Do you prefer Speakers or Headphones?

[Guest]

Simple question, what do you prefer when listening to things? Some people don't even have both audio devices so this won't really apply to all of you....

 

Personally, I like speakers better. I like being able to hear the sound openly, rather than it coming from 2cm from my head.

 

 I'd love to hear your reasoning of what you prefer!

 

 

Sorry if a thread like this already exists, I tried lo google it but nothing came up :3

[Terminashunator]

My parents flip shit if i use speakers, even at reasonable volume. reasonable meaning that the paper thin walls don't bleed sound.

[Jeroen1322]

Speakers for music and headset for games!  

[AlwaysFSX]

My headphones are surprisingly clear and it doesn't sound like the sound (hurr hurr, I made a pun ) is coming from right next to my ears. And my speakers are kinda crap in my opinion so I only use them to listen to music while gaming because my headphones muffle the sound a bit.

[defunkt]

Depends on my mode.. And if I want people to here my porn.

[needmorewood]

everything sounds better on headphones
but seriously unless u have a reallyl nice speaker system and an ideal room to listen in headphones tend to be better

[dizmo]

Speakers at home, unless I'm communicating with other people then I'll use a headset.

Outside, headphones. Obviously.

[HeathCliff]

My parents flip shit if i use speakers, even at reasonable volume. reasonable meaning that the paper thin walls don't bleed sound.

 

Same problem here. There's also the fact that my parents seem to consider anything in the metal genre 'a pain to the ears'. All my wut.

[LancerBG]

I only use headphones while playing certain types of games to help listen for enemy footsteps/locations. Speakers for everything else pretty much. 

[squirrl]

I used to use speakers all the time, but since i got my headphones and had to stay without my main speakers for a while, as well as watching anime for a year (with some of those noises people could get the wrong idea if they heard ) i've reached for my headphones more than using the speakers. i do try and use the speakers when playing music though and games. headphones with multiplayer though as my mic is on my headset. Before my headset i had a desktop mic so i didnt need headphones except for listening to stuff at night.

[Slinkey]

Depends on the situation, in some games I prefer headphones and general browsing and watching movies. But when I watch Blu-Ray 1080p DTS movies, I put on my headphones. Listening music I put on my headphones.

When gaming with friends, it's a headset.

[f22luke]

If I'm at the computer it makes no sense to use speakers as headphones sound better and I don't have to worry about interruptions.  Gaming is much harder without the positional awareness that headphones alone can give and it just seems like the time it takes the sound waves to travel from a speaker to my ear is to much time.  I'll be dead by the time the footsteps hit my eardrums.  

 

That said it's so nice to be able to do stuff in the vicinity of the computer and listen to music or share that epic youtube video with a friend or family member.

[Guest]

If I'm at the computer it makes no sense to use speakers as headphones sound better and I don't have to worry about interruptions.  Gaming is much harder without the positional awareness that headphones alone can give and it just seems like the time it takes the sound waves to travel from a speaker to my ear is to much time.  I'll be dead by the time the footsteps hit my eardrums.  

 

That said it's so nice to be able to do stuff in the vicinity of the computer and listen to music or share that epic youtube video with a friend or family member.

I think it's a bit stereotypical to say that headphones sound better than speakers... there are very high end speakers out there. I still get positional awareness, I can tell where the sound is coming from, whether I'm using a surround or stereo setup. All personal preference though, I respect your opinion  

 

My speakers aren't so far away that it takes too much time for the sound to reach my ears. Delay is a factor on most speakers systems though.

[Michael McAllister]

I am a little surprised at how many people use speakers for music.  A nice pair of headphones and high-quality files will destroy a good majority of speaker setups.

[Ruostunut kokis]

I've never been a fan of speakers, so headphones. Helps hearing quiet sounds (like in games), and I don't get complains for volumes being too high (my room's walls don't muffle sounds effectively)

[PapaSmurf6768]

I have SP2500's for speakers and AD700X's for headphones, I only use the headphones for gaming or if I'm trying to be quiet, my speakers sound great and even though my AD700's are comfortable, nothing is more comfortable than, well, nothing.

[Theo]

For now I prefer headphones but if I could afford a beast home cinéma system or speakers then I'd obviojsly use them

[Grave]

Headphones are less intrusive to those around me, and a decent setup would probably cost more than a good pair of headphones (I'm no audiophile anyway). On top of that, headphones have the ability to close the sound from a mic if I wanted to use one as well as cancel out any noise I can hear around me. It's nice and private, would use headphones/headsets even if I lived alone. The only thing that would change my choice would be funds.. Just can't see myself spending $400+ on quality audio speakers + subwoofer setup instead of headphones/headset. The same holds true below that price, $400 or so is just where I say "Screw this" to audio peripherals. 

 

 

Edit: Dang, almost lined up Headphones for all 4 lines of the paragraph.. Must mean good luck is coming (*Cough, the funds for the speakers*)..

[Guest]

 The only thing that would change my choice would be funds.. Just can't see myself spending $400+ on quality audio speakers + subwoofer setup instead of headphones/headset. The same holds true below that price, $400 or so is just where I say "Screw this" to audio peripherals. 

 

There are some pretty cheap audio setups that actually sound pretty good. Logitech's are nice

 

Headphones can be quite expensive as well

[Lauen]

I like using my Headphones for music, the little bit of gaming I do, voice chat, and most movies / series, unless I'm gonna let all the people around me know what I listen to (I like it a little loud), and if I'm showing music to friends who are there, naturally I use the speakers. Also, the speakers are nice for movies and shows because then I can sit in the weirdest positions without the problems of the headphones cables, or whatever. so it's usually down to what I feel like doing. 

 

Also, speakers are just some old Phonar Micro 2 bookshelf speakers, with a Sony Super Legato amp, sounds pretty good, especially considering I paid a total of 16 dollars (100 NOK) for the speakers and amp. 

[dylandylandylan]

I used to use speakers only, but once you move into the big city when you live near people, uh, they sort of don't appreciate a 1500WRMS system being blasted through out the house at any time of the day! It's okay though, I feel like I pick up more detail using headphones now, and I feel like I've gained an advantage while playing online FPS.

[lukeptba]

It varies.

If I'm watching something on the tv I'm obviously going to make full use of my amplified 5.1 speaker setup, but when it comes to the desktop computer or my tablet, headphones all the way.

[lukeptba]

I used to use speakers only, but once you move into the big city when you live near people, uh, they sort of don't appreciate a 1500WRMS system being blasted through out the house at any time of the day! It's okay though, I feel like I pick up more detail using headphones now, and I feel like I've gained an advantage while playing online FPS.

For fps games a good headset is highly advantageous.

[Kevinkt]

I used to use some decent floor speakers then my speaker wire broke and i've been too lazy to order some new speaker wire or find a metal coat hanger to use. so i use headphones all the time until i get my hands on speaker wire again.