Zanth
SHAman who knew of Head-Fi ten years prior to its existence
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2001
- Posts
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So I am enjoying a morning tea and I thought I would browse a few forums while I had the chance, in hopes of relaxing before a big day of paper pushing. I came across this thread over at AA and particularly this post which caught my attention.
The topic matter of that thread has been discussed here and there many times and I'm not interested in discussing it again save for the context I'm about to present. I think the second link I provided really asks a good question or provides insight to the reason that many speakerphiles have a difficult time coming over into the headphone world.
Over the past 3 months I have had the opportunity to listen to some truly fine stereo systems, two of which cost in excess of 50k USD one of which was 150k-200k USD.
Now, these systems were incredible, better than anything I had ever heard anywhere else save for well setup live venues, but even with the incredible dynamics (these last two were very high efficiency speaker systems using low powered amps, one using a sweet 300b from Wyetech) and impeccable detail, I still couldn't get over how much detail was lost, even when listening pretty close to the speakers in the "sweet spot." I have listened to the top of the line Martin Logans with MONSTEROUSLY powered amps from Classe in a very well setup room and even here...headphones, even low models like SR60's, have more detail.
My brain is simply used to hearing far more information, information that usually is impossible for a speaker system to get out there. I also found that the music was not as intimate - two aspects I didn't think a top speaker system would lose out to to even a modest headphone system. Of course, soundstaging, real imaging, wide dynamics the ability to "share" the experience with multiple listeners destroys any headphone setup save for those capable of having more than one listener join in with a separate set...but I can truly say that my brain has most definitely acclimated itself with the style of listening I am "forced" to use most often given my living conditions at the moment. Given how much I enjoy this form of listning, until recently I always felt I was short changing myself, now, I feel sorry for speakerphiles who don't know any better
In time, when I move and I have spot to setup a system, I'm sure that with much listening, my brain will adjust itself and then going back and forth will reveal the inherent flaws in both worlds but that I will come to appreciate them on equal grounds. This is my goal anyway.
However, it brings me back to the original thought for this post, do our brains adjust? And if so, is it quite possible that those who enjoy headphones more than speakers aren't "fooling" themselves but have truly adapted to focus in on extra information, perfect imaging, and an intimacy speakers can't provide, shucking the need for a realistic soundstage and life-like dynamics with chest pounding bass and all the pitfalls of room setup etc?
We've had the debate numerous times about which is better, and why, or why one person listens to headphones over speakers or vice versa. I would prefer this thread stay within the realm of psychology and neurology. Perception and what is happening to our pathways by listening to headphones. Without experimentation, this will all be conjecture, but I think it will be informative and maybe even fun
The topic matter of that thread has been discussed here and there many times and I'm not interested in discussing it again save for the context I'm about to present. I think the second link I provided really asks a good question or provides insight to the reason that many speakerphiles have a difficult time coming over into the headphone world.
Over the past 3 months I have had the opportunity to listen to some truly fine stereo systems, two of which cost in excess of 50k USD one of which was 150k-200k USD.
Now, these systems were incredible, better than anything I had ever heard anywhere else save for well setup live venues, but even with the incredible dynamics (these last two were very high efficiency speaker systems using low powered amps, one using a sweet 300b from Wyetech) and impeccable detail, I still couldn't get over how much detail was lost, even when listening pretty close to the speakers in the "sweet spot." I have listened to the top of the line Martin Logans with MONSTEROUSLY powered amps from Classe in a very well setup room and even here...headphones, even low models like SR60's, have more detail.
My brain is simply used to hearing far more information, information that usually is impossible for a speaker system to get out there. I also found that the music was not as intimate - two aspects I didn't think a top speaker system would lose out to to even a modest headphone system. Of course, soundstaging, real imaging, wide dynamics the ability to "share" the experience with multiple listeners destroys any headphone setup save for those capable of having more than one listener join in with a separate set...but I can truly say that my brain has most definitely acclimated itself with the style of listening I am "forced" to use most often given my living conditions at the moment. Given how much I enjoy this form of listning, until recently I always felt I was short changing myself, now, I feel sorry for speakerphiles who don't know any better
In time, when I move and I have spot to setup a system, I'm sure that with much listening, my brain will adjust itself and then going back and forth will reveal the inherent flaws in both worlds but that I will come to appreciate them on equal grounds. This is my goal anyway.
However, it brings me back to the original thought for this post, do our brains adjust? And if so, is it quite possible that those who enjoy headphones more than speakers aren't "fooling" themselves but have truly adapted to focus in on extra information, perfect imaging, and an intimacy speakers can't provide, shucking the need for a realistic soundstage and life-like dynamics with chest pounding bass and all the pitfalls of room setup etc?
We've had the debate numerous times about which is better, and why, or why one person listens to headphones over speakers or vice versa. I would prefer this thread stay within the realm of psychology and neurology. Perception and what is happening to our pathways by listening to headphones. Without experimentation, this will all be conjecture, but I think it will be informative and maybe even fun