Unfortunately, I think that's correct. Have the same issue and 'till I move to a forest hut and start terrorising the wildlife from a solar & wind generated electricity attached to my sonic weapons, I think that I'll have to stick to hp's :((((
Headphones is a more accessible way to experience very high end audio. 1000 bucks get you a very good dac/amp and headphones but spend that on speakers and you have a mediocre setup. Also headphones don't need any room acoustic or messing around with placement. I like both equally much, headphones reveal a lot of details and speakers give you a more physical sound
If you're smart in how you spend your money, you can have a very nice preamp, power amp, and speaker setup for under $1000. The used market is where it's at.
hartsickdisciple ... yeah ... I been buying high end speakers and amps etc from the secondhand market. There are many in great condition at half or less than half the retail price. 😬 But it’s true, if you want to go the headfi route, you can enjoy a lot for less. I got the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge, that’s about $2,750 (new) and can pair that with a high end headphone of say $2,000 (new) and it would be awesome sounding. That is you wanna splurge. I did not go headfi because I like so hear the sound from speakers coming from up front.
Paul is a solid cat. When the top guy is this passionate about his profession, it shows how much it trickles down into the company's culture. Employees who are happy from the top down will always produce great products. And Paul seems like a person who has a genuine connection with his product, from production to the consumer.
I wish i could have big loud speakers that would shake the walls. But because of my living situation i have to use open back headphones. At first it was just a means of listening to music and movies. Then i started getting into planar magnetics and fell in love. I also started experimenting with different amps and DACS and now its become my favorite hobby.
I'm autistic & have aural-tactile synesthesia. I feel bass in my body when listening to headphones just as if listening to speakers and moves to different parts of my body depending on frequency. I guess this is one of the benefits of being autistic. I could never afford high end anything audio due to my disabilities but I found that I had good ear to recognize potential in an audio product & could modify less expensive gear to perform at an extremely high level. Headphones were my only means of listening for many years but I still prefer speakers due their imaging properties compared to headphones. My current headphones which I have modified slightly are the Sennheiser HD579's. My speaker setup are modified JBL LSR305's with modified Tannoy TS10 subwoofer run off a modified Asus Strix Raid DLX. Both sound great but the speaker are my pride & joy.
I've been a headphone guy for years with a Focal as my daily driver at home and a HD650 at work. I've relegated my HIFIMAN planars to my wife. Recently, I put together a 5.1.4 THX Ultra certified home theater setup, and playing music out of that in multi-channel stereo was... a truly transformative experience. The soundstage, imaging, and instrument separation of a good loudspeaker setup... headphones cannot even come close. It's a totally different experience. My music took on a totally different life.
I love my 25 year old Sony MDRV6 headphones! The problem with headphones is that most people bump up the volume too much and damage their hearing. If you want to enjoy music music when you are 60 ( when you can afford the great gear ), don't destroy your hearing when you are 20!
I didn't. I got into the habit of putting it on pretty quiet. If other kids wanted a listen of what I had in my walkman (which was pretty rare), they complained they couldn't hear it and wanted the volume turned up. The rule of thumb I use is "If you have to pause your music to hold a conversation, you've got it too loud."
I think the most dangerous is when you listen in a noisy environment and you crank the volume up. So you end up listening at 88db SPL or something like that 😅
This is why gamers use headphones. Because only by using headphones do you get the sound in your ear so that you can hear all the tiny sounds like footsteps and what not. But wearing headphones for hours on end do get tiresome for most people. There is something freeing by just sitting back and listening to some good music coming from a good speaker system.
Sometimes interest in headphones come from necessity, moving from a house with separates and subs to an apartment. Hopefully dsp will someday get us to proper imaging.
The preference for speakers may derive from their ability to replicate (however accurately) the live music experience, and in fact I seek a system that not only reproduces the brilliance and depth of real instruments, but also the volume and dynamics of a live performance.
I like isolation sometimes, headphones have incredible microscope audio like you said. It is supra natural because we usually don't put our ears that close to music. But I also love speakers because of the waves and magnetic stuf happening. I just love both and can't think of letting one over the other. Also headphones are how i got into audiophile stuff. Because my akg k700 and asus xonar sound card just gave me an incredible, like never before, experience of listening to what most people don't. It opened my mind so much.
The best experience I've had with headphones/earphones was with custom in ears. When they are made properly, the user cannot feel that he/she is wearing them and the isolation is unmatched with any other types of earphones. They stop at the second bend of the ear canal, so the bores are really close to the tympanum, making the music listening experience really unique.
I mix music, and sometimes use headphones to do some surgical eq. I turn my monitors completely down, but leave my sub going. That way I can feel the sub running through my feet. While the headphones are great for tiny tweaks, nothing beats the speakers for a full mix. My two.
It's hard to mix at the right volume with headphones too. You can calibrate your monitors and work precisely at 82spl for example, not with headphones.
IEM's are awesome, you can use them in very loud environments like I do at work, they fit under my welding helmet, and they simultaneously work as ear plugs, everything has its purpose.
As someone with neighbors in my apartment I cannot always enjoy my stereo and surround setup, so my in ears or over ears are critical to my enjoyment of music on a daily basis. I also like the introduction of haptic or audio feedback devices like the sub-pac or basslet that help to supply that visceral quality of music headphones by their nature cannot give.
I currently live in an apartment with family so I mostly use my speakers during the day (1-9pm) as loud as I like so no issues there. Still use headphones when anyone is sleep at home or in the building. Although I much prefer the sound of speakers for the reasons Paul describes, it's sometimes nice to have that close off feeling when you can enjoy your music privately without anyone judging your musical taste.
