not “free” but actually free).
  • Software
    4. YouTube or YouTube Music
       • Either play a fourth audio stream or some background music
       • At this writing, the Audible app sucks on iOS and has for a while. The Febe app sucks no matter what the platform.
    5. iSakura TV on Puffin Browser in Desktop Mode: “1) Download “Puffin Browser” from Apps store. iTune  2) Login iSakura Web TV> browser setting> Enable “desktop mode” and “Game controller”” [mobile – isakuraiptv] goo.gl/MDsHvP
       • iSakura TV gets around the iOS audio focus limitations because it uses the Puffin browser in desktop mode, which means that you’re running Adobe Flash for real. Unfortunately, playback stops as soon as you switch apps, so I rarely get 5 audio streams playing simultaneously.
       • Using two Android devices would be an easy way to get 6 simultaneous streams, though 😀 , so that’s maybe a cool future experiment to try.
  • Headphones: Cootree Wireless On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones
    • “Cootree 220 Sport Sweatproof Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 Headset(Black and Red)” [Cootree 220 Sport Sweatproof Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 Headset(Black and Red)-Smatree Gopro Accessory] goo.gl/FWtktd
    • [Amazon.com: Cootree Wireless on Ear Headphone Bluetooth Sport Headset Water Resistant with Microphone Black/Red: Cell Phones & Accessories] amzn.to/2DZpq94

Now, if I were a normal person, I would use a combination earphones and headphones (one pair of each — the former inside, the latter outside, obviously). But my ears are very sensitive and can’t handle having stuff inside them, so I had to find two sets of headphones (i.e. non-insertion type headgear) that can be successfully worn simultaneously. Also, I hate wires; they get caught everywhere, so wirlessness was a must. Your mileage may vary.