$800 Speakers vs $800 Open-back headphones

[Profoundsoup]

What ones would be the better buy?

[TheKDub]

I'd prefer speakers as it gives you more freedom to move around, and I'd guess would sound better in the right environment.

[SSL]

Impossible to say without knowing which speakers or which headphones, but the speakers have the potential to be far superior since speakers are better than headphones.

[Octavialicious]

I'd get $800 closed headphones

 

[xtroria]

You could always get fidelio x2 and audioengine A5+, get the best of both world

[ShearMe]

I'd rather a $400 set of speakers, and a $400 set of headphones.  :rolleyes:

[KaminKevCrew]

I think ShearMe is right on this one. $400 speakers/headphones are both going to be pretty decent, so long as you choose good ones. 

[bob345]

the speakers will always outperform headphones at that price. There is only so much you do to get better quality out of headphones.

[SSL]

I think ShearMe is right on this one. $400 speakers/headphones are both going to be pretty decent, so long as you choose good ones. 

 

He's nearly always right.

[Enderman]

I'd prefer speakers as it gives you more freedom to move around, and I'd guess would sound better in the right environment.

same

its just so much more comfortable to not have something on your head all day that makes your ears warm up or flatten your hair

[KaminKevCrew]

He's nearly always right.

I've been noticing that since I started visiting here frequently...

[creatip123]

It's actually a different system. Speakers are meant to be set up in a static/stationary application, while headphones, while some big ones are still somewhat limited, got much more mobility factors/applications.

 

With a speaker system, put it in a good acoustic room, set it up right, it will sound good. Move it to another room, it will sound different. Play it blaring loud, your neighbor will throw chairs on your window. Carry it with you to Hawaii for vacation, you'd have to pay extra 50kg+ for the whole setup + lugging it around.

 

With a headphone, it's already tuned the way it is. Take it to another room, it will sound practically the same (not accounting open back headphones + noisy environment). Set it at max volume, and at the most, it's your roommate that will get annoyed. Even with big headphones + a headphone amp (not those PC tower sized amps), it's still much easier to carry around.

 

So it kinda depends on the applications, with their own trade-offs. It's kinda like eating in a 4 star diner vs a fast food stall. Each got their own + and -. 

[ShearMe]

So it kinda depends on the applications, with their own trade-offs. It's kinda like eating in a 4 star diner vs a fast food stall. Each got their own + and -. 

 

 

What about a 4-star fast-food stall? 

[creatip123]

What about a 4-star fast-food stall? 

 

A fast food stall serving chicken cordon bleu, caviar, creme brulee, and good wines? I'm up for it....

[ShearMe]

A fast food stall serving chicken cordon bleu, caviar, creme brulee, and good wines? I'm up for it....

 

All on a stick!

[Profoundsoup]

Do you guys prefer headphones or speakers while gaming?

[RazeG3SG1]

Do you guys prefer headphones or speakers while gaming?

Headphones

[Tim Drake]

$400 speakers and $400 headphones?

[TheKDub]

Do you guys prefer headphones or speakers while gaming?

Speakers.

[ShearMe]

Do you guys prefer headphones or speakers while gaming?

Speakers are better if they're setup correctly, but if you're talking with friends in voice chat it's best to use headphones for obvious reasons.

[creatip123]

but if you're talking with friends in voice chat it's best to use headphones for obvious reasons.

 

Or watching Sasha Grey, while your parents is next door....

[Michael McAllister]

Or watching Sasha Grey, while your parents is next door....

 

Haha....

 

Don't think she's in the industry anymore. 

[Oktyabr]

Do you guys prefer headphones or speakers while gaming?

Headphones, by far.  Especially with positional audio, like in most FPS, or the creme de la creme, positional audio combined with head tracking.  Speakers, no matter how good, fail at immersion (and of course isolation, which is part of it).

 

[watts300]

Do you guys prefer headphones or speakers while gaming?

I prefer my 5.1 living room setup to headphones.

 

 

[JR1911]

In terms of pure sound quality, $800 headphones would most likely be the better choice. That kind of money gets you a decent pair of speakers, but a great set of headphones.