Headphones vs speakers….
So I’ve been patiently waiting to buy the final pieces for a Benchmark HAB2 and DAC3 system. I have the Totem 1 speakers and decided to hook them up to an old Naim Nait 5i (probably not the best pairing) and Cambridge Azur 840C CD player. Over the last few months I’ve been on a quest for great sound through headphones and a headphone amp while I’m waiting and after maybe five sets of headphones I’ve found what I was looking for and I’m very happy.
After hooking up the Totems and Nait today I’m very disappointed. However, my room is far from treated yet - I have installed a large carpet, furnishings and will be hanging thick floor to ceiling curtains on the three walls - one behind the speakers and two side walls. However, wether I’ve been spoiled by the incredible sound of my headphone setup or I’ve been expecting too much from a full system I can’t imagine after room treatment and dialing things in that I’ll be anywhere close to being as impressed as I am with my headphones…..do any of you guys feel this way or am I being too pessimistic?
@simonmoon The recreation of the soundstage, like a holographic image of the band or musicians arrayed in front of you (not between your ears), with soundstage depth and width—that is something headphones won’t do same as speakers. It makes a huge difference to me too.
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@thomastrouble Since you like the Maggies so much I would suggest the LRS+ with a KEF KC62 sub. I have this setup in a small room with a Sanders MagTech amp. My preamp is the Benchmark LA4. I would not use the Benchmark AHB2 with the LRS+. The PeachTree GAN400 ($1500 used) is rather good with the LRS+ but the MagTech is better. The LRS+ setup is sonically very similar to my RAAL SR1a earphone setup. I turn off the LRS+ system when it gets late at night and crank up the SR1a system. I sold my RAAL VM-1a headphone amp to raise some money. I found out that the $800 RAAL TI-1b amp interface can get me to 90% of the VM-1a using the expensive CODA #16 amp. It is not quite as good with the PeachTree GAN400 but close. The VM-1a is so amazing that getting to 90% of that is still great sound. I hope to get a Class A Schitt Aegir 20-watt amp today ($800) to hopefully rival the CODA #16 with the SR1a earphones + TI-1b interface.
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I disliked all headphones i bought save one... (9 headphones of three different types ) I prefer my 2 way box speakers M-Audio Mv 40 , payed 100 bucks IN AN ACOUSTIC CORNER DESIGNED FOR THEM , to any headphone.... Save the one i love... AKG K340...After loosing my big speakers/acoustic room , they save me from audiophile despair... My little box now astound me for the ratio S.Q. /price but ONLY in a dedicated corner acoustically designed for them... Nearfield listening NEVER replace acoustic... Sorry ....
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Generally there is an headphone like sound inside the head... Convolution filters cannot change that...It will improve the frequencies response... but will not change the headphone like sound... BACCH filters can... In the mean time i use the only one speaker like headphone ... AKG k340.. 😊
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