Headphones vs speakers

Does Paul prefer headphones or loudspeakers?

[@philipslighting8240]

I have very good headphones and very good Speakers. I also have neighbours. When they go out speakers go on when they are in Headphones go on. You must respect the people next door. I live in Great Britain in a very old house well over a hundred years old, these old houses were not designed for HIFI.

[@paulpeeters2356]

Paul, explore the Solo's, Duet's and Trios of Rob Wasserman.... Greetings, Paul Peeters.

[@maze400]

I too have been waiting for a video from you on this subject. A friend of mine is an audio file and he has warned me that it is a slippery slope. Aside from the expense, you find yourself chasing the sound quality and looking for imperfections instead of enjoying the music. Headphones and a good tub and or solid state headphone amp will do very nicely. In fact, I have a pair of Grado SR125 and replaced the cushions with the "G" series and it opened them up to the point of sounding like speakers on either shoulder. Thanks for posting Paul.

[@Oystein87]

I hope your friend is not an audio file👀 That would be weird😋 Maybe an Audiophile?

[@JP1050x]

I was never a headphone person, until I started experimenting with them recently. After I tried a set of Sennheiser HD 600’s paired with my Chord Mojo, I’m now hooked. It’s quite a difference experience using headphones, compared to speakers. And, I prefer the visceral feel of speakers (like Paul mentioned). But a nice headphone setup is a good option, when I’m in the mood for it.

[@shipsahoy1793]

For me this whole issue popped up after I had recently given up a good pair of headphones to my son, since I wasn’t using them. One day my wife says, I don’t feel well I’m going to lay down. I wanted to listen to music downstairs, so I grabbed the other set of studio type monitors I had, but they were a higher impedance, and weren’t playing as loud as what I was in the mood for at the time. The headphones I gave my son were lower impedance, hence louder, but they also had decent sound. Now for this particular type circumstance I need another set of lower impedance headphones, or a headphone amp for the set I have. I tried using a set of bluetooth headphones I had lying around that I never much cared for, and after I tried them, I remembered why, lol. Not only were they subject to noise or interference, they had some kind of compander circuit trying to control dynamic range that was really pissing me off. If they could’ve just played the music “normally” without those processing games or susceptibility to noise and interference, they would have been tolerable in the short term. All that said, good headphones gove a unique perspective to recordings, but I also prefer my speakers. The stereo listener version of wireless 😂 (if you’ve seen the commercial where someone is dancing around a field with their laptop lol)

[@frankfarago2825]

@@shipsahoy1793 Seems like you're screwed either way?

[@shipsahoy1793]

@@frankfarago2825 No, actually I rarely use headphones, but I have since found and purchased a "reasonable" sounding pair of low impedance around the ear headphones for those rare cases.

[@Chrisspru]

there are multiple techniques to simulate physical bass impulse for headphones. there is the harmon curve to match perceived volume level and more bandaid measures like low hertz vibration motors in the headphone to basicly rattle your head or a haptic vest that sends bass like impulses to your body. pairing headphones with an external sub set to just produce ultra lows works too, but creates the feeling of an earthquake for everybody else though

[@SWATTECHNOLOGIES]

Great metaphor Paul regarding magnifying glass. When I hear back instrument or vocal takes and want the details, I use headphones, closed back Beyerdynamics that shuts out everything and allows for focus. To hear the mix? Always speakers.

[@stonefree1911]

I prefer listening through speakers a well, BUT I also enjoy headphones. It really is 2 different listening experiences and they are both great.

[@laurelhardy4064]

Most of the recordings that I listen to is jazz music from late 50's to early 60's, and most of them are far left and far right recordings, which means on the headphones it's not a pleasant listening.

[@dhpbear2]

Back in the days when I was transferring old vinyl to digital, I ALWAYS used headphones. It is very EASY to miss clicks and pops when listening via speakers.

[@Foxrock321]

In the studio, I noticed you had the Beyerdynamic headphones for monitor purposes…I just bought the T5s which are the hand made in Germany hi end Beyers…they sound really good The Audeze are quit e good also..there’s a whole world of headphone enthusiasts, that never listen to speakers…so sad.

[@LeeBlaske]

Totally agree with you about using headphones for recording work. You can hear a LOT more detail. Also, for people working all day in recording studios (of which I'm one), I think headphones are less fatiguing. You can hear more of the detail you need to hear at a lower volume, and it can really save your ears. When it comes time to mix, though, you really need to reference speakers to be sure what's happening to the bass.

