Headphones vs loudspeakers

Head phones for the money are the best speakers and set up"room" youll ever get....theres nothing in the way but the music directly to your ears!!

Nothing wrong with room audio systems (assuming proper set up and associated room acoustics). IMHO its far superior to listening to earphones (my last set were STAX). For the most part in earphones you get lots of detail and the ability (with good earphones) to accurately access what is on the recording - a great monitor.

But the price you pay is a loss of the sense of 3 dimensional imaging one gets in a good traditional set up. Most ear phones, even those trying not to, put all of the music in your (fore)head - you do not hear its source as coming from different, and appropriate places, as in a natural acoustic.

Odds are that if you think headphones are 'superior' you have either never heard a properly set up room system or have no appreciation for what it can do.

FWIW when I first encountered my STAX phones in a B&M store I couldn't imagine what anyone could hear to justifing the huge price (I'd heard & owned other phones). But, what the hell, I listened and bought them on the spot. I used them for about a year mostly for the reasons you mention. But as my room system/set up improved so did my preference for the acoustic added by the room.

Horses for courses.

My take on this issue is there are a number of answers, actually a combination of factors involved. It's been no secret that quality headphones can easily outstrip the majority of systems. At least the ones that haven't reached the level of sophistication required to be on equal footing or beyond quality phones.
For years, other than the obvious reasons for headphone use, I used my Sennheiser HD600's as a reference to compare my sound system against. After four or five years of diligent upgrades, my speaker system has finally reached parity, and beyond, my headhphones. I wasn't sure it would ever happen but it finally has.
System synergy, with the combination of electronics, cabling, loudspeakers that match the above, and perhaps most importantly, how they interact with your room, effects whether your audio system can outdo good 'phones.
So many variables that a sound system has to overcome, that are, for the most part, not an issue with 'phones.
It takes time, but with a good measuring stick, you will eventually get where you want to be. Enjoy the challenge.
Best regards,
Dan

I agree completely with Newbee. The phones are jaw dropping stupendous, however, they are not real sound in real space. As my room gets better and better, I listen to my earphones less. Although the sound of good earphones are incredibly good, they also are just not real. I always recommend them - especially to those with small budgets for this crazy hobby, or small rooms. I certainly would rather listen to earphones then poor speakers, or improperly set up speakers, or a room that has slap echo, boomy bass, etc.