I am a fan of headphones and floor standing speakers. When I bought my actual system in 1985-86, I first chose a set of headphone that reproduced music the way I wanted. The headphones I bought were Sennheiser HD 430 (which is an open back) and used them to match speakers in a listening room, easy with an open back as you use both at the same time and you can hear the discrepancies in the reproduction of the music played. It really help in narrowing the field of almost spot on and near miss sets of speakers for a closer look. In the end, I went for Celestion Ditton 66 Series 2 that I setup in my living room about 30" from walls. For power to feed them, I bought the Kenwood Basic series M2 for the front speakers and Kenwood Basic M1 for rear Technics SB-L100. I could not be happier since it plays most music I threw at them to my liking and that is what matters in the end. I still have the same system and still pleased with it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I am very impressed with my latest acquisition...The Sony ZX300 Hi Res player with the balanced XBA-3 headphones...High gain output of 200 mW from the player with the headphones barely breaking a sweat at 100mW...I can turn these thing up and there is no distortion right to the pain threshold.
I couldn’t agree more Paul about headphones being the microscope however they lack they feel of the loudspeaker. I started my audiophile hobby with a pair of MDR Sony headphones and was blown away how detailed they sounded. Gradually moved into the Sennheiser HD 650 and then 800. Now I have them in my dedicated 2 channel listening room and separate dedicated home theatre, and use either for different purposes. Totally agree on the Apple EarPods too, have replaced my noise cancelling headphones except while I’m on the plane.
thank you, finally found some who explains it perfectly. Difference between closed back, open back and speakers explained perfectly in a vid open back kinda give you best of both worlds imo sound stage and precision in sound, ofc the sound stage cant compete with good huge speakers but in the speakers u cant get the level of precision
I agree with the reason to use loudspeakers. I want to actually feel the music physically. And this is the reason headphones can't replace speakers. I use headhones now and then to my keyboard and mobile phone but almost never for music listening in the living room.
I've had the same pair of $99 Sony MDR-V600s headphones for over 10 years and I've never had the urge to upgrade. They sound fantastic, but given the opportunity, I'd ALWAYS rather listen to music through a proper set of speakers.
I use them both. Loudspeakers until 22:00, thereafter I switch to my Beyer Dynamic headphones to be kind to the neighbours. It's both a complete different experience, that's what I like about it.
Absolutely love a fact that you, an audio expert, uses AirPods because he just likes it. While having acces to the best audio of most people. A good lesson for most people, to enjoy music, not the bitrate.
Headphones have their place. The problem I have with headphones is that they're not representative of the experience you get watching live music. You don't go to a concert and put headphones on.
On the other hand, the band does wear headphones when tracking the song in the recording studio... So ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But then while some producers use headphones to mix the songs, others use speaker systems like Dunlavy... So confusing!
@@TassieLorenzo That's true, but the best equipment for producing media isn't always the best for playing it back. Nvidia Quadro graphics cards are used for professional graphics work, but people playing the games use Geforce cards. 2 different tools for 2 different purposes.
I had Stax electret headphones, best sound ever that I base my diy loudspeaker balances on. I now have Audio Technicas that are outstanding. No room BS!
Someone else who hates in-ear earphones! I got a pair when I replaced my phone a few years back (bundled with it). They got a few minutes of use, then were consigned to a box of e-waste and I went back to the earbuds that came with my previous phone. I can't stand the feeling of them or how they make me nearly deaf to my surroundings. Regular old smooth plastic earbuds let the sounds around you leak in so you can still hear what's going on around you. I subscribe to the philosophy that headphones are for adding to your soundscape without annoying everyone around you. I think those in-ear ones are aimed at people with the philosophy that headphones are for replacing your soundscape with a different one.
Paul, thank you for such an honest opinion. I consider myself an armature audiophile. I love it and continue to learn all the time. I have assembled a very nice system made from partially used components which has allowed me to have a system of high quality which fits in my budget. What I have learned is that we don’t have to have perfect Systems to enjoy music and the “art” of music. Sometimes what works for you is just that. It works for you in the budget you have. You analysis of the Apple EarPods is exactly that. They are great for what they are intended. I also love mine. I really encourage people to not get intimidated by the word audiophile and think they have to have $10,000 speakers or they don’t fit in. It is like wine, sure expensive wine can be great, but not everyone can afford it and sometimes, it is not all that good regardless of the price. Set a budget, start somewhere, check out used equipment and continue to learn and upgrade when you can.
Likewise, exactly why I like going to live concerts, to feel the music, since in my apartment I use headphones most of the time as to not risk disturbing neighbours. Need a good dose of serious bass from time to time. Funny, you mention the pants. I was at a couple of concerts where it felt like my jeans were moving in the breeze.
I've used headphones as I started out with good quality sound components on a budget, and used closed headphones such as beyerdynamics dt770 to cut off my neighbours antics when I lived in an appartment. When it was quieter I also liked the open sennheiser hd598s. I watched movies and listened to music and watched youtube with it. I've built my own headphones amp which made a huge difference compared to my 1970s amp I usedat the time. When I moved to a free standing house I've built myself 2 pairs of speakers to watch movies and listen to music and hardly use the headphones anymore. I love the sound and listening with my whole body just like Paul. I used a pair of in ear etymotics when mowing the lawn or work in the garage with loud power tools. The passive noise cancelling is amazing and the sound is pretty good too. I got used to in ear headphones in about 1-2 months. Really sore ear canals at first but now it's pain free. Sometimes I enjoy being in my own little cocoon with headphones on, sometimes I want big powerful sound coursing throughout my entire body. There is a time and place for every type of speaker or headphones to enjoy music or to remove the noise you don't want, or don't want to share or bother others.