[@frankfarago2825]

Huh? What are you saying? Use both types, are you saying?

[@LeeBlaske]

@@frankfarago2825 Yes. That's what I do.

[@stevenoconnor5693]

I appreciate your video poll, so bottom line you have a mixed used case. I myself also have a mixed use case headphones on daily commute speakers at home no I like Bowers and Wilkins myself. Everybody has their own tastes. The speakers you currently sell sound nice from the recordings I’ve heard of them, though I honestly would never probably upgrade to your brand. I don’t need floorstanding speakers, per se.

[@emiel333]

Although I use both, for listening and also mixing mastering, I’m like you, Paul. If I can choose only one, I’d go for loudspeakers. Feeling the bass is an amazing sensation. Or a great 80s song with a punchy snare felt on the chest!

[@MikeDawson1]

I've found that a Clark transducer (even just the cheapest one) blends great with music, however it does roll off below 40hz I also use a Subpac that I actually placed inside of my chair, it's great as well

[@alex_stanley]

I got into IEMs when I took on housemates a few years ago, and I really like getting completely lost in the music like that. With the perfect fit of custom shells, the woofers in my IEMs make me feel like there's a dance club inside my head. Obviously, there's no visceral bass, but an IEM's ability to directly pressurize the air in the ear canal gives it an advantage when it comes to bass that's heard via the ears.

[@hilorecords654]

Which iems are you currently using?

[@alex_stanley]

@@hilorecords654 Empire Ears Legend X customs

[@housepianist]

I was a speaker listener during the 80’s and 90’s but I’m all about IEMs and headphones now and have been for over 20 years. With a proper set-up (source, amp/dac, cable, etc), listen to music this way is wonderful. And yes, there’s certainly the “not disturbing the family” factor that’s really important too.

[@SJMessinwithBoats]

Can't replicate an acoustical concert with any head phones. Paul sells High End to accomplish this.

[@housepianist]

@@SJMessinwithBoats headphones and iems are not trying to be speakers in a physical space. They’re more personal and meant to give you those particular auditory experiences in your head. In most cases, it’s just a matter of preference and I’ve chosen mine.

[@waltergist8923]

Recording in churches can lead to great results. E.g., Chesky Records binaural recordings and the demonstration disc, Dr, Chesky's Sensational Fantastic and Simply Amazing Binaural Sound Show (2012), which includes a room shaking organ track of Bach's Toccata and Fugue.

[@williamevans9426]

The large Air Studios Lyndhurst and Henry Wood Hall , both in London, are former churches and have a reputation for fantastic acoustics.

[@necrodh]

Its easier and cheaper to archive "high end" sound, yes with the bass kick inckuded, holographical scenario and "feelings" but its also easy to archive the limits of a speakers once you figure out all about mastering the speed of reproduction, i love both speakers and headphones

[@dhpbear2]

Are Audeze's prices in LIRA?! :)

[@hotcue4586]

Thank you for consistently giving us all this amazing knowledge. You mention the plainer LCD model is your favourite one for mixdowns? The price range is huge between them.

[@frankfarago2825]

Shaking seats were used in the 1950s and 60s in theaters, and in amusemenet parks and "4D" to "7D" presentations today. I hope you were not seriously suggesting a pro audio person should get a seat shaker?

[@williamevans9426]

No-one will believe this but only yesterday I was thinking of contacting you, Paul, with this very question! (No kidding, I promise.) I'm interested in this topic because my house layout can accommodate stand speakers but it would be easier for me to listen (mainly to classical, opera, and classic rock) via headphones. I was thinking of buying a Focal Clear MG pair (I live in the UK). With many thanks from Oxford.

[@craneywatch]

I live in apartment and listen to my speakers loud and powerful. Nobody is complaining. Except for a very few... who is still alive.

[@audie-cashstack-uk4881]

iv just started using heasdphones again with the best input dac amp i ever used with them a soundblaster g6 im am amazed also semi open to open headphones i never knew this was possible sound amazing. i usually use a sonos full surround system iv just started gaming music listening and movie listening in TRUE ATMOs Dow sampled to atmos headphones via the app this combined with the g6 amp is mind-blowing good

[@Richard-HiFiMan]

I love my Audeze LCD-XC headphones, and are great when I want a more “personal” listening experience.

