Headphones vs speakers

I totally agree with @larsman & ​​​​@ghdprentice as I have built both a headphone system and a 2 channel room system that satisfies my soul. I am currently cleaning and play grading all my albums as well as culling to get down to 1500 albums and use my headphone system to do that. As good as my main system is, it is the headphone system that my family knows will be my out the door system when the need to relocate to a much simpler housing situation happens. Enjoy the music

I exclusively use headphones. I haven't owned speakers in over 15 years

@hilde45 - I can't imagine that, but then, I have a really good headphone system. 

I’ve gone back and forth on this for ages. Actually got my start in audio with hi-fi headphones (Sennheiser HD580), and I think that imparted in me a strong requirement for "coherent" sounding speakers - because headphones offer (with few exceptions) a single-driver full range sound. This is why I’ve been exclusively a Tannoy DC user for the past 20 years (phase coherent point-source DC drivers). I’ve never liked many of those uber-expensive behemoth multi-driver speakers. In fact with some of the other high-end brands I do like, I tend to prefer their smaller models a little down from the flagships. 

Anyways, headphones CAN be highly enjoyable to me, but it’s a rather hit or miss affair. I have to be in the right "mood" for them. Some days I just can’t be bothered. Tannoys are simply more engaging day to day, and the visceral impact of speakers is a big part of that.

When I do listen to headphone now, my favored set is the electrostatic ES Lab (Hong Kong) ES-1a or ES2a, with a really good e-stat tube headphone amplifier: currently using a Blue Hawaii SE, though there are better amps out there like DIY T2 and Megatron. These ES Labs headphones have a more natural voicing than modern Stax, and a bigger soundstage ("head" stage) due to their larger drivers & cups. I still do like Stax, but the ES Labs are now better IMO. Tubes are also very necessary to impart a natural voice. Dynamic (moving coil) headphones are either far too colored or too boring, and frankly their listening fatigue is AWFUL. E-stat headphones are comparatively smooth as silk and won’t hurt unless you’re listening WAY too loud - which is actually hard to do because of their insane voltage drive requirements!

Anyways, when I’m in the mood, this ES setup is pure ear-candy - BUT if I’m able to run my Tannoys I’d still probably rather just do that :) These headphones are really nice though; way WAY better sounding than most. 

For a few months my VAC 450S amp was out of commission, and it really took the Tannoys down a couple pegs :( I tried switching to headphones and that was great for a few days, but then I lost the mood and basically didn't do much listening since then. This week the VAC is finally back, thank god! What a difference...

I disliked headphones after trying 10 different one...

I used them for special occasion...

No headphones compare to a system/room well optimized...

But there is an exception....

my AKG K340 rival any system which is in a living room...

To beat it takes a well controlled acoustic room...

I know because i created one few years ago...

Now i did not have this room...Only a good acoustic corner created for near listening and really good...

For pure musical listening meditation my K340 are my choice even now rival my secondary well optimized near field corner  (timbre more natural, deep bass, holography out of the head) 

Yes i am lucky.... but i optimized them myself (a long journey)