Are separates on borrowed time?

[CnoEvil]

If this statement is true, then Hi-End stuff is probably on the way out as well....which is unlikely to be honest!

 

[acalex]

If this statement is true, then Hi-End stuff is probably on the way out as well....which is unlikely to be honest!

I hope not

 

[CnoEvil]

Thx to whoever sorted my faux pas.

 

[steve_1979]

The other thing that makes me smile, is when I put my headphones on via my ipad for a bit of headfi and it blows away any Hifi Ive ever heard.

In many respects my Sony MP3 player and Westone earphones are on par sound quality wise with £10K+ worth of ATC active floorstanders IMO.

 

[Sizzers]

In many respects my Sony MP3 player and Westone earphones are on par sound quality wise with £10K+ worth of ATC active floorstanders IMO.

I wouldn't disagree.

My £9-99 Sony earbuds and Nokia 701 give great quality when I'm bouncing down the road

 

[shooter]

The other thing that makes me smile, is when I put my headphones on via my ipad for a bit of headfi and it blows away any Hifi Ive ever heard.

In many respects my Sony MP3 player and Westone earphones are on par sound quality wise with £10K+ worth of ATC active floorstanders IMO.

The inspiration behind my ladder climb in hi-fi was exactly that, how my Marantz amp and Grados outperformed the seperates, the quest is, well, over.

 

[the record spot]

Same with my iPod Touch and Sennheiser CX300-IIs, which I've just bought another pair of. Fantastic sound quality.

 

[naughty573]

The other thing that makes me smile, is when I put my headphones on via my ipad for a bit of headfi and it blows away any Hifi Ive ever heard.

headphones will only beat a hi-fi if you havent got the faintest clue about soundstaging and imaging - i have a good set of headphones and i still cannot get used to the in-your-head imaging aspect - and i actually find the whole headphones experience to be pathetic - so its all about what you look for in your sound - i dont only listen to the words but my hi-fi is okay and i have heard many high end setups that actually cost as much as my apartment flat and create holographic imaging thats almost lifesize (for small scale band performances - maybe not lifesize for full orchestral performances)

I suppose it also depends on the music you listen to as well - with the music i listen to headphones are the worst thing around and cannot in any way compare to a proper hi-fi in a full size room (maybe the hi-fi's you listened to were restricted by the smaller rooms you find in England - here in South Africa most people who have great Hi-fi manage to put them into rooms that are large enough to draw the best out of them hence why i feel that headphones can come absolutely nowher near the performance levels of good hi-fi besides maybe for having marginally better tonality and dynamics because of its intimate near field nature - but a performer is never standing on the top of my head or even standing face to face at one foot away during a live performance so how can a set of headphones seem realistic

 

[moon]

The other thing that makes me smile, is when I put my headphones on via my ipad for a bit of headfi and it blows away any Hifi Ive ever heard.

headphones will only beat a hi-fi if you havent got the faintest clue about soundstaging and imaging - i have a good set of headphones and i still cannot get used to the in-your-head imaging aspect - and i actually find the whole headphones experience to be pathetic - so its all about what you look for in your sound - i dont only listen to the words but my hi-fi is okay and i have heard many high end setups that actually cost as much as my apartment flat and create holographic imaging thats almost lifesize (for small scale band performances - maybe not lifesize for full orchestral performances)

I suppose it also depends on the music you listen to as well - with the music i listen to headphones are the worst thing around and cannot in any way compare to a proper hi-fi in a full size room (maybe the hi-fi's you listened to were restricted by the smaller rooms you find in England - here in South Africa most people who have great Hi-fi manage to put them into rooms that are large enough to draw the best out of them hence why i feel that headphones can come absolutely nowher near the performance levels of good hi-fi besides maybe for having marginally better tonality and dynamics because of its intimate near field nature - but a performer is never standing on the top of my head or even standing face to face at one foot away during a live performance so how can a set of headphones seem realistic

Ahem, you are absolutly right ! I havnt got the faintest idea about Hifi, and in particular my knowledge is particularly lacking when it comes to the aspects of " Soundstaging" and " imaging". Would it be possible for you to tutor me about all aspects of Hi Fi as I missed this module when I did my Music and Sound recording degree.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[naughty573]

I missed this module when I did my Music and Sound recording degree.

guy ... i could care less about your degree - your words tell me that you probably slept through the relevant lectures IMHO because headphones is the worst way to listen to your music in my opinion - as i have said the experience may have minor advantages in certain aspects but they absolutely lack in lots of aspects that i hold dear and i dont need a degree to tell me that

does it mean you need a degree to appreciate music - do you even need a degree to know about anything - i suppose next you will be telling me you need a degree to enjoy sex too .... well i truly think you can put that degree where the sun dont shine for all i care about it, because it isnt relevant to how pathetic IMHO headphones really are in the context of Hi fidelity audio listening

Mods - Try to keep this debate friendly please. There is room for everyone's opinion.

