Over the past decade, headphones have seen so much growth in both sound quality and technology. However, the speakers and headphones debate is still far from over. Most audiophiles used to prefer speakers’ sound, but headphones, too, have gained a footing in the audiophilia world. Both headphones and speakers present sound in different ways; which is better?
1. Power and Presence
When it comes to the shear power and presence, or visceral impact, headphones can’t simply compete with speakers. Speakers better convey the sense of power which you can feel in your body as opposed to just hearing it. The bass impact from speakers will thump your chest and make you blink your eyes, and you can feel the rumbles and impact traveling as you use speakers.
Headphones, on the other end, also have shear power and presence. However, this is heard and not felt. You can’t compare being in a room full of sound to hearing that sound on headphones. Headphones inject sound directly into your ears, so you hear the recording rather than feel it.
2. Soundstage and Imaging
Speakers also have an advantage when it comes to the soundstage and imaging. Sound from a speaker is propagated through free spaces and better emulates the sounds from instruments being played. This gives the speaker a near-natural soundstage and acoustic image as if you’re at a live performance.
With headphones, you’ll hear the left channel only in the left ear, and the right channel is heard by the right ear only. This is unnatural and one of the reasons the image of headphones resides in your head. However, through the years, headphones have grown to have immersive and very convincing soundstage and imaging, respectively.
HiFiMAN Anada Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones
Open-back headphones, like Sennheiser HD800S or HiFiMan Ananda, have excellent soundstage qualities and accurate imaging. The use of Digital Signal Processor (DSP) algorithms in headphones can also do amazing things that improve the shortcomings of headphones.
In the near future, headphones can achieve stuff even speakers can hardly fathom. However, speakers will still remain the best at delivering that natural acoustic image.
3. Sound Resolution and Accuracy
This is where headphones shine and beat speakers, hands down. Speakers have multiple drivers, are further from your ears, use cross-overs, and are affected by room acoustics. Although you can correct some of these issues, such as installing acoustic treatment, it is sometimes difficult.
Headphones usually have one driver, sit just inches away from your ears, and work with a low-powered amplifier. With headphones, other issues such as room acoustics or reflections are also done away with. This makes their sound more resolving and accurate compared to speakers. There are many times when I’ve listened to familiar music through my headphones and heard new details I’ve never heard when using speakers. If you’re looking for affordable audiophile headphones, check out our budget audiophile headphones options.
4. Budget-Friendliness
When it comes to affordability, headphones take this one. $300 goes a long way in the headphone world compared to what the same $300 would do in the speaker’s world. For beginners looking to experience the audiophile world, headphones will offer a cheaper option compared to speakers. Headphones are a better and cheaper gateway drug to get people into high-fidelity audio.
Klipsch 5.1.2 Audio System
At $300, you can get a pair of budget audiophile headphones and an amp to power it efficiently. However, that will buy you a pair of entry-level speakers, amps, and other gear to complete your system. However, if you have a larger disposable income, I think starting off by building your speaker rig system is a better option.
Wrapping Up
Although most audiophiles consider headphones inferior to speakers, I don’t think that is true. Headphones are just built differently.
Speakers deliver sound more naturally and offer better soundstage, imaging, and visceral impact. Headphones, on the other hand, are more resolving and accurate. Dollar-for-dollar headphones also give you better sound quality, and you can listen to music anywhere.
All-in-all, both speakers and headphones are built differently and deserve their categories.
