With the ever-escalating prices of TOTL's, headphones are definitely much less of a value proposition than they once were.


However, there are some things great headphones do that I've found even great speakers have a hard time with (speed of Stax, low level detail of the HD800 as examples you pointed out) and there is so much less that goes into setting up a listening session with headphones. You put them on your head and that's it.  I daresay headphone listeners spend more time actually listening to music than speaker users.  Its just inconvenient most of the time.


Just spent the last couple hours listening to speakers though, and it was very experiential and enveloping.  Headphones can have a hard time with that as its pumping the music straight into your ears.

If I may offer another view point, I would question the number of headphone users actually listening to music. Headphones are so convenient that people (I used to be guilty of this) put them on and do other things, most commonly surf the web.

Sometimes it's worth it for music to be difficult to listen to. Like it's taking the time preping/cooking a good meal opposed to the Papa John's drive through.

I'm also of the opinion it is stupid to claim either one is better than the other...

...you can't just ignore the fact it takes a whole lot of effort to optimize a speaker rig in a way it can sound as faithful as a good headphone rig does.

Sorry that part of the thread has degenerated into this argument of headphones vs. speakers.

I think some people took my post a little bit too personally. Although my first post was provocative, the intent was for really for people to open their eyes and at least try something else other than headphones (Dammit, haven't you guys figured out my writing style by now! Geez!) A lot of the younger generation have not been exposed to speakers - good speakers - and DIY at that, which has an immense value proposition and allows one to pursue a design tailored to someone's priorities.

I could really give a rat's ass how many high cost speakers there are at Tokyo. LFF, analmort, ultrabike + others, and I get to hear a lot of high cost speakers here at the various shows at least once a year. Out of several dozens, maybe two or three we would consider high-end (and each of those had drivers I could identify, and thus build myself). The biggest, most expensive speaker I've heard, a Focal monstrosity, loved by TAS, and placed in a HUGE room, was incredibly mediocre.

I call BS on the argument that speakers require "a whole lot of effort to optimize." That's a fucking cop-out for lazy people people - and this site was never meant for lazy people. I see Head-Fi'ers (this includes myself) having spent a lot more energy dealing the with angst associated with dwelling on headphone selection, component synergies, tubes, cables, etc. - that is how to spend their next $3300 or whatever. All this neurotic energy and money could go into something much more worthwhile... learning about sound and how its reproduced.

I do agree that if and only if your priorities are articulation and layering, there's really no need to pursue speakers as a value proposition when you have STAX earphones. Then again, a pair of Quads isn't that much more than an SR009.

I heard Purrin's system last night.
I must admit, it's not the most accurate or neutral system but DAMN...it's a fun sounding rig. MY idea of proper coloring on a system. I want to build these speakers too. 

Yeah, just wait until I measure it and apply digital PEQ.

Then again... I was sitting on the couch listening to a new album on the speakers and it paled in comparison to how good it sounded on my headphone rig last night.  It's not as simple as just plugging some speakers in and you're good to go!   

Not my fault you have a shitty speaker rig. Just stick with headphones and continue to upgrade DACs and amps. You will be better off.