[@Steve-wb60]

Hi Richard, I have the same headphones, I agree they have a wonderful sound but mine take about 10-15 minutes to settle down especially the treble. I find that Sses in vocals and cymbals take this time to lose any hiss. Is this your experience too?

[@benpit2762]

lol “it ain’t shaking baby!”

[@hoobsgroove]

You could isolate your room completely from noise leakage traditional ways is to build a room inside a room. Another way is to stick an inducers on some foam half inch panels crossing it over about 80 hertz out of phase on low output

[@SJMessinwithBoats]

Wouldn't that mess with the sound stage?

[@hoobsgroove]

@@SJMessinwithBoats it acting as like noise cancelling headphones the panels, You got to find the balance as i said if the output is too great then You could take the life out of the music and reduce its sound stage, and it's not necessary either. You trying to stop leakage of sound entering outside the room or building especially at lower frequencies. There is benefits as well not just to this but your increased bass because you are reducing come effect from the speakers that cancel each other out reducing the peaks in the room. Of course you don't need to stick to one frequency You can play multiple frequencies that you need for leakage probably will be lower and for peak points as well. It's the same effect as sound ID but in a mechanical form without needing to adjust your speakers q levels

[@SJMessinwithBoats]

@@hoobsgroove I thought about recording my genset and then flipping it with my dsp. I got to try this now. Also, maybe speakers outside of the home flipped from whats playing inside?

[@hoobsgroove]

@@SJMessinwithBoats If you got some small bookshelf or skinny tower speakers put closer against the side walls roughly in your sitting position pointing towards your speakers end, please a cardboard box covering the speaker a couple feet in front, block the ports at the back or front. So put the cardboard box on the side of the speaker facing towards the wall at say 15° angle keeping it tight and never opening and play out of phase, that way that will give you the cancellation, try somewhere from 125 Hz to 50Hz or lower. Adjust your intensity/volume till it feels right. Just find a cheap amp just put a low pass filter 150Hz and below on the input, You can buy RCA plugs filters like that already made, an amplifier with bass and treble adjustment give you some fine adjustment. Ideally use a calibrated mic not expensive 40$ REW is free on your laptop measure your frequency responses in room. Another thing you might want to try is a speaker on the back wall behind you!! a bit height then your head a sub could be used out of phase with delay.

[@SJMessinwithBoats]

@@hoobsgroove Yes, I'm puting that on my list of audio quest's. I do have 10 51/4" drivers that I bought just because it was s good deal discontinued from parts express. I think that would work. I have a DSP-408 and a couple higher power car amps 4 channel with filters on those. set up a cancellation field!👍

[@victorsixtythree]

Audeze - "AA-duh-zee", similar to "Odyssey" I believe.

[@gotham61]

People have given Paul pronunciation tips in video after video when he says it the wrong way. I once even posted a link to a video on the Audeze KZbin channel where the name is repeated. It never seems to help.

[@philipslighting8240]

Dont worry Americans cant prounounce words correctly its just how they are.

[@SJMessinwithBoats]

@@gotham61 Just email paul early in the morning, he's up, he lives for this stuff.

[@NeilDSouza7]

Its Ah .oh ... Duh ..eeze

[@SJMessinwithBoats]

@@NeilDSouza7 I'm American, but there must be a couple different ways to sound it out. We are very diversified People's here.

[@tertia0011]

I prefer speakers & usually don't play music that is loud enough to disturb others. I do have a pair of Denon AH-D5200 headphones that match my HiFi listening needs quite well. Headphones are great at blocking out unwanted noise from next rooms or street.

[@martinkormunda2264]

Headphones are significantly cheaper way to the high end audio. And I agree with Paul headphones are like magnificent glass but on other hand it seem to me more intimidate experience. I like my headphones more then speakers recently. But if you do opposite it fine. Perhaps I will do later too.

[@Bandwidth31Hz]

Why not use a sub-woofer to give you the "feel" and use the headphones for the sound?

[@YnotNomis]

"Ain't Nothing Shakin', Baby!" - LOL!!!! Well, it ain't working if you ain't shakin' something!

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

I am curious if I know what really good head phone listening is. I use Grado phones that cost hundreds, not thousands, and have never really had them in a great amp. So I find I prefer the stereo speaker illusion because the sound stage is way out in front of me behind the speakers and it sounds real. My headphones seem to center my head in the image which is not pleasing to me. Is this just my inferior set up?