 

[the record spot]

The other thing that makes me smile, is when I put my headphones on via my ipad for a bit of headfi and it blows away any Hifi Ive ever heard.

headphones will only beat a hi-fi if you havent got the faintest clue about soundstaging and imaging - i have a good set of headphones and i still cannot get used to the in-your-head imaging aspect - and i actually find the whole headphones experience to be pathetic - so its all about what you look for in your sound

You covered it all off in here, but you get what you deserve if you come out with statements like your opening gambit here. Headphones deliver terrific fidelity but that you can't get your head round that concept is your shortcoming, not anyone else's.

And no degree required.

 

[naughty573]

Headphones deliver terrific fidelity but

let us analyze this statement here

high fidelity (hi-fi for short) is defined as (according to websters) - the reproduction of an effect (as sound or an image) that is very faithful to the original

link for you in case you cannot find it

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high+fidelity?show=0&t=1333572746

so how does a tiny man sitting on top of ones head relate to a sense of high fidelity - in fact listening to headphones is so narrow and small that it never can be likened or related to hearing the "real" thing

sure it may be marginally better tonally or it may be marginally more dynamic but a guitar is not a 2 inch square sized instrument - so in fact a pair of headphones is a failure TO ME in relation to the definition of high fidelity itself

and pardon me if i fail to wax lyrical or seem to have a lack of respect for modern sound engineers who to me are the people who are responsible for the direction that modern recordings are taking ie does the term "loudness wars" ring any bells - yes .... i admit that there probably are good sound engineers out there that actually may be worth more than the paper their degree is printed on but they wont really be butchering recordings by catering toward the "ipod generation" with their in-ear headphones who only care how loud things are and not whether a recording actually sounds real or not

 

[moon]

I missed this module when I did my Music and Sound recording degree.

guy ... i could care less about your degree - your words tell me that you probably slept through the relevant lectures IMHO because headphones is the worst way to listen to your music in my opinion - as i have said the experience may have minor advantages in certain aspects but they absolutely lack in lots of aspects that i hold dear and i dont need a degree to tell me that

does it mean you need a degree to appreciate music - do you even need a degree to know about anything - i suppose next you will be telling me you need a degree to enjoy sex too .... well i truly think you can put that degree where the sun dont shine for all i care about it, because it isnt relevant to how pathetic IMHO headphones really are in the context of Hi fidelity audio listening

what a joy you are!

 

[proffski]

Maybe, but only for those with impaired hearing or happy with 2nd best and poor taste in music perhaps?

 

[Electro]

The other thing that makes me smile, is when I put my headphones on via my ipad for a bit of headfi and it blows away any Hifi Ive ever heard.

headphones will only beat a hi-fi if you havent got the faintest clue about soundstaging and imaging - i have a good set of headphones and i still cannot get used to the in-your-head imaging aspect - and i actually find the whole headphones experience to be pathetic - so its all about what you look for in your sound - i dont only listen to the words but my hi-fi is okay and i have heard many high end setups that actually cost as much as my apartment flat and create holographic imaging thats almost lifesize (for small scale band performances - maybe not lifesize for full orchestral performances)

I suppose it also depends on the music you listen to as well - with the music i listen to headphones are the worst thing around and cannot in any way compare to a proper hi-fi in a full size room (maybe the hi-fi's you listened to were restricted by the smaller rooms you find in England - here in South Africa most people who have great Hi-fi manage to put them into rooms that are large enough to draw the best out of them hence why i feel that headphones can come absolutely nowher near the performance levels of good hi-fi besides maybe for having marginally better tonality and dynamics because of its intimate near field nature - but a performer is never standing on the top of my head or even standing face to face at one foot away during a live performance so how can a set of headphones seem realistic

You obviously did not do a degree in diplomacy but I have to agree that IMO there is not a pair of headphones made that can compare to a good Hifi system with full range speakers in a room with good acoustics .

