High-end head phones VS High-end Speakers - Page 3 - Team-BHP

greenh0rn · 7th May 2009, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocG

Frankly it's a very unfair comparison. Not just from the financial standpoint, but infrastructure wise.

With 'phones you might just need a good amp, sometimes not even that, and the soundstage is excellent... some high end headphones, the sound quality is UNBELIEVABLY good!

I think at least I have my answer. Good pair of cans combined with a good amp give you terrific SQ on a budget. Speakers need too many other variables to be right, and good speakers any day cost a hell of a lot of more money.

But if money and effort and space is not a criterion, speakers are the way to go.

DocG · 8th May 2009, 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenh0rn

I think at least I have my answer. Good pair of cans combined with a good amp give you terrific SQ on a budget...

Not necessarily cans. Trust me you'll be surprised with the SQ of some of the 'bus these days! Shure for example (I rate their products higher than Etymotic, Ultimate ears, V-moda etc)

The SE530s for around USD300-350 produces what I call 'Audio Nirvana' They're right up there with some of the best cans (Upto a level)

My point is today top quality audio has also become portable, and is no longer restricted to giant speakers or big wooden cans with humongous drivers which make on look like a martian...

DocG

low_bass_makker · 10th May 2009, 16:17

Would love if Navin Ji , Sam Bhai and Ajay Bhai share there views in this matter.

Sam Kapasi · 10th May 2009, 23:36

I am not sure if this belongs in the car audio section.

I love a good pair of headphones, I do. I have access to every model from AKG, for obvious reasons. IMO the detail and recording quality of any kind of audio recording can be wonderfully experienced by a fine set of headphones.

If you are talking about detail, then the closest thing to a pair of headphones, is a fine pair of nearfield monitors.

But if you're talking about a listening experience that is both involving and emotional, then nothing is like a set of good speakers.

They are 2 different things, IMO there is no comparison.

Bass&Trouble · 11th May 2009, 13:50

Sam has summed it up quite nicely. Personally, I never use headphones for listening to music. Except while at a DJ station.

sandy16000 · 11th May 2009, 14:23

Hi - I would vote for high end speakers if I had to choose one option.

I own Bose QC2 and have owned the highest end Shure noise isolating headphones in the past as my work involves a lot of travel. While they are great when travelling, I prefer listening to my Denon home theater system (I listen to music in 7-channel stereo mode rather than in 7.1 channel surround mode) at home and to my ICE (all JBL set-up) when in the car.

Listening to headphones over an extended period of time has its own set of hearing related issues (not a doc, but have been so advised).

I have invested in both because that way, I take great SQ with me when I travel.

Cheers,

Sandy

DerAlte · 12th May 2009, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandy16000

... my Denon home theater system (I listen to music in 7-channel stereo mode rather than in 7.1 channel surround mode) ...

Errr... what exactly is "7-channel stereo mode"???

Bass&Trouble · 12th May 2009, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerAlte

Errr... what exactly is "7-channel stereo mode"???

Similar to 5-ch stereo mode found in a lot of receivers, I suppose.

In this mode, all speakers play the main channels' program material in stereo, depending on whether they are left or right. Sub plays sub-bass and center I think, does mixed mono (not sure).

I use this often for multi-zone stereo setups without needing to use multiple power amps.

sandy16000 · 12th May 2009, 14:28

Spot-on Bass&Trouble, and the center speaker is muted in this mode. This mode provides better depth to vocals (which otherwise seem to come only from the center speaker) and better bass response as well.

Sam Kapasi · 12th May 2009, 16:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandy16000

I prefer listening to my Denon home theater system (I listen to music in 7-channel stereo mode rather than in 7.1 channel surround mode) at home

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass&Trouble

Similar to 5-ch stereo mode found in a lot of receivers, I suppose.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandy16000

Spot-on Bass&Trouble, and the center speaker is muted in this mode. This mode provides better depth to vocals (which otherwise seem to come only from the center speaker) and better bass response as well.

Hey Sandy,

Usually the centre speaker is not muted in 7 or 5 channel stereo, the centre plays a mono L+R in that mode. You can of course choose to mute the centre.

This however would no longer be 7 channel

The .1 of course (as your probably know) stands for the active/powered subwoofer.

There are very few modes of processing that can make a satisfactory 5.1 or 7.1 output out of a stereo music input. I have heard Logic& and PLIIM extensively and honestly, it can get a bit annoying sometimes.

But careful listening of music in 7 channel stereo with music from all around me?? I don't think that is possible and it would be very jarring.

sandy16000 · 13th May 2009, 12:00

Hey Sam - You are right, if the center speaker is muted, it no longer remains 7-ch. I am sure though that I have not muted my home theater center speaker, it must have been the factory setting to mute it in 7-ch stereo mode (I am equally sure it is mute in that mode).

