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?

 

thomastrouble

For me, headphones versus speakers in a room are two completely different experiences. Rather like comparing a roadster to a luxury sedan -- each has their attractive qualities, but which you like better at any given moment depends on what mood you're in.

That said, it sounds like you've put a lot of effort into getting your headphone system the way you like it (though interestingly you didn't say what headphones you bought.)  Perhaps you need to put some more effort into your loudspeaker system, though I have to say Totems have never done much for me, though I know they have a following.

I think the headphone versus speaker debate comes down to what your sound priorities are. 

Headphones tend to have a flatter listening response because their sound isn't impacted by the room. Some listening rooms can impact the response of a speaker-based system, especially with bass, by many decibels. This causes annoying augmentation and/or complete suck-out of certain frequencies and can ruin/hamper the listening experience.

By comparison, a great speaker-based system just sounds more open with appropriate imaging. I detoured a few years with headphones and could never get the same illusion of performers occupying the listening space. 

Using well-designed and implemented room treatments helps a speaker-based system sound closer to a headphone-based system in terms of response, although a world-class headphone system will always maintain the advantage.

You'll be hard-pressed to get the spaciousness of a quality speaker-based system with headphones though. That open window, 3D sound when everything is working is awesome.  

It certainly takes more resources, planning, and patience to get a speaker-based system to sing correctly. Its much much easier with headphones.     

Agree with all

Proper corner horns are considered to be the most “headphone like” sound by most listeners due to the least amount of interaction (reflections) in the room.

I sometimes use mine in my heavily treated basement and they do sound the most like headphones to me (compared to my other loudspeakers)