[summer]

I think I like headphones more. If I ever get bored of music and have been listening on speakers, whenever I put on a pair of headphones I always get interested in things all over again. There's a lot of detail that speakers sometimes don't have, and headphones are just more immersive.

[joe11121]

Headphones because I feel like I hear more since it is right inside my ear. But stereo is nice when outside painting etc.

[o'connor]

see i think certian things sound better on certian things. soem albums are most def a "headphone masterpiece", but some things sound better on speakers. kinda like how some things just sound better on vinyl as opposed to CD. true story.

[SonicBebs]

at the moment i prefer headphones. its when i listen most, and its a more private experience, which works with the stuff i'm into right now. There's a time for speakers (raving in a field for example), but i enjoy my music on my own. And headphones stops any other distractions.

for me

[terminal pharmacy]

line arrays

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by o'connor

see i think certian things sound better on certian things. soem albums are most def a "headphone masterpiece", but some things sound better on speakers. kinda like how some things just sound better on vinyl as opposed to CD. true story.

I agree. I find some mixes much more interesting on headphones and some when listening with nice speakers..

[The Earl Of Slander]

Yeah, there are some "headphone albums", but generally I'd say speakers, partly just because of the way you can physically feel the music when you blast it loud. Especially with, say, some drone music, that feeling of the music just coursing through your body is very important to me. I remember listening to "Sun Blindness Music" from that John Cale "New York in the 60s" Table Of The Elements box set at high volume, and the sensation of just being completely taken over by pulsating force of the organ was one of the most transcendent musical experiences I can think of. Headphones can't give you that.

I guess my view on this is skewed by the fact that my speakers are of a much higher quality than my headphones too. Maybe if I got some really good headphones my view would change... Oh also, the fact that I live in the country, with no other houses for like 2 miles, has an effect, because I can just play music at stupid volume out of speakers at any time, and no one will complain or interrupt me. So there's no division between speakers and headphones for how "personal" they are.

[otearai]

depends on the particular album and so on.
but i think i tend to get deeper into music while listening on headphones.

[Glice]

I very rarely listen to music on headphones. It disorientates me quite quickly. I'm all about speakers. As Herr Rail's signature says, everyone should listen to Avril's Under my Skin on headphones. It's like being rained on by a million Avril's.

[demonrail666]

I recently dreamt about being rained on by a million Avrils. Actually I didn't, but I wish I had.

I agree, it depends on what you are after. for just listening pleasure I would choose some really good headphones like the AKG 701. its like you ve never listened to music before.

but if you like to feel some oomph, and let the music be mirrored by the environment choose a good soundsystem. like on a concert.

2 completely different experiences from the same medium

[chrome noise tape]

 

[gmku]

Depends on the situation, the album, and the mood.

[super_charger]

I like headphones for being just immersed in the music and hearing all the details but I can't do it for too long as I inevitably get a headache for some reason.