Are you a headphone or speaker user?

[Rja4000]

Speakers mainly.
Although I now use headphones more often, due to circumstances...
And I like the SQ I get from the Focal Elegia + RME

 

[esm]

I switch back and forth a lot; the main problem is that I live in an apartment, so while I have competent speaker setups in multiple rooms, outside certain hours I just can't use them, and in general I'm a lot more aware of loudness with the speakers (I have a good relationship with my neighbors, and want to keep it that way). So for focused listening, or even just particularly dynamic/soundtrack-heavy movies, I wind up with headphones on at some point.

Plus, travel means headphones, although that's more about silencing the outside world than SQ; I'm basically married to my 1000XM3s when I leave the house.

 

[agtp]

Definitely speakers. For me, it’s mostly about situational awareness. Why people purposely handicap themselves while in public spaces is beyond me. I feel little sympathy for the pedestrian who is struck by train/trolley/bus/car while walking/biking/scooting through busy, high traffic areas with headphones/IEM’s. Darwin award nominee, for sure. Be safe, people!

 

[tktran303]

Childhood- parents’ small speakers
adolescence- headphones
single adult life- speakers
married life- bigger speakers
parenting life- small speakers and headphones
^^^^^ - currently here:
retirement life- ???

 

[MenloBob]

Headphones only for work and travel. Speakers otherwise.

 

[Balle Clorin]

Speakers , tried headphones, but to bulky when lying on sofa , bought “hifi “earplugs in 125 usd range after rave reviews, Utterly useless ****** sound compared to iPhone standard earplugs.

 

[Dogen]

I came across an odd audiophile term the other day - “forensic listening”. That pretty much describes my experience with headphones. I can certainly enjoy them, but speakers seem to weave the performance together into an enjoyable whole, while headphones reveal every unfortunate mix decision and distortion.

 

[Roen]

My choice of the day is:
Sierra-2's played off the Sony Receiver
HD6XX played off the KTB / 789
Some chinese IEM's 4 BA + 1 DD Musicmaker Shockwave III's played off the D50 / O2

Decisions decisions

 

[rocknss]

Definitely a speaker guy, have them all over the house, garage & patio. However voted 50/50 since I listen to headphones a few hours a day at work., recently picked up a pair of Bowers & Wilkins PX for this purpose.

On the speaker front I made a major leap a couple of months ago to a pair of Legacy Whisper XDS.

 

[cshake]

Voted headphones, as that's how I listen to music most of the day in my cube at work, and what I use at my computer at home (better for positioning in games than an equivalently priced desktop speaker setup, plus my wife and I will often play next to each other, so open headphones win).

I have a 5.1 system in my living room for TV and movies, and my wife and I will often sit on the couch in the evenings and have the TV on, but that's less total time used so I can't say "equally".

 

[imagidominc]

I seem to be in the vast minority here! I prefer headphones. I hear so much live music pumped through massive speakers all the time at my job that I prefer to cut myself off from the rest of the world and get lost in the music. I do have a turntable hooked up to speakers, but I don't get to use it as often as I'd like because it bugs my roommates.

 

[Klatuu58]

90% headphones.

 

[monkeyboy]

I use both, but prefer the intimacy of headphones, I seem to enjoy the music more through a pair of cans...

 

[fulffy512]

Headphones, The only i one i mainly use is the ER4SR.

 

[geek101]

Speakers when spouse lets me in the house, headphones otherwise!!!.

 

[Snarfie]

Speakers. I can't get the 3D imaging with headphones. Headphones for monitoring my Xone4D mix consol. I fear the day that my more or less deaf neighbour of 92 will pass away.

 

[BigVU's]

Loudspeakers please. Headphones are not my preference but do have a time and place.

 

[Merkurio]

More like a IEM guy nowadays.

 

[beefkabob]

I own many sets of headphones. I started with Sennheisers when I was 13, which is almost 30 years ago. They still work, though my wife misplaced them last week. I recently got on a noise cancelling kick and bought over ear Bose and in-ear Sony. I end up listening to audio books on headphones when I sleep, for like an hour+ per day. Then I listen to music in the car on the car stereo, but that's just a 15-20 minute drive. At home? My old stereo is such crap, either from age or lack of room correction, that I can't stand it. Hence me coming here, looking for information.

 

[rwortman]

Speakers. Headphones for live sounding monitoring and checking mixes and every once in a while when traveling. Headphone listening is certainly pleasing enough but much less close to the ideal of recreating a live event at home. Bass from live music is not just in your ears and I have never heard headphones create an expansive sound stage outside my head. I think there is tech coming down the pike that might do that but it won't solve the body sensation problem.