Noel Lee (Monster Cable)

Hey Guy's I just read an interesting article in HI-FI+ (issue 74) about Noel Lee. He's giving an interview about his headphones or buds (as I call them).... One question that really caught my attention was "What about High-End Headphones"?  Noel said,They're flawed. You listen to them, the really high-end Sennheiser, etc and you wouldn't be able to listen to them as a loudspeaker, it's got a high end peak. All Headphones sound like headphones, there's a flaw in them, it's not the audiophile equivalent of the living room. He says, (my Quote of his answer ) "If  you listen to really hi end speakers and great gear, that's what the audiophile strives for. He has no equivalent in the headphone space"!  GET THIS, He says Sennheisers have a peak in the high end that sounds steely. Headphone listeners perceive that as detail but audiophiles really haven't gravitated to headphones.... Anyway try to read his whole interview.......I take issue with him about, how we're not audiophiles.....I just got back into "Cans" in the last few yrs. so I could listen to hi-end sound while talking on line "here" or just reading on the web..BUT, I've always  been a speaker (main system) listener 1st...An  Audiophile if you will!  I believe in the "ROOM Effect" it's a big part in what helps create your sound, that comes in a main system...I do believe that my listening with high end Headphones, amp, dac and a source, makes me really appreciate my listening sessions in my main room when I do, even more........Do you guys have any thoughts  on Mr. Lees' comments?? It almost sounds like he's biting the hand that feeds him, because of his headphones that his company sells..!!! But Remember he's probably rolling in $$$$$$$$..

If he prefers speakers over headphones, then that's fine...so do I BUT saying that all headphones are flawed...well...I beg to differ.

Well, which headphone isn't flawed?  They just had a discussion in the LCD2 thread comparing them to Magnepans w/ ribbon tweeters.  So, ummm...yeah.  Just because he says headphones have a flaw doesn't mean they don't have their place.  Plus its not just room effect.  Speakers give you near infinite design potential compared to something that must be worn on the head.  You won't be fitting a 8-12" subwoofer on your head. 

You didn't like any Monster audio?  I thought the Ray Charles album was pretty good.  You have to beware the live monster audio though.  Hit and miss.

I will say his definition of 'audiophile' is not consistent w/ the Latin translation.