Got a pair of HifiMan Ananda’s for Christmas. Thanks Santa! Love those suckers. But actually still love my old small Advents (and speakers are just better in general. Currently waiting for some .7 Maggie’s). Love it all tho!
For Audiophiles on a budget, dollar for dollar headphones get you into a higher end product ..ie.$2000 spent on speakers vs. $2000 spent on a Pair of Audezes or Dan Clark’s, gives you a better sound scape..and of course in the recording studio you gotta have a good pair of closed backs…thank again for you great and consistent work..
This is kind of off topic for this video, but I have just started watching your Y-tube videos and I have been very impressed with your knowledge and the presentation of your videos. I have been putting together a small system and recently purchased a Kanto subwoofer to compliment my other speakers. It is my first subwoofer. I started looking for information on setting up the sub and found your channel. I have to say that getting the crossover and volume on the sub set right has been a real challenge. Your note that you should hear the bass, with your ears, but should not be able to tell that is coming from the subwoofer itself has been the basic guide I that I have used. I've got it pretty close, but I have also found that sub settings can really be dependent on the individual song and the music source. I mostly listen to online available music. So, the consistency is not always there. So, sometimes, I have to tweak things just a bit, depending on the song, and or the music source. But...I've got it pretty close. The subwoofer really does add a lot to the overall enjoyment of the system. Just wanted to tell you good job and thanks.
If you want to properly cross sub-woofers to stereo speakers you are going to need two of them to run in stereo. Otherwise, you will always be trapped between being able to locate the sub and having a thin sounding listening experience. Once you have two sub-woofers you are going to want to volume match them to your floor speakers and then choose a crossover frequency that does not create an interference pattern with your floor speakers. I would also suggest that you do not get a sub-woofer that was designed for home theater use as they tend to be muddy and focus more on air volume moving mass than acoustic accuracy. My suggestion would be to build your own. Audiotechnology drivers and Hypex Sub-woofer plate amps work brilliantly together. I have two Audiotechnology 15E1022510 drivers powered by two Hypex DS8.0's boxed, ported and crossed over at 120Hz. The image blends perfectly.
Joel, I appreciate your comments, but I think you misinterpret my intent. I am not an audiophile. I just wanted to improve the sound of my music, so I decided to add a subwoofer. Using the information I found here in Paul's videos, really helped getting it set up to sound good.
Audiophile is a sliding scale. We all started out just wanting to "improve the sound of our music" a bit. Every improvement leads to more imperfections noticed and more improvements. I'm just trying to save you some money by suggesting the best option right away. I would have saved thousands if I knew what to jump straight to in order to get the best sound possible instead of incrementally increasing my equipment over time making some mistakes along the way.
Okay, Joel, I guess if one classifies anyone who enjoys music to be an audiophile, I fit into that broad category. But, since finding all of the types and styles of music that are available online, even just through UA-cam Red, has made me want to listen to the music of years past, whether it's rock and roll from the 1950's and 1960's, Motown, the Beatles, or even the big band genre from the 1940's. I am not much into Jazz. Also, having grown up during the sixties, and having lived in a major metropolitan area where country music was just for "hicks", today I find I like the country stuff from those same earlier years. It's got Heart. Having added the small subwoofer recently really adds the punch that makes all of those areas of music sound even more classic...sort of "Juke box style", and using Paul's philosophy of setting the sub so you can hear that "oomph", but you can't really tell where it's coming from, gives the added touch I find I like a lot. So, in those terms, I guess I would qualify as an audiophile. And, sure, I tweak things around according to the style of music, or source (it can vary quite a bit from one provider to another), but am I going to invest in a bunch more new equipment....Nada. Thanks for helping/making me sort out my thoughts on this topic. I'm really just a nostalgic, but happy camper with my new toy.
Paul - Audeze is pronounced like Oddessy, but instead of the S sound, substitute a Z sound. And, I totally agree and love mine. Nothing quite sounds like them. 🎧
I'm fully on the speaker side of the equation, but current circumstances have brought me to discover what audiophile sound from headphones can be and I'm not that disappointed. I'll take a well set-up system via speakers w/o question, but an equally well set-up headphone kit will keep me going.
Sometimes this is exactly what I want. For example when the noise level is too high in the office and I need to focus on my own work. In this case headphones help a lot.
I hate in-ears too, but I sure do love my active noise cancelling Bose QuietComfort wired headphones, and I use the wireless ones with the same earplug style design. They're super comfortable, they don't actually go into your ears, and I wore them all of the way to Asia (30 hour travel time) without discomfort. They're not particularly more hi-fi than the Apple Airpods, but they don't fall out. I also love the wireless ones for working around the house, or working on the car. Completely different than my Grado RS2e headphones which I'm surprised you didn't mention because they're fairly open, well priced, and have a great sound. Nothing like speakers, but as mentioned.. a fraction of the cost.
Dear Paul, I am a fan of your channel, even though it’s hard to find Phase Audio products in my country, and I learn much from you. Isn’t there one particular characteristic that you haven’t mentioned concerning the basic difference between speakers and headphones? Come to think of it, I have yet to find a UA-cam channel that mentions it. I am referring to the fact that I assume that every music recording was made to be propagated via a pair of speakers. Sound from both speakers would reach both the listener’s ears albeit with slightly different sound levels and phasing. A good recording and a good sound system would be able to portray a near realistic reproduction of the recorded music only if sound from both channels can be heard by both ears, and that is something that no set of headphones could ever achieve.
Makes tottal sense what you describe. I prefer feeling the vibrations too 🙂 The noise canceling headphones are ideal for loud spaces like during a flight.
o/24/2020: Hello, Tom from Orlando, Florida. What do you think of the: BOSS Waza-Air Wireless Guitar Headphone Amplifier? I am worried about losing some hearing and Tinnitus: Would the Waza be safe? Please read this: Decibels & Damage Sound is measured in units called decibels (dB). Sounds of less than 75 decibels, even after lengthy exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss. However, extended or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels (approximately the level of a vacuum cleaner) can cause hearing loss.
