How do you listen to music? Speakers, headphones, which types, etc., [More options have been added; please see posts #60–62] Options

[skamp]

What kind of speakers do you use for listening to music? Speakers, headphones, IEMs, earbuds… Multiple choices are allowed to reflect different use cases.

Notes:

• a distinction is made between stationary use (e.g. at home or at work) and on the go (when walking / riding / driving, commuting…)
• circumaural headphones surround the ears
• supra-aural headphones (on-ear) are usually smaller (but not necessarily always) and sit on top of the ears
• custom mold IEMs require a visit to an orthophonist who makes silicon molds out of one's ears, which are to be shipped to the custom IEM manufacturer
• earbuds sit on the outer ears and are not inserted into the ear canals like IEMs

This post has been edited by db1989: Jan 17 2013, 22:42

[greynol]

This is suggesting that desktop speakers cannot be high-fidelity. There is simply no weaseling out of it.

I had crafted a post and decided to leave it alone thinking there was mutual understanding and agreement. I may have been too quick in assuming.

Near Field = desktop speakers and monitors

Far Field = PA speakers and traditional stereo speakers which stand on the floor or on stands/shelves individually.

I have no idea how to classify surround speakers.

Active/passive should not play a role. Who cares where the amplifier resides?

This post has been edited by greynol: Jan 17 2013, 01:31

[Nessuno]

This is suggesting that desktop speakers cannot be high-fidelity.

Me? Not at all! I haven't used any sonic attribute on purpose. It's only a question of how you use, not how much you can enjoy them. As a matter of fact, when one says "hi-fi system" or even "stereo system", as well as "desktop", people think to a rather precise image, without actual direct SQ implications.
If we then want not to use the term "fidelity", let's find another one: "floorstanding"? (even if they could be on stands)

Please, do consider also that English is not my first language, so I could very well miss some semantic nuances.

P.S. By the way: some people, me among them, like very much to listen to small, neutral, high fidelity speakers from little distance, comfortably seated on a couch or an armchair. This practice is generally referred to as near field listening opposed to far field listening, where the listener and the speakers are placed toward opposite sides of the room. There are, fidelity wise, many advantages and some drawbacks in doing this.

Edit: reading again your (Greynol's) last post, I agree with those two definitions. And, yes, active/passive play no role.

This post has been edited by Nessuno: Jan 16 2013, 23:52