You are also right - listening to stereo music in 5.1 or 7.1 is outright irritating. I do not find 7 ch stereo jarring though. The way speakers are positioned in my room, it does not feel like the sound is coming from all directions unless you are sitting very close to a speaker. But I will do some careful listening over the weekend and compare 2-ch stereo mode vs 7-ch stereo mode to figure out which one is more pleasing to me. Will get back with my personal experience.

Cheers,

Sandy

reignofchaos · 14th May 2009, 00:56

This is a no contest - Have tried a Senn HD650, Grado RS1, AKG 701 with a good headroom tube head amp and the headphone out of the highly regarded Leben CS600. None of the cans were even remotely close in experience to my current Usher Be-718 bookshelves in resolution, bass impact, soundstaging and overall musical experience.

abhi182 · 19th May 2009, 18:04

Speakers anyday
To start with, even a reasonably good pair of speakers will create a substantially better soundstage
Not to mention that the whole feel of having a headphone/earphone wrapped around your ears is so unnatural that it (IMO) negates any positive experience associated with listening to a good stereo setup

View Poll Results: Which will offer better SQ ?
High-end Headphone	20	54.05%
High-end Speakers	17	45.95%
Voters: 37. You may not vote on this poll

10th May 2009, 23:36	#34 (permalink)
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but watch this space) Posts: 6,327 View My Garage	I am not sure if this belongs in the car audio section. I love a good pair of headphones, I do. I have access to every model from AKG, for obvious reasons. IMO the detail and recording quality of any kind of audio recording can be wonderfully experienced by a fine set of headphones. If you are talking about detail, then the closest thing to a pair of headphones, is a fine pair of nearfield monitors. But if you're talking about a listening experience that is both involving and emotional, then nothing is like a set of good speakers. They are 2 different things, IMO there is no comparison. __________________ n. - consent or concurrence of opinions or wills; agreement. v. - to make agree or correspond; adapt.

11th May 2009, 13:50	#35 (permalink)
Bass&Trouble Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bombay Posts: 2,563	Sam has summed it up quite nicely. Personally, I never use headphones for listening to music. Except while at a DJ station. __________________ Losers Commute. We Ride.

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10th May 2009, 16:17	#33 (permalink)
low_bass_makker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Faridabad Posts: 6,518 View My Garage	Would love if Navin Ji , Sam Bhai and Ajay Bhai share there views in this matter.

11th May 2009, 14:23	#36 (permalink)
sandy16000 BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 29	Hi - I would vote for high end speakers if I had to choose one option. I own Bose QC2 and have owned the highest end Shure noise isolating headphones in the past as my work involves a lot of travel. While they are great when travelling, I prefer listening to my Denon home theater system (I listen to music in 7-channel stereo mode rather than in 7.1 channel surround mode) at home and to my ICE (all JBL set-up) when in the car. Listening to headphones over an extended period of time has its own set of hearing related issues (not a doc, but have been so advised). I have invested in both because that way, I take great SQ with me when I travel. Cheers, Sandy

12th May 2009, 14:28	#39 (permalink)
sandy16000 BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 29	Spot-on Bass&Trouble, and the center speaker is muted in this mode. This mode provides better depth to vocals (which otherwise seem to come only from the center speaker) and better bass response as well.

13th May 2009, 12:00	#41 (permalink)
sandy16000 BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 29	Hey Sam - You are right, if the center speaker is muted, it no longer remains 7-ch. I am sure though that I have not muted my home theater center speaker, it must have been the factory setting to mute it in 7-ch stereo mode (I am equally sure it is mute in that mode). You are also right - listening to stereo music in 5.1 or 7.1 is outright irritating. I do not find 7 ch stereo jarring though. The way speakers are positioned in my room, it does not feel like the sound is coming from all directions unless you are sitting very close to a speaker. But I will do some careful listening over the weekend and compare 2-ch stereo mode vs 7-ch stereo mode to figure out which one is more pleasing to me. Will get back with my personal experience. Cheers, Sandy

14th May 2009, 00:56	#42 (permalink)
reignofchaos Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,366 View My Garage	This is a no contest - Have tried a Senn HD650, Grado RS1, AKG 701 with a good headroom tube head amp and the headphone out of the highly regarded Leben CS600. None of the cans were even remotely close in experience to my current Usher Be-718 bookshelves in resolution, bass impact, soundstaging and overall musical experience.

19th May 2009, 18:04	#43 (permalink)
abhi182 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 194 View My Garage	Speakers anyday To start with, even a reasonably good pair of speakers will create a substantially better soundstage Not to mention that the whole feel of having a headphone/earphone wrapped around your ears is so unnatural that it (IMO) negates any positive experience associated with listening to a good stereo setup