[@attaboyBrad]

I LOVE the Buttkicker + Headphone combo, and I'm thrilled to hear it suggested by somebody who truly knows high end audio. I thought it might be practically the opposite of "Hi-Fi", but I enjoy it too much to care. For the price, I don't think there's a better way to enhance desk-based listening. Goes great with headphones, goes great with bookshelves, and goes great with a 2.1 system too if you're considerate of your neighbors. Great sound waves needn't be experienced only through the ears.

[@frankfarago2825]

Err, excuse me, but you just said -- WHAT exactly?

[@5starmaniac]

You should add Susanne Sundfør's album "The Silicone veil" to that bass list 😁

[@glenncurry3041]

We don't "hear" everything through our ears. The lowest frequencies we can hear or more accurately detect are picked up by bones around the ear. Bone conduction. I am not up on the current headphone market, but back in the day there were companies that addressed this by having drivers that stimulated the bone right in front of the ear to provide more low frequency sensation. Still no shaking the butt! But more feel to the low end.

[@NoEgg4u]

Headphones can provide an amazing listening experience. But they all fall short in 2 areas: 1) Paul spoke to the "feel it in your bones" bass output. Headphone will not pound your chest. 2) Headphones do not allow your right ear to hear the left speaker, and vice-versa. With floor-standing speakers, both of your ears hear both of your speakers. That is how real life works. When you are listening to a live band, both of your ears are hearing sound, directed at you from all over the stage. Your right ear is not limited to hearing only the sound from the right side of the stage. When sound reaches our ears, milliseconds apart in time, our brains detect that difference, and our brains determine the direction of the source of the sound. Floor-standing speakers allow our brain to hear that phenomena. Headphone will not present a sonic image that allows our brain to hear that phenomena. I am not knocking headphones. There are some that have sound quality to die for. But the nature of headphones imposes some limits that floor-standing speakers do not have.

[@craneywatch]

I used to love headphones. Until I went into sound recording. Headphones have decency to... lie about the sound structure. It becomes very clear when you start recording your own vocals. In headphones when you record some I would say soulful song you sound like singing, but in speakers you suddenly realize that you are half-singing half-screaming. Speakers produce more truthful sound. And of course the sound coming from speakers has more power and size within it. However, there were pair of headphones which I really enjoyed listening - AKG. There was something magical the way they produced the sound, so sweet and clear. Unfortunately, they got broken.

[@pablohrrg8677]

What about using headphones paired with a subwoofer for the body shaking effects. The total volume would be less, and narrower frequency span. The neighbours would still hear something, but it would more limited and may be not annoying.

[@ollehedstrom3536]

Yes, this is a great way to experience fantastic audio reproduction.

[@cletusberkeley9441]

I got great speakers, great headphones and great neighbors! .....I'll opt for the speakers hands down. I use the headphones mainly when I'm doing a recording session or very late at night when the rest of the household has turned in.

[@vivekrai4559]

I love loud speakers for listening music🎶

[@thomasward00]

Love my Meze headphones BUT if given the choice, I prefer speakers also.

[@frankfarago2825]

So, basically -- you have said nothing here, right?

[@thomasward00]

@@frankfarago2825 So Basically I said I prefer speakers over headphones.... you must be a Democrat...

[@SJMessinwithBoats]

Friend of mine had a butt kicker with his THX system. Saw Titanic with that set up around 2003. So the Butt Kicker been around for awhile now.

[@jkjome4095]

Paul- Will your bass recording be available via streaming, since many people do not own a CD player and instead stream all of their music?

[@williamperry4238]

Quality Headphones vs Speakers: Aa always, very honest answer. Headphones are too analyitic? Oh please,spare me; although you are correct, headphones cannot reproduce low frequencies as suvwoofer can.

[@kautkascitadaks]

Have to disagree about the feel on headphones, my set of Sennheiser hd 540 reference gold, feel like the earth is shaking under my feet when cypress hill or rezz is on. What you just described is the biggest weakness or flaw of the planar driver, they don't have great base. Only dynamic driver headphones can give the effect of music being felt from toes to top of your hair.

[@SJMessinwithBoats]

He loves headphones but its not in the scope of High-End. Maybe it thwarts anyone from requesting PS to make thier own.

