[JayB18]

I was just comparing my hd555 to my 5.1 system and the sound quality difference is amazing, especially music. My home theater system sounds very tinny and hollow now. The soundstage and directional cues are of course much better on my 5.1 system but the sound quality is a lot worse. I need to upgrade my 5.1 system in the future now.

 

[apostate]

I prefer my headphones as well but I'm in the process of upgrading the HT. Right now the JBL satellites are a big bottleneck.

Ant

 

[Carl]

My headphones are my 5.1 system.

 

[Duggeh]

Dolby Headphone FTW.

 

[colonelkernel8]

lol. 5.1 systems are good for movies. Music, headphones all the way.

 

[Davesrose]

humm......since headphones can never get the bass or spacial qualities of 5.1 surround, I just want my speakers for movies!!!!!! Music can be more viseral with my headphone rig now. But it's actually kind of more expensive to get headphones to sound that great.

 

[GreatDane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by colonelkernel8 /img/forum/go_quote.gif lol. 5.1 systems are good for movies. Music, headphones all the way.

yeah man

 

[PiccoloNamek]

For me: Movies and Video Games: Speakers
Music: Headphones

 

[apostate]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davesrose /img/forum/go_quote.gif But it's actually kind of more expensive to get headphones to sound that great.

Interesting.... I've still yet to hear anything cheaper than my headphone system that sounds better to me, or anything under 2x for that matter. Really depends on what things are most important to you and how well those are accomplished by one or the other.

FWIW I like my 271s for movies... go figure (definitely not a

)

Ant

 

[jrwalte]

headphones are definitely better for music...at least for the price range you could buy high quality headphones compared to a 5.1 system of equal value..hell, an above average receiver would cost you more than a $500 pair of top-of-the-line headphones.

Plus you get personal audio you can take with you in the palm of your hand if you get in-ear headphones like the Shure E500, which gives enough bass response except for the extreme bass hungry individuals (and I'd consider myself slightly bass hungry with 3 x 8W3 JL subwoofers in my car).

For watching movies, though, I'd pick a cheap 5.1 'set' system from WalMart before using headphones

Even claimed "5.1" headphones, of which I own the 5.1 Medusa Headphone myself. It works good enough if you need to watch in silence, but nowhere close to my Infinity speaker system with JBL receiver and Velodyne sub.

 

[jrwalte]

Quote:

Originally Posted by apostate /img/forum/go_quote.gif Interesting.... I've still yet to hear anything cheaper than my headphone system that sounds better to me, or anything under 2x for that matter.

I agree. It costs a lot more to get the same quality sound from an external system compaired to headphones. For instance, I'd wager that to get the quality of the Shure E500 you'd probably have to spend over $2000, unless of course your idea of good quality sound is 'more bass' and not clarity of highs and mids. You'll hear things in high-quality headphones that you could never hear from your external system.

It's fairly cheap to get a lot of bass, but expensive to get high quality highs, mids and lows.

 

[Redo]

No headphones come close to my home theatre setup for movies.


Music on the other hand, I'd much rather have my headphones. Especially on music I'm familiar with, my theatre room just isn't revealing (very akward room shape).

 

[axiom]

Headphones all the way

I spent all my money on headphones and so only have 2.0 sound

 

[Schalldampfer]

I still don't consider surround sound to be mature. If I had a ton of money to blow on audio equipment, it would definitely be on stereo speakers or heaphones.

 

[feckn_eejit]

No surround for me, thanks.