Someone emailed me a general question about headphones vs. speakers, and I rambled on a bit about my R10s, so I decided to post my response here, for what it's worth:
After going through a number of headphones, I believe that the
secret to a natural sense of space is really achieved by the ability to convey an image where
each component has its own character, both in tonality and separation from what's around
around it. What is really nice is a kind of soft edge on musical objects, but still with a bit of
air around it.
As far as the "big space" thing goes, Grado GS1000s are the best at this.
I also like the AKG 701s.
If you have a tube amp, the choice of tube affects the spatial performance a good deal.
(I like my RSA B52 with upgraded tubes, which is especially nice with the AKGs.)
But for the kind of natural micro-spacing that is authentic, my Sony R10s are the only
ones that can do that to a point where you actually don't feel that speakers are any better.
They don't emulate speakers, and you know you are wearing headphones, but they provide
an alternative sense of space such that you don't feel it is unnatural, or closed in, or that
tiny sounds are coming from small drivers next to your head. It is bizarre, subtle, and not immediately
apparent, but the soundfield of the R10s is totally satisfying without creating a large space,
as the behavior of each sound component, and the interaction between them, is somehow
true-to-life. The R10s are the only ones that make me forget that these are headphones, not speakers,
even though they are a different experience than speakers.