Hi Paul, I've always been a fan of high end audio. I suppose I can thank/blame my father for that haha. I just wanted to say I am a big fan of your page. Ive seen lots of answers to some questions I have pondered over the years and it's nice to see them laid out in a way that makes sense to the average person. Thanks for what you do!
You said you hate in ear monitors but love your iPods? Which you put in your ears? I like headphones exactly for the reason that the shut everything else out and you can concentrate on the music.
Definitely a headphone guy here. Ultimately I got into headphones because I don't like playing music out loud in a multi-person household. The thing I don't like about headphones though is that many models are tuned for bright piercing treble and a bass-heavy low end, and I feel like bright treble is a risk for hearing damage. Right now I'm on the Sennheiser HD660S which has a very gentle treble, although you do sacrifice airy detail and it can sound a bit boring. But it suits my needs.
Thanks for this, Paul - great to hear a 'speaker guy' acknowledge the strengths of headphones. When I got into this hobby, reviewers barely acknowledged the headphone jack on a component they were reviewing (in some cases, for good reason) but that has all changed over the last 5 years. There are still a few holdouts but the magazines and online bloggers know they cant afford to ignore the headphone lovers out there. Ultimately, pitting one vs the other makes no sense to me : I've yet to see a sign anywhere that stops a consumer having both. My biggest objection to speakers, esp subwoofers, is that they are a weapon in the wrong hands - I dont know anyone who wants to hear AC-DC at 120dB in a residential environment, but they definitely dont want to hear it at 3am : you can have that cake and eat it too with headphones and the only loser is your hearing ;) Thanks for the vid.
ROTFL!, except for the hearing loss. joking aside, professional equipment that is about 1000 watts total RMS can blast out about 130dB (ie. with compression/horn tweeters(125 Watts/channel),and folded horn sub (750 Watts) ). It is just like standing next to a jet engine full throttle at takeoff at less than 3FT from the speakers.
The biggest benefit for headphones is that you are not listening to the room. You don't need sound dampeners and diffusers. Also, you can get better sound for the same money.
Energy, soundwaves produce energy and that is how you "feel music". Headphones let you isolate and become introspective of and with the music, speakers while still providing that introspective experience also have that "big air movement" which is very much an external thing... Both have their place. I am wondering if using headphones as a tool to tune speakers?
living in a city-appartement, listening to music at nite,
and the neighbours come knocking furiously at your door
then you become a headphone-fan/user
Audiophile equipment is kind of gear towards home owners.
Joel Doxtator so no speakers and bass-box for the "no house owners"?
Unfortunately, I think that's correct. Have the same issue and 'till I move to a forest hut and start terrorising the wildlife from a solar & wind generated electricity attached to my sonic weapons, I think that I'll have to stick to hp's :((((
TheMusicForMasses u might be surprised to view a large peaceful audience of music-loving animals around your cabin
I grew up in apartments, which I hope to never have to inhabit again, mostly for this reason.
Headphones is a more accessible way to experience very high end audio. 1000 bucks get you a very good dac/amp and headphones but spend that on speakers and you have a mediocre setup. Also headphones don't need any room acoustic or messing around with placement. I like both equally much, headphones reveal a lot of details and speakers give you a more physical sound
If you're smart in how you spend your money, you can have a very nice preamp, power amp, and speaker setup for under $1000. The used market is where it's at.
hartsickdisciple ... yeah ... I been buying high end speakers and amps etc from the secondhand market. There are many in great condition at half or less than half the retail price. 😬
But it’s true, if you want to go the headfi route, you can enjoy a lot for less.
I got the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge, that’s about $2,750 (new) and can pair that with a high end headphone of say $2,000 (new) and it would be awesome sounding. That is you wanna splurge.
I did not go headfi because I like so hear the sound from speakers coming from up front.
Good speakers gives so much detail and physical sound that headphone never can give... Some games at night headphones are great
@@hartsickdisciple What sites do you buy used equipment from? Thanks.
this guy really just said 1k for speaker set up = mediocre set up
agree 100%. i use headphones A LOT but everytime im sitting in front of a nice sounding pair of speakers...it's just amazing
Paul is a solid cat. When the top guy is this passionate about his profession, it shows how much it trickles down into the company's culture. Employees who are happy from the top down will always produce great products. And Paul seems like a person who has a genuine connection with his product, from production to the consumer.
I wish i could have big loud speakers that would shake the walls. But because of my living situation i have to use open back headphones. At first it was just a means of listening to music and movies. Then i started getting into planar magnetics and fell in love. I also started experimenting with different amps and DACS and now its become my favorite hobby.
I'm autistic & have aural-tactile synesthesia. I feel bass in my body when listening to headphones just as if listening to speakers and moves to different parts of my body depending on frequency.
I guess this is one of the benefits of being autistic. I could never afford high end anything audio due to my disabilities but I found that I had good ear to recognize potential in an audio product & could modify less expensive gear to perform at an extremely high level. Headphones were my only means of listening for many years but I still prefer speakers due their imaging properties compared to headphones. My current headphones which I have modified slightly are the Sennheiser HD579's. My speaker setup are modified JBL LSR305's with modified Tannoy TS10 subwoofer run off a modified Asus Strix Raid DLX. Both sound great but the speaker are my pride & joy.
My cheap JBL headphones can emulate the bass feeling on the body.
@@necrodh Your jbl dont even have bass
How do I get that aural tactical synthesis thing?
