Headphones vs speakers

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.

No 'vs' for me - I've got a great headphone system and a great 2-channel system and I enjoy them both immensely. 

I went crazy with headphones for a while and have about a dozen sets of cans and three nice headphone amps.  I hardly ever listen to them anymore.  It's just impossible with headphones to come close to the experience of your entire room combining with great speakers to produce music.  And you don't have to have something sitting on your head to listen.

Imagine feeling trapped with ear muffs that get hot, are tethered by a cord, are not like all the other sound we hear all day long, and that make you feel claustrophobic after a while.

Nah, I want sound in the atmosphere, not pressed up against me like an arresting officer.