My headphone system consists of a Mapletree Audio Design tube amplifier and Grado 225 which I acquired and built over a year ago. For about $500, you get a SET / fullrange single-driver system and freedom from any room-effects whatsoever. I honestly believe that in terms of performance/price ratio, headphone systems beat out amp/speakers by 10 to 1.

For anybody with a passion for musical purity, I highly recommend looking into a headphone system. Music just passes right through from the source to my ears, giving me a level of clarity that I have not been able to find (and afford) in a traditional amp/speaker system. And there are a lot of very good products/designs on the market outside of the MAD amp / Grado combo that I have.

There are the obvious drawbacks of course. It’s a personal listening system, so music can’t be shared with those around you (this can also be a huge benefit). It can be very unforgiving of poorly recorded content and source. The music sits in your head instead of in front of you. And the big one for me is not being able to feel the music. If you’ve ever felt the bass coming out through a pair of JBL 2235’s, you’ll know it’s a hard thing to give up. It’s definitely a different listening experience, but one that has its own set of worthy merits.

About that last point of not being able to feel the music, I did come across a very interesting suggestion on TubeCad Journal. Active crossover the source to both the headphone amp and a subwoofer so that anything above 100Hz comes through the headphones and 100Hz and below is felt from the sub. Definitely worthy of experimentation.

Gar.

That's cool. I agree with you about headphones. I also agree with Mike Baker about sound systems outdoors for a similar reason. The sound isn't influenced by the room and all the stuff inside, sound bouncing everywhere. It just sounds different, and more clear.

I like your idea of headphones with a sub too. Close your eyes and you're there.

But my problem with headphones has always been that they're too confining. I like to do things and move around, so I can't wear headphones with cords. They're always in the way. And even with cordless headphones, my problem then is that after an hour or so, they become uncomfortable to me. I've tried the ultra light ones and the ones that cup your ears, and one always seems better than the other for a while, but they all eventually get tiring to me.

Maybe there are others out there that would be better than the ones I've tried. I surely haven't tried them all. And it's been a while since I've used headphones, to tell the truth. I thought about getting a pair several months ago, mostly so I could listen late at night without bothering Alona. But I never really got excited about it.

I've always enjoyed that good sound, like what you hear outdoors or with headphones. That's the goal. But I find I'm indoors and without headphones much more often. So I've put my focus on good loudspeakers instead. I like a system that charges the reverberent field very uniformly. Cornerhorns with every flare having 90o horizontal dispersion are what does it best for me.

Wayne

Only problem is-neighbours!

The british ravers get the outdoor sound alot-but often with less than adaquate sound quality!

Btw im assembling pictures of systems + labhorn pictures

Regards
Mike.e

• Odd looking outdoor multiple midrange driver array

Frank