For me, it's "Speakers AND Headphones" (replace the "vs").
There is no replacement for displacement, that's what i miss with headphones. Precisely how you feel paul...
What a wonderful story. I find that changes in my sound system - sometimes reveals things I had not heard before.
I've been a headphone guy for years with a Focal as my daily driver at home and a HD650 at work. I've relegated my HIFIMAN planars to my wife. Recently, I put together a 5.1.4 THX Ultra certified home theater setup, and playing music out of that in multi-channel stereo was... a truly transformative experience. The soundstage, imaging, and instrument separation of a good loudspeaker setup... headphones cannot even come close. It's a totally different experience. My music took on a totally different life.
Totally agree. Feeling the music is as important as hearing it to me.
I love my 25 year old Sony MDRV6 headphones! The problem with headphones is that most people bump up the volume too much and damage their hearing. If you want to enjoy music music when you are 60 ( when you can afford the great gear ), don't destroy your hearing when you are 20!
I’ve two sets of those & one is 25 years & older! For the monies, they are very difficult to beat!
I didn't. I got into the habit of putting it on pretty quiet. If other kids wanted a listen of what I had in my walkman (which was pretty rare), they complained they couldn't hear it and wanted the volume turned up. The rule of thumb I use is "If you have to pause your music to hold a conversation, you've got it too loud."
My AKG are gentle to my ears i have more than 10 years listening with them and 0 ear problems
Dang it I am 25 and I think I have already destroyed my hearing because I never listen to songs without full sound both in headphone or home theater.
I think the most dangerous is when you listen in a noisy environment and you crank the volume up. So you end up listening at 88db SPL or something like that 😅
Air pods. Wow. I'm speechless. This has shaken my confidence in you Paul.
Its just sound to go. He already knows it is not audiophile.
I just LOVE Paul's honesty! Greetings from Romania! :)
Love seeing more Romanians into hi-fi. Numai bine
I love both. Late night listening to Tidal on Focal Clear's is amazing, as is cranking the Focal 726 Towers when my neighbors won't complain.
This is why gamers use headphones. Because only by using headphones do you get the sound in your ear so that you can hear all the tiny sounds like footsteps and what not. But wearing headphones for hours on end do get tiresome for most people. There is something freeing by just sitting back and listening to some good music coming from a good speaker system.
Most gamers can’t afford to put in a Dolby Atmos system in their game room… If they could they wouldn’t be wearing headphones 🤣
@@wb5mgr They'd still be wearing headphones because you don't have you're damn game sound bleeding into your mic when you're trying to talk.
Sometimes interest in headphones come from necessity, moving from a house with separates and subs to an apartment. Hopefully dsp will someday get us to proper imaging.
The preference for speakers may derive from their ability to replicate (however accurately) the live music experience, and in fact I seek a system that not only reproduces the brilliance and depth of real instruments, but also the volume and dynamics of a live performance.
Welcome to the never ending struggle lol.
I use both at the same time, it gives that concert hall dimension.
I'd love some noise-cancelling loudspeakers so that I can no longer hear the neighbour's banging on the wall.
I like isolation sometimes, headphones have incredible microscope audio like you said. It is supra natural because we usually don't put our ears that close to music. But I also love speakers because of the waves and magnetic stuf happening. I just love both and can't think of letting one over the other.
Also headphones are how i got into audiophile stuff. Because my akg k700 and asus xonar sound card just gave me an incredible, like never before, experience of listening to what most people don't. It opened my mind so much.
The best experience I've had with headphones/earphones was with custom in ears.
When they are made properly, the user cannot feel that he/she is wearing them and the isolation is unmatched with any other types of earphones.
They stop at the second bend of the ear canal, so the bores are really close to the tympanum, making the music listening experience really unique.
I mix music, and sometimes use headphones to do some surgical eq. I turn my monitors completely down, but leave my sub going. That way I can feel the sub running through my feet. While the headphones are great for tiny tweaks, nothing beats the speakers for a full mix. My two.
It's hard to mix at the right volume with headphones too. You can calibrate your monitors and work precisely at 82spl for example, not with headphones.
IEM's are awesome, you can use them in very loud environments like I do at work, they fit under my welding helmet, and they simultaneously work as ear plugs, everything has its purpose.
As someone with neighbors in my apartment I cannot always enjoy my stereo and surround setup, so my in ears or over ears are critical to my enjoyment of music on a daily basis. I also like the introduction of haptic or audio feedback devices like the sub-pac or basslet that help to supply that visceral quality of music headphones by their nature cannot give.
Well articulated. Thank you.
I currently live in an apartment with family so I mostly use my speakers during the day (1-9pm) as loud as I like so no issues there. Still use headphones when anyone is sleep at home or in the building. Although I much prefer the sound of speakers for the reasons Paul describes, it's sometimes nice to have that close off feeling when you can enjoy your music privately without anyone judging your musical taste.
If I could viscerally feel the music, the police would be knocking on my door in short order! I need a soundproof listening room.
love your videos, keep up you're awesome work!
These clips are great!
This is the most meaningful explanation for this topic!
I am a fan of headphones and floor standing speakers. When I bought my actual system in 1985-86, I first chose a set of headphone that reproduced music the way I wanted. The headphones I bought were Sennheiser HD 430 (which is an open back) and used them to match speakers in a listening room, easy with an open back as you use both at the same time and you can hear the discrepancies in the reproduction of the music played. It really help in narrowing the field of almost spot on and near miss sets of speakers for a closer look. In the end, I went for Celestion Ditton 66 Series 2 that I setup in my living room about 30" from walls. For power to feed them, I bought the Kenwood Basic series M2 for the front speakers and Kenwood Basic M1 for rear Technics SB-L100. I could not be happier since it plays most music I threw at them to my liking and that is what matters in the end. I still have the same system and still pleased with it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I always love listening to a well-spoken man/woman.
