I don't like headphones anymore

[olds1959special]

I used to be a big fan of headphones but lately I haven't used them at all. I would rather listen at low levels on speakers late at night. Headphones bother my ears because of how close they are, and I find them fatiguing.

 

[pablolie]

I prefer good speakers for obvious reasons (real space in front of me - even though with many recordings it's an artificially infused illusion), but also love headphones - you'll always get waaaay more detail out of them [1]. It's not an either-or, more like different tools for different purposes, IMHO. I will always have both.

[1] And let's not kid ourselves, sharp detail can indeed get fatiguing. Headphones are way more unforgiving that speakers, IMO.

 

[IngMishael]

I am also a speaker snob but if something is sounding fatiguing, then it is not because of the medium but the specific product.
That is my view though. Anyway, speaker over portable listening all day.

 

[HalSF]

I used to be a big fan of headphones but lately I haven't used them at all. I would rather listen at low levels on speakers late at night. Headphones bother my ears because of how close they are, and I find them fatiguing.

When you were a big fan, it didn’t bother you that they were close to your ears, and listening wasn’t fatiguing?

 

[olds1959special]

When you were a big fan, it didn’t bother you that they were close to your ears, and listening wasn’t fatiguing?

It didn't bother me because I believed I liked them, but listening was fatiguing sometimes. In the past when using Sony MDR-7506 headphones for hours on end, I had this problem in a big way. I really thought I damaged my hearing.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I find it hard to tolerate headphones.

 

[tw 2022]

I had this problem in a big way. I really thought I damaged my hearing.

that's great motivation to not like earphones... i'd go speakers mostly too (actually that's exactly what I do, I keep a pair of Philips $80 'phones around for "just such an emergency")....

 

[RexrothPigeon]

I only like them when the alternative is worse, planes/subway, etc

 

[olds1959special]

I only like them when the alternative is worse, planes/subway, etc

I purposefully take a break from music when I'm in public for a few reasons. First of all to connect more with my environment. And also, so I don't have to use headphones.

 

[fcserei]

My experience is the complete opposite, so YMMV.
I have calculated my own HRTF, plus I have ambisonic impulse responses for several great concert venues for a very realistic out of my head sound. I listen to binauralized stereo with headtracking over headphones (mostly classical and opera). I’ve ditched my multichannel jbl studio monitor setup for exclusive headphone listening. Some earbuds fit so well, that I don’t even feel them.
No speaker system came close to the being there feeling of binauralized stereo in my experience.

 

[RexrothPigeon]

I purposefully take a break from music when I'm in public for a few reasons. First of all to connect more with my environment. And also, so I don't have to use headphones.

I don't have even a single gram of desire to connect to crying airplane babies

 

[Keith_W]

There was a time in my life when almost all my listening was done on headphones or IEM's. I was young, I could not afford speakers. I travelled everywhere on my bicycle, I was too young to have a driver's license. Even when I got my first "hifi" system - computer speakers connected to a Sony Walkman - the sound was so muddy that I still preferred headphones. All that changed when I finally bought proper speakers. Strange that I didn't seem to mind them back then, but now I avoid headphones if I can help it.

 

[Robin L]

I guess I like the concept of hallucinating music, along the lines of Berlioz and Symphonie Fantastique. I hear music in my head all the time. Speakers are outside the head, and consensus reality places most sounds outside of ourselves. I've got not problems with headphones; they can do things right that speakers can't. The 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEMs are the best sounding transducers I've got right now, all $25 worth. And I like getting as close to the musicians as possible.

 

[Jim Taylor]

I have somewhat the same problem as you do. I have always had this problem with over-ear closed-back phones. I had Koss Porta-Pro (for outdoors) that cured it, but I broke them and haven't replaced them, much less added another open-back on-the-ear set of phones for inside.
However, Christmas is coming, and that may change ....

 

[pablolie]

I find it hard to tolerate headphones.

They wouldn't fit comfortably over your fashionable hat.

But fit is a key consideration with headphones, no doubt whatsoever. Even more so with IEMs, which with a bad fit could easilty turned into a Guantanamo torture device (especially playing constant Michael McDonald Motown covers).

 

[UltraNearFieldJock]

I used to be a big fan of headphones but lately I haven't used them at all.

Because of the same problems with headphones, but in order not to lose the intimacy with the music and the analitics and richness of detail, and satisfactory volume for low bass in the late night, for several years I have preferred something in between: UNF.

 

[jhenderson0107]

I still like and use them, despite having various high-quality speakers available. They are very revealing even at low/medium volumes, room acoustics are eliminated, distortion is negligible and the models I use are very comfortable. They're an excellent alternative to enjoy great music.

But, I detest using headphones when perambulating. Airpods are the kings-cure during walks and workouts.

 

[Palladium]

There was a time in my life when almost all my listening was done on headphones or IEM's. I was young, I could not afford speakers. I travelled everywhere on my bicycle, I was too young to have a driver's license. Even when I got my first "hifi" system - computer speakers connected to a Sony Walkman - the sound was so muddy that I still preferred headphones. All that changed when I finally bought proper speakers. Strange that I didn't seem to mind them back then, but now I avoid headphones if I can help it.

I bought a HD650 at a discount after owning iLoud Micros for 3 years, and the latter still blows the former doors off.

I also don't hear much differences between the HD650 versus TWS earbuds like the Buds FE at moderately low SPLs that I prefer.

 

[Mocie]

I think unless you really find something comfortable you can ride with long listening sessions with, speakers emerge as the desirable choice. As nice as 650s are sound/EQ wise, their lack of comfort killed headphones for years until I got back into them recently.

Same reason IEMs are coming up, generally lower price point with better comfort.

 

[Mnyb]

I find my headphones way cleaner and smoother than any speaker I’ve owned , HD650 with EQ.

However it’s still that headphone experience , I like listening to speakers . Even if the acoustics of my room gets in the way .

I also have some small desktop monitors for a more close up experience.

So speakers can to me sound more fatigued due to acoustics and crossovers ( blend of the drivers) and resonances and distortion, but I still prefer the experience