jimjimbo Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 (edited) I'll be honest and admit that even though my headphones sound really great (Sennheiser HD 598), I tend to feel.....well....a slight bit paranoid when I have them on. I can't hear the phone if it rings, the smoke alarm if it goes off, someone knocking on my door, etc, etc....OK, so I'm sure that's the whole point (to a degree), but I guess I'm something of an "awareness junkie", and with headphones on, I am only aware of that....Oh, and I'm sort of a control freak too....so there you go, I've got that going for me.... I love, love, love my speakers and my music. Edited July 10, 2015 by jimjimbo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 If I wanted somebody to scream in my ears I'd re-marry. Thebes, you are truly a classic....and I mean that in the nicest of ways... He is a classic, not sure about the nice part If I wanted somebody to scream in my ears I'd re-marry. Plus they fall off when you bob your head and are terrible when you are playing air guitar, leap into the air and either get pulled to the ground or snap the wire. I submit you try the volume knob I've yet to hear a headphone setup that I can truly get into. *dodges the bricks, rocks, and flames* this requires some explination, Ipod with earbuds need not apply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 I'll be honest and admit that even though my headphones sound really great (Sennheiser HD 598), I tend to feel.....well....a slight bit paranoid when I have them on. I can't hear the phone if it rings, the smoke alarm if it goes off, someone knocking on my door, etc, etc....OK, so I'm sure that's the whole point (to a degree), but I guess I'm something of an "awareness junkie", and with headphones on, I am only aware of that....Oh, and I'm sort of a control freak too....so there you go. I love, love, love my speakers and my music. Paranoid huh, Mayhap some former life transgressions sneaking up on you ? , I know other folks like that, although i suspect some open back designs are better than others I can hear more than I want to with my He500's I do get to pretend I cant hear the wife at times 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapsnb01 Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 (edited) This thread is an interesting read. I'm one of those with both...mainly for listening at night so as not to wake up the house. I do enjoy the clarity and separation in my AKG K702s, but I also love cranking up my CF-3's when I can too. I'd lean toward my CFs, just for the sound stage and (for lack of a better word) slam. I listen to a lot of rock and really like the "feel" that I get from the speakers (not sure if that makes any sense). I've had a few Senheisers and other cans, but the 702s have been my favorite so far and I do really enjoy listening to them as well. Interested to see how the thread progresses though, thanks for bringing it up Joe! Edited July 10, 2015 by kapsnb01 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tromprof Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 As a working musician I am on the road a lot, and that means headphones for the hotel. Headphones can provide detail and depth, but somehow always leave me looking forward to listening at home on the big horns. They just fail to fully bring me into the sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted July 10, 2015 Author Share Posted July 10, 2015 This thread is an interesting read. I'm one of those with both...mainly for listening at night so as not to wake up the house. I do enjoy the immersion into my AKG K702s, but I also love cranking up my CF-3's when I can too. I'd lean toward my CFs, just for the sound stage and (for lack of a better word) slam. I listen to a lot of rock and really like the "feel" that I get from the speakers (not sure if that makes any sense). I've had a few Senheisers and other cans, but the 702s have been my favorite so far and I do really enjoy listening to them as well. Interested to see how the thread progresses though, thanks for bringing it up Joe! sure thing, I get a kick outta these type discussions As a working musician I am on the road a lot, and that means headphones for the hotel. Headphones can provide detail and depth, but somehow always leave me looking forward to listening at home on the big horns. They just fail to fully bring me into the sound. I understand that, Horn presence is hard to beat, direct radiating need not apply either on your head or the floor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tube fanatic Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 (edited) Joe, an interesting alternative to phones (assuming they are not needed to contain the sound) is to use a pair of small monitors in an extreme near-field arrangement. I'm talking about having the speakers around 3-4 feet apart on a table, shelf, or whatever is convenient, and positioning the listening chair a similar distance from them. The cost of such speakers can be far less than a pair of phones and, if one can accept a lack of some low frequency extension, the soundstage and immersion in the music can be something to behold. Such speakers, even when inefficient, can be driven by low power tube amps because the proximity allows a fairly loud level (if desired). I've experimented with my wife's KLH 20s (about as inefficient as you can find) in this manner and it's amazing just how well they can perform. Although I haven't heard them, I've been told that these cheap Pioneer speakers can offer a huge "bang for the buck" when used with even flea power tube amplifiers: http://www.stereophile.com/content/pioneer-sp-bs22-lr-loudspeaker#S62kk3Y5s6Vg3dtQ.97http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436562719&sr=8-1&keywords=pioneer+SP-BS22-LRSome of the ham operators I know who don't like to use phones (claiming that after a while, especially during contests, they feel like their heads are in a vise) employ a pair of small monitors on their desk and listen to the phantom center image they provide. Maynard Edited July 10, 2015 by tube fanatic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totalcomfort Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I have had the chance to try a pair of high end cans, and the detail was just amazing. The problem with me I'm a bass freak, I love that punch in the chest from good tight horn bass. Headphones just can't do that for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyOwn Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 Just one question how can you Piss Of The Neighbors with headphones??? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 (edited) I don't feel any need for the competitive description, versus... there is room for both. However, essentially thebes is correct. Edited July 10, 2015 by Schu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebes Posted July 10, 2015 Share Posted July 10, 2015 I can't hear the phone if it rings, the smoke alarm if it goes off, someone knocking on my door, etc, etc.. Well if you're listening through speakers and you've got your system turned up to a proper volume you wouldn't hear any of that stuff anyways. (Sometimes I hear the neighbors, but they've got to be knocking really, really loud. That's when I know it's time to hide, just in case they're bigger than me.