I am very impressed with my latest acquisition...The Sony ZX300 Hi Res player with the balanced XBA-3 headphones...High gain output of 200 mW from the player with the headphones barely breaking a sweat at 100mW...I can turn these thing up and there is no distortion right to the pain threshold.
Respect for being candid about the earpods. Not easy to do in this business...if it works, it works!
I couldn’t agree more Paul about headphones being the microscope however they lack they feel of the loudspeaker.
I started my audiophile hobby with a pair of MDR Sony headphones and was blown away how detailed they sounded. Gradually moved into the Sennheiser HD 650 and then 800.
Now I have them in my dedicated 2 channel listening room and separate dedicated home theatre, and use either for different purposes.
Totally agree on the Apple EarPods too, have replaced my noise cancelling headphones except while I’m on the plane.
thank you, finally found some who explains it perfectly. Difference between closed back, open back and speakers explained perfectly in a vid
open back kinda give you best of both worlds imo sound stage and precision in sound, ofc the sound stage cant compete with good huge speakers but in the speakers u cant get the level of precision
I agree with the reason to use loudspeakers. I want to actually feel the music physically. And this is the reason headphones can't replace speakers. I use headhones now and then to my keyboard and mobile phone but almost never for music listening in the living room.
Thanks for mentioning the airpod. I've had a couple of people ask about them and didn't know what to say.
I agree. When I listen to my IRS 5s I get the same feeling😂😂😂😂😂😂
I love speakers, but unfortunately my neighbours don't, so headphones it has to be for me.
I've had the same pair of $99 Sony MDR-V600s headphones for over 10 years and I've never had the urge to upgrade. They sound fantastic, but given the opportunity, I'd ALWAYS rather listen to music through a proper set of speakers.
I use them both. Loudspeakers until 22:00, thereafter I switch to my Beyer Dynamic headphones to be kind to the neighbours. It's both a complete different experience, that's what I like about it.
“Aww-DIZ- zee”
AWW-DEEZ-NUTS
Absolutely love a fact that you, an audio expert, uses AirPods because he just likes it. While having acces to the best audio of most people. A good lesson for most people, to enjoy music, not the bitrate.
Headphones have their place. The problem I have with headphones is that they're not representative of the experience you get watching live music. You don't go to a concert and put headphones on.
On the other hand, the band does wear headphones when tracking the song in the recording studio... So ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But then while some producers use headphones to mix the songs, others use speaker systems like Dunlavy... So confusing!
@@TassieLorenzo That's true, but the best equipment for producing media isn't always the best for playing it back. Nvidia Quadro graphics cards are used for professional graphics work, but people playing the games use Geforce cards. 2 different tools for 2 different purposes.
I had Stax electret headphones, best sound ever that I base my diy loudspeaker balances on. I now have Audio Technicas that are outstanding. No room BS!
Such a down to earth sort of guy
i love speakers. I went more to heaphones as i could get quality for a lower prices. I enjoy Beyerdynamic and Sennheiser.
Someone else who hates in-ear earphones!
I got a pair when I replaced my phone a few years back (bundled with it). They got a few minutes of use, then were consigned to a box of e-waste and I went back to the earbuds that came with my previous phone.
I can't stand the feeling of them or how they make me nearly deaf to my surroundings. Regular old smooth plastic earbuds let the sounds around you leak in so you can still hear what's going on around you.
I subscribe to the philosophy that headphones are for adding to your soundscape without annoying everyone around you. I think those in-ear ones are aimed at people with the philosophy that headphones are for replacing your soundscape with a different one.
What do you think of the vintage AKG K1000 ear-speakers? Thanks
Paul, thank you for such an honest opinion.
I consider myself an armature audiophile. I love it and continue to learn all the time.
I have assembled a very nice system made from partially used components which has allowed me to have a system of high quality which fits in my budget.
What I have learned is that we don’t have to have perfect Systems to enjoy music and the “art” of music.
Sometimes what works for you is just that. It works for you in the budget you have.
You analysis of the Apple EarPods is exactly that. They are great for what they are intended. I also love mine.
I really encourage people to not get intimidated by the word audiophile and think they have to have $10,000 speakers or they don’t fit in.
It is like wine, sure expensive wine can be great, but not everyone can afford it and sometimes, it is not all that good regardless of the price.
Set a budget, start somewhere, check out used equipment and continue to learn and upgrade when you can.
Another great video like ever
I loooove speakers! I can’t really enjoy music much with headphones, not too mention they aren’t practical in a social setting
Such a sweet man.Great video
Likewise, exactly why I like going to live concerts, to feel the music, since in my apartment I use headphones most of the time as to not risk disturbing neighbours. Need a good dose of serious bass from time to time. Funny, you mention the pants. I was at a couple of concerts where it felt like my jeans were moving in the breeze.
I've used headphones as I started out with good quality sound components on a budget, and used closed headphones such as beyerdynamics dt770 to cut off my neighbours antics when I lived in an appartment. When it was quieter I also liked the open sennheiser hd598s. I watched movies and listened to music and watched youtube with it. I've built my own headphones amp which made a huge difference compared to my 1970s amp I usedat the time.
When I moved to a free standing house I've built myself 2 pairs of speakers to watch movies and listen to music and hardly use the headphones anymore. I love the sound and listening with my whole body just like Paul.
I used a pair of in ear etymotics when mowing the lawn or work in the garage with loud power tools. The passive noise cancelling is amazing and the sound is pretty good too. I got used to in ear headphones in about 1-2 months. Really sore ear canals at first but now it's pain free. Sometimes I enjoy being in my own little cocoon with headphones on, sometimes I want big powerful sound coursing throughout my entire body.