I only use headphones when on the move and I am always very careful with the volume level because it is very easy to damage your hearing without realizing it which is another reason I don't like headphones much , especially in ear ones

 

[BenLaw]

I only use headphones when on the move

Gosh, I should really do that instead of taking my speakers on the train

 

[BenLaw]

Headphones deliver terrific fidelity but

high fidelity (hi-fi for short) is defined as (according to websters) - the reproduction of an effect (as sound or an image) that is very faithful to the original

. . .sure it may be marginally better tonally or it may be marginally more dynamic

So... that would be a more accurate reproduction then. It's silly to say headphones can't be hifi. It's just different. Each to their own, and some to both.

 

[shooter]

Whats wrong with headphones :roll:

 

[the record spot]

Nothing at all, just some bloke that can't understand the concept. Nothing to see here, etc.

 

[moon]

Whats wrong with headphones :roll:

I dunno, I now regret talking about Hifi, headphones ........ Degrees or anything in particular. I like coming to the forum to discuss a subject that I have had a great interest in. Its just such a real shame that people have to be 1. so agressive and 2, Troll to get a rise and annoy people.

 

[shooter]

Getting over the imaging/soundstageing aspect headphones offer great fidelity, no room interaction, no crossover and 20-20 capability, what speakers do that?

 

[shooter]

Whats wrong with headphones :roll:

I dunno, I now regret talking about Hifi, headphones ........ Degrees or anything in particular. I like coming to the forum to discuss a subject that I have had a great interest in. Its just such a real shame that people have to be 1. so agressive and 2, Troll to get a rise and annoy people.

Some could be PC etiquette which can be tricky for newby [i know] but agressivness is another matter

 

[naughty573]

what a joy you are!

yep - im the one throwing my "degrees" around to bully people into my way of thinking :roll:

You obviously did not do a degree in diplomacy

true enough, but when blunt statements are made they deserve equally blunt responses

but I have to agree that IMO there is not a pair of headphones made that can compare to a good Hifi system with full range speakers in a room with good acoustics

agreed, and i suppose it helps when your reference point to hi-fi is not a pair of Wharfedale 9.1's (cue the inevitable "i have also listened to everything on B&W 800 diamonds" claim next)

Gosh, I should really do that instead of taking my speakers on the train

yep - you really need to hear high fidelity music on a moving train :roll: and you also need to wear your headphones and listen to music while walking in the street - if i had a quid for everytime i missed to knock over some idiot wearing headphones and walking across an intersection without looking at traffic lights cos he was busy listening to his headphones with an ipod or phone i would be able to probably afford those 800 diamonds i mentioned above

 

[the record spot]

Headphones deliver terrific fidelity but

let us analyze this statement here

Yes, lets!

high fidelity (hi-fi for short) is defined as (according to websters) - the reproduction of an effect (as sound or an image) that is very faithful to the original

On the page with this so far.

link for you in case you cannot find it

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high+fidelity?show=0&t=1333572746

That's okay, I'll take your word for it...

so how does a tiny man sitting on top of ones head relate to a sense of high fidelity - in fact listening to headphones is so narrow and small that it never can be likened or related to hearing the "real" thing

Er, you're getting this slightly wrong. You're taking the physical size against the capability of the headphone design, the source and the recording quality to deliver an accurate representation of the recorded or live piece. In my experience, if they are well designed and well engineered, they'll deliver.

sure it may be marginally better tonally or it may be marginally more dynamic but a guitar is not a 2 inch square sized instrument - so in fact a pair of headphones is a failure TO ME in relation to the definition of high fidelity itself

Right, so you accept headphones have the potential to be better tonally and dynamically. Nobody's said the guitar is anything but a full-size thing. And of course, it's your opinion, so that's fine too.

and pardon me if i fail to wax lyrical or seem to have a lack of respect for modern sound engineers who to me are the people who are responsible for the direction that modern recordings are taking ie does the term "loudness wars" ring any bells - yes .... i admit that there probably are good sound engineers out there that actually may be worth more than the paper their degree is printed on but they wont really be butchering recordings by catering toward the "ipod generation" with their in-ear headphones who only care how loud things are and not whether a recording actually sounds real or not

Yes, there are some very fine mastering engineers out there, my own favourites being Barry Diament, Joe Gastwirt and Bernie Grundman. As it happens, I use a 32Gb iPod Touch with a bunch of WAV files and high quality Spotify with Sennheiser CX300-IIs. It's a very fine combination and excellent for faithful audio reproduction.

 

[steve_1979]

I only use headphones when on the move and I am always very careful with the volume level because it is very easy to damage your hearing without realizing it which is another reason I don't like headphones much , especially in ear ones

Have you ever tried Comply foam tips? They're great because they block out most of the external noise which allows you to comfortably listen to your music at a much lower volume level.