[@SJMessinwithBoats]

RockSuperStar needs to feel pressure on the whole body. That is what makes a recording artist. They want the sound to fill in all around them.

[@toecutterjenkins]

Danny from Gr research made a youtube a day or 2 ago . He has headphones he recommends that are made in Ukraine he is selling them for the company because people are worried the company won't be there tomorrow. They are inexpensive, too .

[@sirtimothyjasonwellsakaelduce]

The head phones Danny is sponsoring are awesome , and not expensive at all , I purchased a pair right before the war broke out , I enjoy them as much as my $1700.00 STAX ear speakers , I will be purchasing a couple more pairs as gifts for some friends .

[@ollehedstrom3536]

I suspect that Paul never experienced ear speakers, which are in principal totally different from over ear headphones. I think he might change his somewhat negative view on phones if he did.

[@philipslighting8240]

Ear speakers are just headphones its different words,

[@ollehedstrom3536]

@@philipslighting8240 Absolutely not the same thing! Ear speakers are totally free floating from the skull with minimal connection by the device. The left and right transducers emit sound to both ears which radically improves image and perception of the sound. If you try out the AKG K 1000s you would understand what I am talking about!

[@SJMessinwithBoats]

Sound pressure on your body will stimulate way more then just yo head can.

[@SJMessinwithBoats]

@@ollehedstrom3536 There is no way to replicate a live performance with headphones. Next time you go to an acoustical concert, put a db meter down at your feet snd measure. You'll be feeling 87db at a High School concert.

[@NeilDSouza7]

Paul McGowan VS Paul McGowan 🤣🤣🤣

[@finscreenname]

If I use headphones to long my ears hurt and sweat. Prefer speakers. Even jamming you can hear the rest of the room where with headphones on you can walk up to someone and they will not know you are there until you touch them. Creepy.

[@davidfromamerica1871]

I like headphones that sound crappy. They work well with my crappy music. 😀🤗👍

[@dougdavis8986]

Headphones are an easy way to damage your hearing.

[@deadandburied7626]

Can be.

[@SJMessinwithBoats]

@@deadandburied7626 Sony mdr-v6, the standard in studio monitor headphones, could pull 130db, and be sweeet there. I would not reccomend happy, healthy people do as I did unless you are a sad, unhealthy type. Like NaySayers.

[@stonefree1911]

Not if you are responsible..

[@martinkormunda2264]

The speakers can do the same if you go loud to same pressure.

[@dougdavis8986]

@Martin Kormunda very true Beavis.

[@mauriciojv7901]

Dear Paul, since your video of the organ recording I was looking forward for the downlod and I must say, I am REALLY disappointed. Don´t get me wrong, the Toccata in D Minor is superb, but the rest is CRAP. Erase Me is so so, but the rest seems like music chosen for a cheap Pioneer car bass demo. I have a few other Octave downloads, and they are amazing but this, in my opinion, struck out my friend. Sorry.

[@Paulmcgowanpsaudio]

Sorry Mauricio. Did you did not like Shep's Dream, or World Wind? Is it just the musical choices or the recording or both?

[@Pure79er]

Believe it or not- i can hear so loud music at home with no problems- i have 3 neighbors, and all of them know that i‘m into HiFi and they understand it. Therefor it is an german building and the walls are very thick.

[@larrywe3320]

Paul... Please allow a *YOUNGER* person to do the 1st MIXing and EQing of your Music for obvious reasons

[@chrislj2890]

Unless you have direct knowledge from a professional audiologist pertaining to Paul's hearing abilities I would suggest you keep that opinion to yourself.

[@larrywe3320]

@@chrislj2890 STOP being silly... Paul is 74yo. Do you think he has Super Hero hearing ? 🤣🤣

[@chrislj2890]

@@larrywe3320 Well if I'm being silly you are being rude and arrogant. How about some proof that the recordings he is responsible for are defective in any way. Making generalized assumptions based on your own prejudices has no value.

[@larrywe3320]

@@chrislj2890 Has nothing to do with "prejudices" -- Your devotion to PSA/Paul is bordering on cultish

[@chrislj2890]

@@larrywe3320 Not devoted at all, and I don't agree with him on some things. But I'd say his credentials speak for themselves, and unless you have as much experience in the hifi/recording field as he does then I will pass on your words of wisdom.