There is a time and place for every type of speaker or headphones to enjoy music or to remove the noise you don't want, or don't want to share or bother others.
Got a pair of HifiMan Ananda’s for Christmas. Thanks Santa! Love those suckers. But actually still love my old small Advents (and speakers are just better in general. Currently waiting for some .7 Maggie’s). Love it all tho!
physically feeling and connecting with the music (SPEAKERS) versus high-resolution detail, clarity (HEADPHONES)
For Audiophiles on a budget, dollar for dollar headphones get you into a higher end product ..ie.$2000 spent on speakers vs. $2000 spent on a Pair of Audezes or Dan Clark’s, gives you a better sound scape..and of course in the recording studio you gotta have a good pair of closed backs…thank again for you great and consistent work..
You and me, Paul, are the same, in every way, when it comes to headphones.
We have a new baby. All of a sudden headphones are making more sense to me lol.
This is kind of off topic for this video, but I have just started watching your Y-tube videos and I have been very impressed with your knowledge and the presentation of your videos.
I have been putting together a small system and recently purchased a Kanto subwoofer to compliment my other speakers. It is my first subwoofer. I started looking for information on setting up the sub and found your channel. I have to say that getting the crossover and volume on the sub set right has been a real challenge. Your note that you should hear the bass, with your ears, but should not be able to tell that is coming from the subwoofer itself has been the basic guide I that I have used.
I've got it pretty close, but I have also found that sub settings can really be dependent on the individual song and the music source. I mostly listen to online available music. So, the consistency is not always there. So, sometimes, I have to tweak things just a bit, depending on the song, and or the music source. But...I've got it pretty close. The subwoofer really does add a lot to the overall enjoyment of the system. Just wanted to tell you good job and thanks.
If you want to properly cross sub-woofers to stereo speakers you are going to need two of them to run in stereo. Otherwise, you will always be trapped between being able to locate the sub and having a thin sounding listening experience. Once you have two sub-woofers you are going to want to volume match them to your floor speakers and then choose a crossover frequency that does not create an interference pattern with your floor speakers. I would also suggest that you do not get a sub-woofer that was designed for home theater use as they tend to be muddy and focus more on air volume moving mass than acoustic accuracy. My suggestion would be to build your own. Audiotechnology drivers and Hypex Sub-woofer plate amps work brilliantly together. I have two Audiotechnology 15E1022510 drivers powered by two Hypex DS8.0's boxed, ported and crossed over at 120Hz. The image blends perfectly.
Joel,
I appreciate your comments, but I think you misinterpret my intent. I am not an audiophile. I just wanted to improve the sound of my music, so I decided to add a subwoofer. Using the information I found here in Paul's videos, really helped getting it set up to sound good.
Audiophile is a sliding scale. We all started out just wanting to "improve the sound of our music" a bit. Every improvement leads to more imperfections noticed and more improvements. I'm just trying to save you some money by suggesting the best option right away. I would have saved thousands if I knew what to jump straight to in order to get the best sound possible instead of incrementally increasing my equipment over time making some mistakes along the way.
Joel Doxtator a big yes
so much money wasted
buying online
not knowing what you really get
Okay, Joel, I guess if one classifies anyone who enjoys music to be an audiophile, I fit into that broad category. But, since finding all of the types and styles of music that are available online, even just through UA-cam Red, has made me want to listen to the music of years past, whether it's rock and roll from the 1950's and 1960's, Motown, the Beatles, or even the big band genre from the 1940's. I am not much into Jazz. Also, having grown up during the sixties, and having lived in a major metropolitan area where country music was just for "hicks", today I find I like the country stuff from those same earlier years. It's got Heart.
Having added the small subwoofer recently really adds the punch that makes all of those areas of music sound even more classic...sort of "Juke box style", and using Paul's philosophy of setting the sub so you can hear that "oomph", but you can't really tell where it's coming from, gives the added touch I find I like a lot.
So, in those terms, I guess I would qualify as an audiophile. And, sure, I tweak things around according to the style of music, or source (it can vary quite a bit from one provider to another), but am I going to invest in a bunch more new equipment....Nada. Thanks for helping/making me sort out my thoughts on this topic. I'm really just a nostalgic, but happy camper with my new toy.
Paul - Audeze is pronounced like Oddessy, but instead of the S sound, substitute a Z sound. And, I totally agree and love mine. Nothing quite sounds like them. 🎧
*Odyssey
But with a "z", and with a longer initial "awe" sound than what you have in "Odyssey".
Grado cans are much much better. No comparison. The best in the world.
Good joke Raffie.
@@raffiequler7510 grado build quality is a joke.
@@albertweedsteinthethuggeni7797 That's a lie. Grado has the best build and sound quality. I know that better than anybody.
I'm fully on the speaker side of the equation, but current circumstances have brought me to discover what audiophile sound from headphones can be and I'm not that disappointed. I'll take a well set-up system via speakers w/o question, but an equally well set-up headphone kit will keep me going.
Hi Paul, whatever topic you talk about , I just listen carefully and enjoy your voice and expression, which are very much analog!!
Paul knowing your esoteric level of sound..have you considered Custom IEM’s for travel? I swear by mine.
Having a stereo is awesome. And
I like having a couple of headphones in my music arsenal. If can do both
I agree completely. I hate closed headphones for that very reason, they feel like they close me off from the world.
Sometimes this is exactly what I want. For example when the noise level is too high in the office and I need to focus on my own work. In this case headphones help a lot.
