Loudspeakers or Headphones - Which are best?
Discussion
Just out of curiosity I got my old Denon DM20 micro-system down (minus the speakers) from the loft, plugged in my Sennheiser HD206 headphones and had a listen. Not bad at all for an old micro and a cheap pair of Sennheisers 
Got me thinking - Which are best to listen with? Loudspeakers or headphones? My early thoughts personally are that I like the floorstanding loudspeakers more because they fill the room and not just my ears with music. Speakers rely on the acoustics of a room to a certain extent, where as headphones ideally need to be light and comfortable. Let the debate begin - Over to you....
Got me thinking - Which are best to listen with? Loudspeakers or headphones? My early thoughts personally are that I like the floorstanding loudspeakers more because they fill the room and not just my ears with music. Speakers rely on the acoustics of a room to a certain extent, where as headphones ideally need to be light and comfortable. Let the debate begin - Over to you....
I could never get on with headphones even though they were pretty good. I didn't like the sound being in the middle of my head.
If one's room is big enough you can't beat a really good pair of floorstand speakers and subject to the rest of the system up to scratch it is possible to pin point the sections of the orchestra or band personnel and create a three dimensional soundstage. The base also creates actual vibrations in the room.
Sorry to be a pedant. It is "Which is better?" as its comparison of two.
If one's room is big enough you can't beat a really good pair of floorstand speakers and subject to the rest of the system up to scratch it is possible to pin point the sections of the orchestra or band personnel and create a three dimensional soundstage. The base also creates actual vibrations in the room.
Sorry to be a pedant. It is "Which is better?" as its comparison of two.
Edited by Nomme de Plum on Tuesday 17th December 17:40
It depends. The biggest problem with most hi-fi systems is the room acoustics, which is irrelevant with headphones.
Probably, in most scenarios and up to a certain budget, headphones are the 'best'.
I like to have both and find that certain recordings sound better through headphones and others through speakers.
Probably, in most scenarios and up to a certain budget, headphones are the 'best'.
I like to have both and find that certain recordings sound better through headphones and others through speakers.
You can't feel music through headphones.
However, when working and I need to hear details, I use headphones, but that is more about the environment I'm in.
Fun fact: the headphones I use for work today are the same ones I got as a Christmas gift in 2000
they have literally been around the world.
Twenty-four years of use and still working
they have had a few replacement cables and pads, to be fair.
Which is better, it depends on where you are.
However, when working and I need to hear details, I use headphones, but that is more about the environment I'm in.
Fun fact: the headphones I use for work today are the same ones I got as a Christmas gift in 2000
they have literally been around the world.Twenty-four years of use and still working
they have had a few replacement cables and pads, to be fair.Which is better, it depends on where you are.
Tony1963 said:
Well if you really believe your statement is the only way, there’s no point discussing it really.
But, as just one point, some people hate headphones, for example for the lack of real deep bass, at £400.
That's better. But, as just one point, some people hate headphones, for example for the lack of real deep bass, at £400.
My SRH1540s go deeper than almost every system I've heard.
Sporky said:
That's better.
My SRH1540s go deeper than almost every system I've heard.
But I'm sure you'll know that to go deeper with suitable speakers in a good sized room isn't difficult.My SRH1540s go deeper than almost every system I've heard.
But... I love my current headphone system, enforced by the christmas tree taking the place of the hifi for now.
Another factor some hate is the unnatural separation of left and right channels. I had a nice SPL headphone amp on loan for a few weeks that solved this, and I loved it, but £2k was beyond by budget.
Diderot said:
Acoustically there is no contest (unless your listening room has been properly treated) - a good pair of headphones will be measurably superior.
I know people with, to me, unlimited budgets who have tried and tried to like headphones, but they just don't get on with them, at any price and quality. A full range speaker system is quite a thing, if you can afford to drive those magnets properly. Tony1963 said:
Diderot said:
Acoustically there is no contest (unless your listening room has been properly treated) - a good pair of headphones will be measurably superior.
I know people with, to me, unlimited budgets who have tried and tried to like headphones, but they just don't get on with them, at any price and quality. A full range speaker system is quite a thing, if you can afford to drive those magnets properly. This last year got into head-fi a bit more and it is a very expensive and addictive hobby.
I've spent a small fortune on both a headphone system and a speaker based system and I think each have their merits.
My headphone system comprises of Focal Utopia headphones, Chord DAVE DAC, Pathos Inpol Ear headphone amp and an Auralic high end streamer, they all run off a PS Audio mains unit.
In my main room I have a speaker based system comprising of some special order JBL speakers, Pathos amplifier and another Auralic streamer. in all it cost about twice that of my headphone system.
As a bass player in a band years ago my band played Texas Flood by SRV and my test of any system has always been the bass line in that song. Both systems reproduce the bass line in E flat to perfection.
My preference if for the headphone system as I have also bought a Weyron Zero Gravity chair and have to say I often get lost in 3-4 hour listening sessions drifting away to the sounds.
But when the wife goes out I do play the speaker system to ridiculous levels which I also love.
My headphone system comprises of Focal Utopia headphones, Chord DAVE DAC, Pathos Inpol Ear headphone amp and an Auralic high end streamer, they all run off a PS Audio mains unit.
In my main room I have a speaker based system comprising of some special order JBL speakers, Pathos amplifier and another Auralic streamer. in all it cost about twice that of my headphone system.
As a bass player in a band years ago my band played Texas Flood by SRV and my test of any system has always been the bass line in that song. Both systems reproduce the bass line in E flat to perfection.
My preference if for the headphone system as I have also bought a Weyron Zero Gravity chair and have to say I often get lost in 3-4 hour listening sessions drifting away to the sounds.
But when the wife goes out I do play the speaker system to ridiculous levels which I also love.
Sporky said:
It's easier to be acoustically limited by the room with speakers though...
It’s never-ending in this place, this room acoustics thing. I agree, but most people live in fairly normal houses and, if they care about these things, can achieve decent results and share the experience with family/friends. Not everyone is a loner! Gassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff