The Headphone Addiction | Why does it happen?

[volcomjerk]

I now understand why people have more than one headphone. I'm starting to experience an early trend in why we spend so much money on headphone equipment.

Today I forgot my AKG 701's at home and I was very very sad to be without them today. However, I forgot I had my Grado SR-60s sitting nicely in my bag. I still like the sound of these but the soundstage is either gone or a lot harder to hear. Now I don't want to sell my Grado headphones. I'll probably maybe get better ones that way I'll have different headphones for different styles. Would anyone recommend the next great upgrade to the SR-60s?

I also read something interesting in the other AKG K701 thread that our ears tend to get use to how your headphones sound and it can become boring. That's how I felt with my Grados they were really boring and I blamed it on the fact they maybe weren't good headphones. However, after not listening to them for awhile and listening to them right now I love how they sound again!

This further proves that there is no ultimate headphone/speaker/amp. They all cater to different people and different styles and I believe the speaker or amp built is based upon the builder's taste. This is just something you have to learn from actually buying different types of equipment. I haven't bought a lot but from just reading and doing some purchasing of my own even I can tell that.

I think most consumers looking to buy speakers or headphones are set on a few things. First and foremost, the branding hence why Bose is so popular amongst uneducated buyers. Second, they will believe what someone will say without actually listening to the product first. Third they don't think of sound as being completely perceptive and believe that all ears are created equal.

This is not a good hobby to get into... (money-wise).

 

[rhythmicmoose]

But it beats the hell out of a speaker addiction.

 

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by volcomjerk I now understand why people have more than one headphone.

More than one? You mean more than 5 surely?

Headphone rollign is ace, it lets you experience music that you love in different ways, all for (depending on your headphones) a fraction of the price of a pair of top tier conventional speakers.

 

[Jahn]

to stave off boredom and familiarity, pick two cans that are total opposites but equally enjoyable, then long-term listen to one exclusively until you get a BIT bored, then swap to the other. keep going like that and you'll be happy for life!

 

[billinkansas]

I like headphones because I can get very high quality sound without bothering anyone else in the house - this at anaffordable cost.

Think about it -
Great sound
Relatively low cost
Usually have good resale value
Low shipping costs

A fun hobby, I think.

 

[lmilhan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by billinkansas I like headphones because I can get very high quality sound without bothering anyone else in the house - this at anaffordable cost. Think about it - Great sound Relatively low cost Usually have good resale value Low shipping costs A fun hobby, I think.

Very well said - this is exactly how I feel about the hobby.

 

[JazzyMac]

I first started my collection getting a headphone for every activity. One for the gym, one for travelling, one for listening at home.

I don't even listen at home.

Now that I've got the customs, my next venture is to get my deejaying rig going and keep the upgrades around that hobby. I know that will take more than a year because the equipment that I want won't even be out until 2007.

So for now, I'm done upgrading and I only have one phone. Yay?

 

[Carl]

It's not so much headphone addiction as good sound addiction.

Headphones just make it easier and cheaper to find "that place" where the music resides.

 

[kramer5150]

I have yet to hear a 2 or 3 way speaker sound like a 2x12 mesa rectifier cabinet.

Headphones (certain ones) however do a very good job replicating guitar tones.

Whenever I hear a speaker system, even a "good" one... Im always thinking "thats not what its supposed to sound like???... no no no, the midrange is all wrong.... wheres the cabinet resonance at 400Hz... why is there so much treble, and the mids so recessed??".

5.1 and 7.1 home theater is even worse. I find concert DVDs unlistenable on my denon / boston 5.1 HT setup. I would rather listen to a concert DVD on an amped KSC75 than a "good" home theater.

 

[muckluck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 I have yet to hear a 2 or 3 way speaker sound like a 2x12 mesa rectifier cabinet. Headphones (certain ones) however do a very good job replicating guitar tones. Whenever I hear a speaker system, even a "good" one... Im always thinking "thats not what its supposed to sound like???". 5.1 and 7.1 home theater is even worse. I find concert DVDs unlistenable on my denon / boston 5.1 HT setup.

Where they modded? Cause if not, then there is your reason

. I already got bored of my A700s. Looking to get some SR225s and a tube amp for my next upgrade. It's just an overall fun hobby.

 

[Corrupt^]

I've only just started but the reason why I bought the 650's is because I've always wanted top notch sound.

Another reason is because my dad works @ night from time to time and buying a huge speaker set would be a waste of time as there's always someone sleeping around here.

And I also like those tiny little details in sound which you'll never hear with speakers...

 

[Meyvn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 I have yet to hear a 2 or 3 way speaker sound like a 2x12 mesa rectifier cabinet. Headphones (certain ones) however do a very good job replicating guitar tones. Whenever I hear a speaker system, even a "good" one... Im always thinking "thats not what its supposed to sound like???... no no no, the midrange is all wrong.... wheres the cabinet resonance at 400Hz... why is there so much treble, and the mids so recessed??".

What about a 4x10 Road King cabinet?

But I'm in total agreement on the 'headphones get it right' thing. Having heard $10,000 Mc speakers, I think that should be high enough to give me the general idea that I don't enjoy them as much as the both surrounding and accurate feeling I get from my headphones. Whenever I listen to music on speakers, Even though the soundstage is bigger, the music always sounds so localised to me.

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by volcomjerk I now understand why people have more than one headphone. I'm starting to experience an early trend in why we spend so much money on headphone equipment. Today I forgot my AKG 701's at home and I was very very sad to be without them today. However, I forgot I had my Grado SR-60s sitting nicely in my bag. I still like the sound of these but the soundstage is either gone or a lot harder to hear. Now I don't want to sell my Grado headphones. I'll probably maybe get better ones that way I'll have different headphones for different styles. Would anyone recommend the next great upgrade to the SR-60s? I also read something interesting in the other AKG K701 thread that our ears tend to get use to how your headphones sound and it can become boring. That's how I felt with my Grados they were really boring and I blamed it on the fact they maybe weren't good headphones. However, after not listening to them for awhile and listening to them right now I love how they sound again! This further proves that there is no ultimate headphone/speaker/amp. They all cater to different people and different styles and I believe the speaker or amp built is based upon the builder's taste. This is just something you have to learn from actually buying different types of equipment. I haven't bought a lot but from just reading and doing some purchasing of my own even I can tell that. I think most consumers looking to buy speakers or headphones are set on a few things. First and foremost, the branding hence why Bose is so popular amongst uneducated buyers. Second, they will believe what someone will say without actually listening to the product first. Third they don't think of sound as being completely perceptive and believe that all ears are created equal. This is not a good hobby to get into... (money-wise).

It's seriously nuts..Every second I think about which phone to get..Mind you I have 8 listed..& everytime I buy somthing, it's not good enough..I want better..I want a jaw dropping, orgasmic, audio experience on a budget.I am depleting my funds at a record pace, & will need another job soon.This is getting way out of hand..The addiction is real..

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazzyMac I first started my collection getting a headphone for every activity. One for the gym, one for travelling, one for listening at home. I don't even listen at home. Now that I've got the customs, my next venture is to get my deejaying rig going and keep the upgrades around that hobby. I know that will take more than a year because the equipment that I want won't even be out until 2007. So for now, I'm done upgrading and I only have one phone. Yay?

I love how I make excuses just to justify buyng more phones..

 

[tony10461]

I think people fetishize things
to distract themselves from something(s) they can't deal with ,
maybe havent even THOUGHT about,
something deep in their minds,
and the fetishized hobby-thing they worship
is one that gives them pleasure which is superficial crap
- like Lawn Elves -
or it's something life-enriching and worthwhile -
like SOUND EQUIPMENT !

I used to have a whole room
filled with cages of vipers, hmm .
kind of unwise, so
I admire the guys who have a couple dozen great cans ,
Y'all are nutz , but it is a GOOD nutz !