Speakers or headphones, which do you prefer?

[Dom]

I'm a speaker guy.

 

[Deleted member 201267]

Speakers.

 

[matthewpianist]

I like both equally - a good thing seeing as I live in a busy household of 5. Sometimes headphones are the only way to get some peace!

 

[Jasonovich]

Why do we need a comparison or a preference? They're both unique communication mediums and offer different solutions.

If I want accessible music at all times without disruption to others, I give the thumbs up to headphones.​

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If I want to lean back on my comfy chair and fill the four corners of my room with sound, I give the thumbs up to speakers.​

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The dynamics are different, they invoke different emotions. The headphones make me feel integral to the sound, while speakers give a sense of expansion and depth.

I think the question to ask, can you live without the other? I need both.

 

[Friesiansam]

I have been headphones only for many years but, I voted speakers because given suitable circumstances, a good pair of floor standers would be my preference.

 

[Dom]

Oh sure I need both, but maybe its the difference between £1250 speakers to £150 headphones?

Maybe if I had £500+ headphones I would think differently?

 

[Dom]

I have been headphones only for many years but, I voted speakers because given suitable circumstances, a good pair of floor standers would be my preference.

Well indeed, I would prefer floorstanders to stand mounts but that's a different question.

However if someone offered me £5000 stand mount speakers I would have those

 

[twinkletoes]

speakers at the moment, have yet to find a pair of cans I like the sound of.

 

[AJM1981]

Loudspeakers

Hi-fi headphones seemed to have grown out of headphones for communication and became a necessity to be able to listen to music when other people didn't want to be disturbed by sound, as a "slave" to loudspeakers.

I like my Grado headphones but having someone playing guitar through an earcap (when the panorama shift is completely left or right) is not really a natural presentation. Also the perception of bass is different and seem to be more simulated with any kind of headphone. I like to feel the bass like pressure going through the air. Mainly listening jazz, but there is always this slight push of a bass string of an upright bass that can be slightly felt, which makes it real.

No high price tag headphones will ever tackle that, unless one listens with headphones 'and' leaves the subwoofer active. Headphones seem to be the main reason why the 60s stereo effect (hard seperation of left and right panorama) got dumped in time. It doesn't work that well with headphones. The unity it kind of creates with loudpspeakers falls short.

Not all negative opinons here. A plus for headphones is in my opinion the binaural effects of certain soundscapes and music work much better than a 5.1 setup. I would like to watch films and series with a binaural soundlayer using headphones.

 

[Dom]

I have added Prefer equally to the poll since Jason and Matt like both.

 

[WayneKerr]

Speakers every time for me, headphones a poor second place but sometimes a necessity.

 

[Revolutions]

Walking down the road with my floorstanders was a nightmare.

 

[Jasonovich]

I have added Prefer equally to the poll since Jason and Matt like both.

Thanks Dom, I have cast my vote.

 

[Jasonovich]

Walking down the road with my floorstanders was a nightmare.

 

[Gray]

Speakers every time for me, headphones a poor second place but sometimes a necessity.

That sums it up for me.

Headphones (literally) take you closer to the sound - and are essential for those who've ever monitored recordings of vinyl.

 

[WayneKerr]

Headphones (literally) take you closer to the sound - and are essential for those who've ever monitored recordings of vinyl.

Definitely, Gray Speakers are useless for this.

 

[Friesiansam]

Walking down the road with my floorstanders was a nightmare.

Get yourself a wheelbarrow.

 

[podknocker]

When I plug my cans into my PC and listen to Spotify, it's totally immersive and I hear things I never hear through my speakers. There are no reflections or other acoustic compromises with the headphones. My Sennheiser HD600 cans are over 20 years old and still have a nice 'bounce' to the sound and are very neutral sounding, with no bass boom etc. Even though I've put foam plugs in my speakers, there are still issues with the sound and also gaps. The cans give me everything. Speakers sound different, but not necessarily better.

 

[Stuart83]

Floorstanders everytime.
Locally we have an old bloke who has kitted his mobility scooter out with multiple car speakers and it annoys the death out of me and visibly others so the wheel barrow full of speakers is off.
Perhaps a "one man band" suit but I could see it getting in the way of normal tasks.
Headphones have their place but only for portability.

 

[Dom]

Get yourself a wheelbarrow.

The idea the wheelbarrow could "Turn-over" at any moment fill's me with fear.

I would probably want to use this:

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[Witterings]

Speakers .... although using headphones aggravates my tinnitus so is largely the reason.

I also don't like the feeling of not being aware of what's going on around you with headphones and having to have something actually on your head.

 

[Friesiansam]

When I plug my cans into my PC and listen to Spotify, it's totally immersive and I hear things I never hear through my speakers. There are no reflections or other acoustic compromises with the headphones. My Sennheiser HD600 cans are over 20 years old and still have a nice 'bounce' to the sound and are very neutral sounding, with no bass boom etc. Even though I've put foam plugs in my speakers, there are still issues with the sound and also gaps. The cans give me everything. Speakers sound different, but not necessarily better.

I agree headphones can be very good, I wouldn't have the headphones and DAC/amp in my signature if I didn't but, as some others have said in the past in this very forum, you still don't 'feel' the music and, even with offset drivers like my Focals, the soundstage is still at least partly inside your head, rather than in front of you. When I read of the problems some people have with their room and speakers, placement, furniture, reflections etc, I am happy I have no such problems.

 

[podknocker]

I think cans give you a more accurate picture of the recording, again without acoustic or structural issues getting in the way. My system will never sound as good, not just because of limitations in my living room, but the sounds either taken away, or added by the average/above average kit etc. It's nice not being tethered to a pair of cans and having my system do the work and it does sound pleasant, but I prefer my cans. A pair of bluetooth cans, as good as my wired ones and I would possibly consider cans only. Possibly.

 

[James105]

Get yourself a wheelbarrow.

I believe the larger B&W speakers have wheels fitted.