The headphones seems like a direct reference to the same thing happening in Cowboy Bebop (or maybe Trigun)--at least, that's what I assumed it was when I saw it.

I should pick RWBY up again. I think sashagee and I left off somewhere in season 4.

So besides the animation

Aww. I thought it was charming. It gave the show a "2012 PS Vita RPG" kind of feel for me.