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) Joesportster, Aw man. *throws down my earbuds in frustration* Honestly, I have nothing against head-Fi. It's become a HUGE market, and I fully understand why so many people are into it. But.... I dunno man. I admit that there are plenty of cans, headphone amps, and combos that I haven't heard.... so I'm not going to close the book on that segment of Hi-Fi. Just the same, I've yet to hear a setup that's been able to strike an emotional chord. Whether it's listening to Senns best headphones on an expensive Woo Audio system or experiencing a humble Grado / iFi combo - I always leave the experience feeling cold. I suppose that's because to me, the musical experience isn't just limited to our ears. It's a visceral experience as well. Music interacts with everything around you. And with headphones, I just feel like I'm listening to a pair of transducers that are only a couple mm's from my ear. The illusion, and more importantly, the emotion of a musical event just isn't there for me. Who knows, maybe one day I'll find my head-fi huckleberry. Until then, I'm gunna continue enjoying my big, bulky loudspeakers. Edited July 11, 2015 by Zero 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sancho Panza Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Have used headphones in about 25 years... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptorman Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Actually Klipsch calls them in ear monitors 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sancho Panza Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Actually Klipsch calls them in ear monitors Never used those, then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 Joe, an interesting alternative to phones (assuming they are not needed to contain the sound) is to use a pair of small monitors in an extreme near-field arrangement. I'm talking about having the speakers around 3-4 feet apart on a table, shelf, or whatever is convenient, and positioning the listening chair a similar distance from them. The cost of such speakers can be far less than a pair of phones and, if one can accept a lack of some low frequency extension, the soundstage and immersion in the music can be something to behold. Such speakers, even when inefficient, can be driven by low power tube amps because the proximity allows a fairly loud level (if desired). I've experimented with my wife's KLH 20s (about as inefficient as you can find) in this manner and it's amazing just how well they can perform. Although I haven't heard them, I've been told that these cheap Pioneer speakers can offer a huge "bang for the buck" when used with even flea power tube amplifiers: http://www.stereophile.com/content/pioneer-sp-bs22-lr-loudspeaker#S62kk3Y5s6Vg3dtQ.97 http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436562719&sr=8-1&keywords=pioneer+SP-BS22-LR Some of the ham operators I know who don't like to use phones (claiming that after a while, especially during contests, they feel like their heads are in a vise) employ a pair of small monitors on their desk and listen to the phantom center image they provide. Maynard Hey Maynard, I have done the near feild thing many times (not to the extreme you discuss) I love the results. with the right equipment it can present a super deep and wide Sound Stage (one of my dislikes with the Khorn is you have to use the back and side walls which for me always limited the feel of depth. as far as monitors I still cant seem to be happy with the lack of low end and always seem to reach for the volume in an attempt to increase the weight Just one question how can you Piss Of The Neighbors with headphones??? I let mark take care of the neighbor piss off work, He seems to like it Joesportster, Aw man. *throws down my earbuds in frustration* Honestly, I have nothing against head-Fi. It's become a HUGE market, and I fully understand why so many people are into it. But.... I dunno man. I admit that there are plenty of cans, headphone amps, and combos that I haven't heard.... so I'm not going to close the book on that segment of Hi-Fi. Just the same, I've yet to hear a setup that's been able to strike an emotional chord. Whether it's listening to Senns best headphones on an expensive Woo Audio system or experiencing a humble Grado / iFi combo - I always leave the experience feeling cold. I suppose that's because to me, the musical experience isn't just limited to our ears. It's a visceral experience as well. Music interacts with everything around you. And with headphones, I just feel like I'm listening to a pair of transducers that are only a couple mm's from my ear. The illusion, and more importantly, the emotion of a musical event just isn't there for me. Who knows, maybe one day I'll find my head-fi huckleberry. Until then, I'm gunna continue enjoying my big, bulky loudspeakers. I get that, Headphones are an intimate medium, it has taken me a long time to feel like I can live with Headphones over speakers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Headphones can't move the walls. Klipschorns can. Earbuds are for airplanes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiet_Hollow Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) For a period of about 10 years I travelled extensively and leaned pretty damn hard on my CD Walkman / earbud combo (circa 2001). Obviously, they can't shake everything in the entire house like kick butt speakers can, but there's no denying the characteristically linear phase response, and pressurized bass of headphones always left me wanting more out of a typical stereo. Horns and time-alignment cured that one. When chip amps hit the portable market I purchased a Sansa Clip+ to replace the aging Walkman. Sound-wise now it's the best of both worlds, whether at home or on go. Finally to the point where I feel like I am no longer compromising either way, and enjoy both methods of listening immensely. Edited July 11, 2015 by Quiet_Hollow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJIann Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 After I got my basement lounge set up last summer and pieced together a nice part vintage/part modern audio setup with Klipsch Cornwall and Heresy speakers making up the full compliment of a 5.1 system (plus SW of course), I decided I wanted a nice pair of headphones to use late night or other quiet times around the house. I consulted on this forum because I could not stand most of the cans they had locally at Best Buy, etc., and I did not want anything that had thin wires made for a phone/pad. I settled on the Grado RS2e and love them. I think the sound is incredible. I would alternate depending on my mood....sometimes doing stereo through the phones, sometimes stereo through the Cornwall fronts, and often full system stereo where the same signal is sent to both the font (Cornwall) and back (Heresey) speakers which creates a sound stage that I just love in my room. Recently I replaced my more modern preamp (Outlaw Audio 975) which had a headphone jack with a McIntosh MX119 which does not. So, I have not been listening to the phones lately, and I miss them a lot. I'm trying to decide upon a headphone amp to hook to the MX119. Bottom line is I love the sound through the phones. FWIW, I was reading a recent interview with Greg Allman where he was saying that headphones were the best (i.e., his favorite) way to listen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.