Have headphones come of age?

[doodoos]

On another thread I commented on some AKG Q701's that I was pleased with. And I was.... until I came across the magnetic planar designs like Audeze and Abyss. Until these types came to market the best cans were / are various Stax models which, on the occasions I heard them, sounded very smooth but a bit bass shy + bloody expensive.
I was told that the new variety, if I gave them some time, might become my preferred type of listening for cd's.
This may be true. These designs sound more like speakers than cans without the usual room limitations regards the bass which is excellent. You couldn't get speakers to sound this accurate for the price the cans go for, especially in the lower registers + you could listen to them all day without fatigue. Thing is, I'm using them more and the cdp less. Never thought that could happen. They say headphone sales are growing. If these types are anything to go by, I can see why.

[wee tee cee]

Just googled the price of them.....GULP!

In saying that if your on the cans a lot then treat yourself.......its the price of a ten year old banger! ( if you're married that's one example of a viable excuse.....)
Or ask her to add up the contents of her make up bag/shoe cupboard/ handbags/underwear......all ammo in the quest for sonic satisfaction.

[sq225917]

Stax are still leagues ahead of things like the Abyss and Audezee's at least if you want a flat frequency response.

[doodoos]

Stax are still leagues ahead of things like the Abyss and Audezee's at least if you want a flat frequency response.

Yes I'm sure that's right. Comparing the Stax 007 combo with the Audeze, I preferred the latter despite the anomalies in the specs. Haven't tried the 009's but at 6K would be well out of my price range. However, these upmarket cans can make a convert of you. I can understand how some could fork out big time on the 'phones and ditch pre/power + speakers.

[Yomanze]

It depends what you are after, headphones are extremely different to speakers. They're much more particular IMO and there's no reason one shouldn't have a few pairs of them given the cost compared to amps + speakers. I currently use a pair of STAX and Grado headphones, which in many ways are poles apart. The Grados are like my Royd speakers, raw, forget about flat response, but are extremely fast and impactful, natural with vocals - the best I've heard in terms of 'PRaT' is my Grado and NVA AP10H combo. I suspect the dynamic planar 'phones' will sit somewhere in between my STAX's utterly natural tone and incredible spacial detail, and my rocking hard and fast Grados. So have headphones come of age? I would say no, and now there's another headphone style gaining in popularity, which will probably do things my headphones can't, but won't be able to do other things. All a matter of taste can understand why people would hate any particular pair of headphones.