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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
thomastrouble OP
239 posts
 

Agree with all that mlisstl

im still in the addictive phase with headphones and I have one final pair to test out - the Audeze LCD 2 planners. After that I’m finished exploring and experimenting more. 
Agree on recordings, in fact on a nice system of good cans I can’t listen to a lot of my favorite tracks if they aren’t recorded well and I find myself enjoying music that never interested me if it’s a great recording. I have a few reference tracks that I try all my headphones against and if I’m not liking what I hear on a given set of headphones with those tracks I’ll give them a pass.

Anyway, I should have my preamp in about two weeks and my room will be treated by then so I’m very curious.

james633
899 posts
 

I have used both for a long time. Headphones have good deep bass and you need full range speaker, true 20hz. The main thing speaker do better than headphones is soundstage. So it will come down to if soundstage is important to you. 

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,210 posts
 

Headphones is like doing meticulous work with reading glasses on. All pretty perfect. Large speakers in a properly treated room is like standing on a mountain top watching the sunset. Majestic!

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,862 posts
 

Headphones lack impact and dynamics as in realism ,I have heard headphones like the top Star  with $7 k headphone amps like Linear tube audio which sound Fantastic , but a very good floorstander will give you goosebumps with room impacting Bass, and dynamics you can feel ,headphones  can sound great but lack That you are there physical impact.

milpai's avatar
milpai
2,321 posts
 

Isn't it all about what a person likes and their priorities? Both approaches are great and both are right. It depends on one's priorities.

The headphone fanatics love the clarity, surround, etc, stuff that they need. My max involvement in headphones is the Grado SR80. But for me - I like to "see" the magic forming in front of me in thin air between, around and away from the speakers! Your headphone system seems to be fantastic - pursue that (and if needed, upgrade). No point in spending money in a loudspeaker system, unless you can afford both.

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