I hate in-ears too, but I sure do love my active noise cancelling Bose QuietComfort wired headphones, and I use the wireless ones with the same earplug style design. They're super comfortable, they don't actually go into your ears, and I wore them all of the way to Asia (30 hour travel time) without discomfort. They're not particularly more hi-fi than the Apple Airpods, but they don't fall out. I also love the wireless ones for working around the house, or working on the car.
Completely different than my Grado RS2e headphones which I'm surprised you didn't mention because they're fairly open, well priced, and have a great sound.
Nothing like speakers, but as mentioned.. a fraction of the cost.
Dear Paul, I am a fan of your channel, even though it’s hard to find Phase Audio products in my country, and I learn much from you. Isn’t there one particular characteristic that you haven’t mentioned concerning the basic difference between speakers and headphones? Come to think of it, I have yet to find a UA-cam channel that mentions it. I am referring to the fact that I assume that every music recording was made to be propagated via a pair of speakers. Sound from both speakers would reach both the listener’s ears albeit with slightly different sound levels and phasing. A good recording and a good sound system would be able to portray a near realistic reproduction of the recorded music only if sound from both channels can be heard by both ears, and that is something that no set of headphones could ever achieve.
Dude, there's a spot on your couch.
Makes tottal sense what you describe. I prefer feeling the vibrations too 🙂 The noise canceling headphones are ideal for loud spaces like during a flight.
Eagerly awaiting official Ps audio listening slacks.
I like to listen to music LOUD. And I'm also a considerate guy, which is why I mostly listen to headphones.
All true what you've said and couldn't agree more. Enjoyed it as always.
o/24/2020: Hello, Tom from Orlando, Florida. What do you think of the: BOSS Waza-Air Wireless Guitar Headphone Amplifier? I am worried about losing some hearing and Tinnitus: Would the Waza be safe? Please read this: Decibels & Damage Sound is measured in units called decibels (dB). Sounds of less than 75 decibels, even after lengthy exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss. However, extended or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels (approximately the level of a vacuum cleaner) can cause hearing loss.
I agree with You 100%.
Hi Paul,
I've always been a fan of high end audio. I suppose I can thank/blame my father for that haha. I just wanted to say I am a big fan of your page. Ive seen lots of answers to some questions I have pondered over the years and it's nice to see them laid out in a way that makes sense to the average person. Thanks for what you do!
I think most people are here because of our dad :D
You said you hate in ear monitors but love your iPods? Which you put in your ears? I like headphones exactly for the reason that the shut everything else out and you can concentrate on the music.
I enjoy both, but my best headphones sounds more "high end" without selling my soul.
Sehneiser HD-1 , very good
I just love a good set of open back headphones. Wide and detailed. Speakers VS headphones.,chalk vs cheese.
Definitely a headphone guy here. Ultimately I got into headphones because I don't like playing music out loud in a multi-person household. The thing I don't like about headphones though is that many models are tuned for bright piercing treble and a bass-heavy low end, and I feel like bright treble is a risk for hearing damage. Right now I'm on the Sennheiser HD660S which has a very gentle treble, although you do sacrifice airy detail and it can sound a bit boring. But it suits my needs.
supposedly working... LMAO I died
audioquest make an open version of that headphone called Nighthawks.
The higher end HP cost for example the Abyss Phi which cost from 4k to 8k. Is the price justifiable for a HP?
Very good explaination of impedance vs E/I. As a rule, high impedance headphones cost more and sound better.
Thanks for this, Paul - great to hear a 'speaker guy' acknowledge the strengths of headphones. When I got into this hobby, reviewers barely acknowledged the headphone jack on a component they were reviewing (in some cases, for good reason) but that has all changed over the last 5 years. There are still a few holdouts but the magazines and online bloggers know they cant afford to ignore the headphone lovers out there. Ultimately, pitting one vs the other makes no sense to me : I've yet to see a sign anywhere that stops a consumer having both. My biggest objection to speakers, esp subwoofers, is that they are a weapon in the wrong hands - I dont know anyone who wants to hear AC-DC at 120dB in a residential environment, but they definitely dont want to hear it at 3am : you can have that cake and eat it too with headphones and the only loser is your hearing ;)
Thanks for the vid.
ROTFL!, except for the hearing loss.
joking aside, professional equipment that is about 1000 watts total RMS can blast out about 130dB (ie. with compression/horn tweeters(125 Watts/channel),and folded horn sub (750 Watts) ). It is just like standing next to a jet engine full throttle at takeoff at less than 3FT from the speakers.
"weapon in the wrong hands" lol. Sounds like you have some disrespectful headbangers for neighbors. Maybe its me!
When you travel constantly for work and move from apartment to apartment, it makes sense to own a headphone.
Thanks
The biggest benefit for headphones is that you are not listening to the room.
You don't need sound dampeners and diffusers.
Also, you can get better sound for the same money.
As soon as I saw him take his glasses ik shit was bouta get serious
I only put mine on when the wife is watching TV they are not replacing my hifi speakers😁👍
I have a pair of STAX SR L 700 MK HEADPHONES. Love them. They beat anything out there. There great for critical listening.
I crank the fm radio on a piezo electric speaker, cut the antenna too 🤣
Snr sits at a whopping 1%
Energy, soundwaves produce energy and that is how you "feel music". Headphones let you isolate and become introspective of and with the music, speakers while still providing that introspective experience also have that "big air movement" which is very much an external thing... Both have their place. I am wondering if using headphones as a tool to tune speakers?
I didn't know Paul was drinking the Apple fan boy kool-aid.
The beautiful thing about preferred preference is YOU make the choice. ;)
Hi Paul ... Greetings ! ... What's your opinion on the new B&W Formation Duo's? Would love a product review if possible
they are great audiophile speakers for enjoyment, would recommend less for mixing though