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The more I become involved in listening via headphones rather than loudspeakers, the more I'm convinced that both methods should be studied and appreciated from an audiophile perspective. Much of what makes the loudspeaker experience is the audible effects of the listening room environment rather than the signal itself, whereas the effects of the headphone structure and driver materials are potentially less of an issue in this regard.
The main drawback of headphones is the lack of visceral listening cues, especially the bottom end, since the affect of SPL on the body is just as important as what is heard by the ears. It's essentially unnatural to experience sound recording/reproduction and live sound reinforcement without the more visceral aspects being portrayed in the process. That said, I still find the headphone experience can provide a satisfactory sense of authoritative energy despite the lack of the body being involved below the ears. I wish to welcome AA Inmates to share their POVs and insights in this forum.
Cheers, Duster
Follow Ups:
My Stax SRS-2170 system is all I now use. The stats are very fast & detailed, produce an excellent soundstage, genuine bass, and have me marvel at most of the music I listen to through them. The experience is very much indeed visceral. This system, which is entry-level, presents better than any speakers or other headphones I have heard. The former do not work in my room, and my family dislikes most of my music. Using the stats is a treat I look forward to everyday.
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
Edits: 01/01/19
Stax are still made in Japan; and the the company is owned by Edifier, a Chinese company. I bought my system for $420, USD, from a fellow in Canada. There were few hours on them.There are plenty of headphone & amp combinations well north of $700. The magnetic planars, for example, seem to start at $300 but need an amp, and that's where the costs accelerate. Beyerdynamic, AKG, and Senn all have cans that retail for over $500 USD, and are usually paired with a separate amp. I am confident that at a least a few cans sold by those companies are made in China, even though the companies are based in Germany. There are a couple or a few intro level Stax systems around $800 USD.
I understand your point, and I actually agree with it, but it is a quite complicated situation - National economic policy, personal financial power, and individual freedoms. The good news is that Stax is a fine company still producing outstanding products, employing people who live in a great & free society.
A sincere question I have is whether Koss is still an American company that still makes its stats in America.
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
Edits: 01/02/19 01/02/19 01/02/19 01/02/19
The problem is, once the company is owned by a Chinese firm, none of the claims of value (such as being made in Japan) can be believed. I've been to Chinese trade shows, even lived there for a time, and I can tell you that business in China is dirty, corrupt and dishonest, not like anything any Western person would expect or even believe.
Yes, the situation is complicated, but only due to the dynamics of change. In the end, it will be simple, and the effect this will have on Western cultures and economies will be a disaster by current standards.
Can't tell you about Koss. I buy Grado, but I fear even that company will go to SE Asia now that the founder has passed.
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Buy Chinese. Bury freedom.
Your points are well-taken.
There may not be a unified China in ten to twenty years, and, as a consequence, their would be resulting hitherto unimaginable global economic, and therefore political, shock waves for for at least two solid decades.
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
Chinese headphones for $1,000. That's just sad.
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Buy Chinese. Bury freedom.
Probably 95% of my listening is on headphones.
In the 1970s, I was a steelworker and the rest of my family was asleep during my prime listening times, so headphones were essential.
After I got married and had kids, again prime listening time was late at night when everyone else was asleep.
Split from the ex, significant other hated my music, once again headphones...then apartment life...
Wife 2 is a late sleeper, I'm an early riser. Once again...
When you get used to the way music sounds on headphones, you don't really use the speakers that much.
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because, otherwise, who would care?
I frequently listen with phones late at night for both TV and hi-fi. It's been my experience that whatever visceral sensation they lose is more than compensated by the purity and dynamics of the higher spectrum. I'll just add that good phones are required for this, and cost is not the determining factor.
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Buy Chinese. Bury freedom.
I've done it. I used to own AKG K1000 "earspeakers" and the sub blended in quite nicely.Want to add some "viscerality" to your headphone listening experience? This is the way to do it!
Split the outputs of your amp, preamp, or integrated (use pre-outs if equipped), connect to sub, and adjust the level and crossover until you're happy. I found that I was able to set the sub crossover at it's highest setting without muddying up the headphone presentation in the least.
Of course, once you connect the sub your headphone listening is no longer completely silent and unobtrusive. The room or building you're in will shake and rumble but the majority of the music will not reach your neighbors ears...
Edits: 12/29/18
i had often thought that would be a good idea.
...regards...tr
I like using subwoofers with headphone music. Over time though, I've gotten used to the clever substitute that headphones do provide.
Of course, headphones do not feel exactly like loudspeaker listening does. But a pair of purring headphones resting against my skull still reminds me of the "viscerality" of the live or reproduced musical experience, in a way.
True, the vibes are highly localized. But they are there nonetheless.
my long time friend and fellow inmate TAFKAsteve has lent me a pair of Monolith 1060 planar magnetic phones which pack a wallop that rivals the deep bass os speakers and they have a natural/neutral, wide open sound mut not the high end extension of its more costly brethren.
i could live without the added physicality of the sub as a result.
...regards...tr
Check out my thread about dual mono battery powered balanced amp for $100
Using that combo with the 1060s and man what a combo
I have a sub lying around unused and dont see the need to hook it up with the 1060s
Cutting razor sounding violins
For fun, I put on headphones and sitting next to the subs playing by themselves. Makes a difference.
8^)
Cool maybe i should try it
Cutting razor sounding violins
howbout sending a link to your thread?
...regards...tr
https://www.audioasylum.com/forums/head/messages/5202.html
Cutting razor sounding violins
I'm recently separated.... I was listening to headphones exclusively for the past 6 months... I can't really complain because it's a pair of Grado RS2e driven by a Rupert Neve RNHP amp ... sounds great.
I finally have my gear set back up but still use the phones often
IMHO every separation is good eventually. So congrats.
Glad you are digging that amp. I almost bought it but never did. It sure seemed solid though.
Cutting razor sounding violins
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