Too true. I doubt any HPs would get even close to what I got with my DIY highend loudspeakers. The elements and crossover components were top notch, giving very low distortion. The boxes were so dead due to optimized support structure inside, and the crossover filter was optimized for like more than a year with simulations, measurements and most all the final tuning by ear. They were capable of flat room response to 16Hz, simply ceased to have any sound signature and as such just made me wanna listen to stuff like classical/jazz at realistic volumes.LOL...true audiophiles don't use headphones!
In comparison, all HPs I've listened seem to distort a lot, have sound signature with none of em being neutral, have very strange soundstage, and lack so very very much in detail and transparency. HPs simply are just for casual listening. A fact which together with music streaming destroyed my way of listening. It used to be so focused, maxing the feel I got out of it, but when I got rid of the loudspeakers and switched to HPs it's been a far cry from that meditative extacy I used to get. It's more like background noise. I miss those days, that kinda listening just isn't possible anymore.