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Can headphones ever be as good as high end stereo?

I am absolutely satisfied with the sounds of my current setup but I feel like I'm unable to listen at the volumes I prefer on a regular basis due to the ole spouse. I've been considering switching over to headphones. By selling my current speakers and amps I could easily finance stax 009 phones and a suitable amp, which seem to be regarded as the pinnacle of headphones.

My question is, what would I be losing or gaining in the switch? Right now my setup emits a beautiful wall of sound and I would hate to give that up. Understand that I have never owned a pair of headphones worth more than 80 bucks so I have no idea what good ones sounds like. Almost all source material would come from a pyon ultima table. Thanks
bfin3
david_l's avatar
david_l
5 posts
 
I've always had a much better sound quality experience from headphones than any home or car audio system. I don't have the best gear available. But I can spend a fraction of as much $$$ on headphones and get a better sound than home audio at any price point.

BTW - I have the same problem you do from my spouse and headphones was / still is my solution. After a while I got used to it. I recommend you get something that allows you physical freedom - be able to move around and do stuff with your hands while you're listening - otherwise you may resent it as much as you enjoy it.
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
08-28-14: David_l
I recommend you get something that allows you physical freedom - be able to move around and do stuff with your hands while you're listening.
Good point. I'll mention that on my older Stax Lambda Pro phones the cord is about 8 feet long, and I use it together with an earlier version of this 5 meter Stax extension cable, resulting in an overall length of 24 feet.

Regards,
-- Al
mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,928 posts
 
Different; advantages to each. Your choice of 009 is excellent; they are the best headphones. I don't find as much satisfaction in many other top headphones, but the stax 007 and lambda pros are also excellent. Note that you'll be selling the 009 short by driving them with anything less than a maxed out KGSShv.

Lately I've been splitting time between my 2ch system and 009/007/KGSShv.
mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,928 posts
 
Oh, and the Sennheiser hd800 sucks compared to the 009. Stick with Stax.
bfin3 OP
7 posts
 
Unfortunately my speakers rattling the house is too much and I can't win arguments anyway haha. New house seems like an extreme solution lol but if I'm ever in the market I'll be on the lookout for something spread out! I think I'll definitely go stax if I take the plunge. Looking at either the woo wes or the blue hawaii amps to match. Whatever I do I want it to either be great speakers or great headphone setup. I can't comfortably afford both and I don't want to split funds to have only decent speakers and decent headphones. Whatever I do I'm going all in.
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