Quote:
I'm keeping most of the headphones because there's a time and place for them, but speakers rule. Most of the room treatment stuff is overrated, anyway. You can find excellent speakers in the $1,000-$3,000 rage (preferably used) driven off a $50 receiver found on Craigslist, that will demolish even the most expensive headphones.
You absolutely do not have to throw big money at speakers.
I absolutely agree with that, speakers setups are highly overrated most of the times, and spending money on them is not wisely if you lack the rest, that is the main reason I have not looked any further of my Axioms M80/Velodyne, they are more dependent on placement and room geometry than anything else, but you can get really good speakers for very low prices even if you go DIY you can go lower and lower...Top of the line drivers are around 200-300 tops each, Skan Speak, Vifa, Morel, Seas, Dynavox, etc, Parts Express has tons of them in stock...a decent three or even a two way system, is not that expensive...the main problem is that most of the times they need dedicated rooms and placement to sound their bests and we do not have that luxury...That is why you find nowadays in countries where the real state is not that expensive, and you can afford to have dedicated audio rooms, far better speaker setups than here in US...There is an audiophile club in Athens, that is insane in what they have there...
A really good speaker amp, a Sansui, or a Marantz, or a Pioneer, and so from the golden era, can be purchased in good shape in some second hand stores sometimes if you are lucky to find one in good shape, for under $200.00, today you can get very good amps for around 500.00...there is absolutely no headphone amp on that price range, not even DIY, that will beat one of these beasts...at least I have not heard any yet...
I usually avoid to compare the two worlds as both serve different purposes, and try to believe better that both complement each other, also you can find guys that love headphones, and guys that love speakers...and both are right, preference is all about...
Also with nowadays more and more common multichannel systems (not my cup of tea either), headphones are getting behind in that regard, they can not offer that kind of presentation unless you use multiple drivers in huge cups...