Headphones vs speakers

I’m guessing there are plenty of rabbit holes in the headphone game also. I would’ve gone the headphone route years ago just can’t stand to have something on my head for that extended amount of time. Plus a couple of times that I have Auditioned some headphones I didn’t get the visceral experience I got from speakers. Even with my less than perfectly treated room, I enjoy the sound of speakers much more. 

I actually went the other way. Started with very high end ribbon headphones and a high end triode tube headphone amp. While it sounded good it just wasn't the same for me as an actual full blown system. To each his own I guess!

It's the when your system sounds great that makes all the difference. The variations are part of the fun. You just don't get that buzz with headphones imo

I love my RAAL SR1a phone. I recently heard some of the very best headphone amps and phones at a meetup. Just incredible stuff and some setups approaching $50k.

However, my 2 systems that are 2-channel are always better than the phones. I have been breaking in 2 DACs recently, the Schiit Byggy and imersiv D-1. These both have massive soundstages and do all the things that are considered great for a DAC. On my 2 channel systems I can appreciate all of these attributes. On the phone some of these attributes are not as pronounced. For example, soundstage is a hard one for headphones. My SR1a has the largest soundstage of any phone but it is not 2-channel.

My 2-channel has a purpose, and I will use it for that right now. The family is going to sleep, and I have more work to do. Got to turn off the 2-channel.

Headphones would seem to have many advantages.  But the reality, for me, is that the sound stage via any of my speakers is so much more enjoyable.  It is just for more live sounding.  My headphone based system only sees use when others are sleeping.