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Why do headphones sound so good...

compared to speakers? Someone posed this question on a guitar forum I participate in. I didn't really know how to answer the question.

I basically stated that good 'phones can be had for a hundred bucks but good speakers cost a few grand. Not including the cost of good electronics (a few thousand more). So, for pretty short money, an iPod and a set of Grado's, for example, you can get pretty damn good sound reproduction vs. a full blown Hifi set up. I believe that a good room filling stereo blows away any set of 'phones. But without cost as a factor.

Thoughts?
hammergjh
royj's avatar
royj
151 posts
 
Right on all counts, Shadorne.

Best regards,
Roy Johnson
Designer
Green Mountain Audio
pauly
1,012 posts
 
They don't sound good - you are simply not used to real live music.

Music can be felt as well as heard, especially the lower frequencies. With earphones music cannot be felt. Earphones usually lead to irreparable damage to hearing as the users turn up the volume to compensate for this loss.

Live music also carries an acoustic signature of the room. Using speakers you have a similar effect. Earphones rob you of this.

Regards
Paul
mitchb's avatar
mitchb
336 posts
 
I love my headgear but it doesn't touch my main speaker system. The headphones appearingly more detailed lack the substance given by a decent pair of speaker with decent electronics. One reason headphones may appear asttractive is that you can play them louder than the average speaker system if you live with others. I really like my headgear but I love my main system. I like the effect of the sound of speakers in a room. Headphones lack the body and weight of decent speakers. I have an HR-2 Emmeline amp and Sennheisser HD650 headphones so my headgear does not lack warmth or body but my Hales with my Pass electronics simply have more of a good thing. If your room makes your speakers unlistenable then headphones are the obvious solution but if you can beat the room then nothing beats loudspeakers.
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