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Headphone or Rig?


I was listening to my headphones, which is something I rarely do, and noticed the detail, that I'm not sure of enjoying from my listening chair.

Which is better for reference; your listening chair, or headphones? I'm assuming equal quality; very good headphones, very good rig.
orpheus10
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,379 posts
 
Two different ways of listening each with unique benefits.   Take your pick.   I choose both. 
seasoned's avatar
seasoned
181 posts
 

With speakers, there is a sense of 3-dimentional space with a stage in front of the listener. The listening room has a huge impact on the sound as it provides both reinforcement and cancellation.

Headphones' perspective is all in the listener's head and not out front. One can get closer to the sound of the master tape because of the detail that higher end headphones provide. Room colorations are non existent, so room modes, slap echo, etc are not present to ruin the sound.

At the RMAF I listened extensively to headphones using high end headphone amps and DSD recordings. I was gob-smacked at the sound of the higher end headphones. For example, the Abyss 'phones were so incredible and detailed that I was brought to tears on a Stevie Wonder cut. Stand-up bass and cello was a revelation with the room removed from the equation.

Which is better for reference? Probably headphone because of room issues, neutrality and ultimate detail. Which are more fun to listen to? Probably speakers because of their perspective and staging they provide - and headphone are uncomfortable to wear.

In the end you can't have it both ways.  

Ag insider logo xs@2x
tonykay
1,304 posts
 
IMO, it would be headphones. As a Stax owner (009's), I'm  probably spoiled. My main system is fine, but I've had to make compromises on speaker placement (like many others, I'm sure). The detail you hear through quality headphones, with tube electronics, is phenomenal. If it's on the master tape, you'll hear it through headphones. Somethings just get lost through speakers, unless you have a dedicated listening room similar to those found in brick and mortar stereo stores.
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

I came to the same composite conclusions as you guys came to; headphones are fun sometime, and they reveal detail not heard in an ordinary listening room, but in the long run there is the matter of comfort.

Tonykay, as a Stax owner, I can understand how you would choose headphones.

Headphones are also the best reference, I just discovered a left right balance problem in the speakers, which might be the room as opposed to electronics or the speakers.

Your input has been most helpful


Enjoy the music.
mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,946 posts
 
Stax is definitely the way to go with headphones. In the past 2 years I've gone back and forth in my preference between my headphone and speaker rigs, while tweaking/upgrading both. Currently, speakers represent the better overall listening experience. To be fair, I use a fairly high end vinyl rig (Koetsu Coralstone, Graham, Clearaudio Innovation) on the speakers, which gives them a big leg up on the digital-only Stax rig (009, BHSE, Yggdrasil).

Speakers obviously can render music with a lifelike energy, soundstage, and visceral impact that no headphone can get close to replicating. But the Stax 009, properly amped, is cleaner and more accurate from top to bottom than speakers, and the intimate presentation also has its nice points. 
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