Headphones with Big Ego or speakers for office?

[nathanzachary]

Hi everyone,

I'm considering which route I would like to take for my home office.  As I work from home, I spend a LOT of time in my office.  I have a stereo setup with which I'm really pleased (see my signature for details), but it wouldn't really help me to have that on during the day since I'm in a room across the house.  For my office, I'm trying to decide if I want to get a really nice pair of headphones and the Big Ego OR get two bookshelf speakers, a sub, et cetera.  I'm just looking for a fairly cost-effective way to have a really enjoyable music experience whilst I work.

I'm hoping that I can get some suggestions here.  If you have opinions for one over the other, I would appreciate knowing why.  Also, if you have recommendations on headphones, speakers, et cetera, I'd love to hear them.

Thank you preemptively.

Cheers,
Nathan Zachary

[creimes]

I myself would go with some powered monitors as wearing headphones all day long could get tiresome and dealing with a cord while moving could be bothersome

[nathanzachary]

Thanks for the input. With some powered monitors, would I be able to get the sound quality that I desire? I'm a bit spoiled by my setup in my listening room. Obviously I know that I won't get something on par with it, but I'm looking for as good as I can get. I don't know that the headphone cord would be a problem, but I do understand the listening fatigue element.

[Loop 7]

Well I can guarantee you phenomenal sound if you buy a pair of Focal SM9 Studio Monitors. I've spent some time with them and they are simply scary good.

At $3,800 the price is also scary but in a bad way.

Oh, they also weigh 77 lbs.

[sahmen]

For powered monitors, I use both Airmotiv 5s and 6s in different near-field setups, and they do a fantastic job in my view, for those circumstances, but YMMV, of course.. In both situations, the speakers are hooked to a decent headphone rig (DAC/Amp-preamp combo), with a sub (SVS nsd-12) nearby, so I can alternate between headphone and speaker listening at will, depending on whatever is convenient or appealing at a given time. My point is that you can have it both ways at a reasonable price, and you don't have to look at headphones and speakers as an either/or proposition, nor do you have to pay a lot to get yourself some pretty decent solutions. Just my 2 cents.

[niuguy]

Personally, I second the powered monitors. I find speakers much less fatiguing over long periods of time.

[creimes]

Dec 7, 2016 22:11:26 GMT -5 nathanzachary said:

Thanks for the input. With some powered monitors, would I be able to get the sound quality that I desire? I'm a bit spoiled by my setup in my listening room. Obviously I know that I won't get something on par with it, but I'm looking for as good as I can get. I don't know that the headphone cord would be a problem, but I do understand the listening fatigue element.

The only experience I have with powered monitors were some Stealth 6 one's and they were really nice but I didn't use them near field haha, if you are odering a Big EGO you could try a set of any of the Airmotiv speakers and return them in the 30 day window if you don't like them.

Chad

[vcautokid]

I am going for powered monitor as well, as for the freedom from the cord of a Headphone. However, you can use some mighty good AKG-702,or Shure, or Sennheiser Headphones that might be a great way to go. Light, and comfortable especially the AKG ones, though the other 2 are real close too. It really comes down to your day to day work listening, and how you want it to go. I can listen for hours with my AKGs with comfort for instance. To me SAWC...or size, and weight constraints along with comfort,and sound quality are key factors on my headphones too.

[vneal]

Get both

headphones and speakers

why limit yourself?

[wilburthegoose]

I work out of my home office and I use (Emotiva) powered monitors. It's perfect for me.

[restless]

I agree with vneal, get both.

I use my speakers for normal listing while working (background music). Tidal or Pandora fill the bill really well, and require little intervention.
Depending on how you set up your speakers, a CONTROL FREAK can be a useful option as well. I have a Anthem receiver in my office, and use that for my speakers. the control freak sets on my desktop, and allows control of volume when calls come it.

I use headphones with SKYPE or my iphone for business conferences and dealing with customers. My preference is using the B&W P5 with the iphone. For Skype, I have a keyboard with a volume control easily at hand.

[KeithL]

Personally I much prefer speakers......

1)
I find headphones tend to be uncomfortable if I wear them too long.
Some are a LOT more comfortable than others, but I've never found a pair that I would wear for hours on end.

2)
If I forget I'm wearing headphones, and get up suddenly, I risk strangling myself or pulling something off the table.
(There are very few decent wireless headphones.... )

3)
With closed headphones you are totally isolated from the rest of the room.
That's great if you don't want to hear all the background hubbub, but not so great if people are going to always be tapping your shoulder to get your attention.
It's also not so great if you're going to miss the lunch bell / fire alarm / alien attack going on outside / mailman / wife calling you for dinner.
While open headphones sound like a good idea, I find that, if I play them quietly enough to hear what's going on outside, they're too quiet for the music to sound good.
Likewise, if I play them at a nice level, then they might as well be closed.

Of course, if you have office-mates (in your case that would be family members) who don't want to listen to your music - or ANY music - then that limits your options.

Now, that's me..... Rory sits at the next desk and he LIKES headphones - a lot..
There's really not much point in soliciting opinions from other people.... YOU are either going to like headphones or hate them.
To be honest, since decent headphones can be gotten for around $125, you should probably try headphones.
Then, if you decide you REALLY like headphones, and use them all the time, you can consider upgrading to a better pair.
And, even if you don't especially like headphones, and get a pair of speakers too.....
It's still handy to have a pair of headphones in the drawer for those times when you want LOUD music, or there's a phone call (or a TV show) going on in the next room.

I would also note that, if you put a set of speakers like our Airmotiv 4s or 5s on the desk right in front of you, you really won't need a sub.
(If you've got a big desk I would recommend the 5s's.)
When you're using a speaker in the very near field like that, you'll find that a good speaker with even a 4" or 5" woofer probably makes plenty of bass.
(Some speakers don't sound very good in the near field like that - but ours do .)
A sub certainly won't hurt - but you won't actually need one.

Dec 7, 2016 22:04:31 GMT -5 nathanzachary said:

Hi everyone,

I'm considering which route I would like to take for my home office.  As I work from home, I spend a LOT of time in my office.  I have a stereo setup with which I'm really pleased (see my signature for details), but it wouldn't really help me to have that on during the day since I'm in a room across the house.  For my office, I'm trying to decide if I want to get a really nice pair of headphones and the Big Ego OR get two bookshelf speakers, a sub, et cetera.  I'm just looking for a fairly cost-effective way to have a really enjoyable music experience whilst I work.

I'm hoping that I can get some suggestions here.  If you have opinions for one over the other, I would appreciate knowing why.  Also, if you have recommendations on headphones, speakers, et cetera, I'd love to hear them.

Thank you preemptively.

Cheers,
Nathan Zachary

[drtrey3]

Count me as another speaker in the office vote. There are my (formerly Boomzilla's, thanks Glenn!) Airmotiv 4s, playing out all the Greg Lake files I have. These little gems make my office time less stressful and more enjoyable. And they are just the 4s. A pair of 5s or 6s or even the mighty Stealth 8s would rock your world!

Now they will likely not compete with your home system, but this is an office system, right? I don't want it too sweet or I would get less done.

Trey

[hemster]

Dec 8, 2016 11:13:00 GMT -5 drtrey3 said:

Count me as another speaker in the office vote. There are my (formerly Boomzilla's, thanks Glenn!) Airmotiv 4s, playing out all the Greg Lake files I have. These little gems make my office time less stressful and more enjoyable. And they are just the 4s. A pair of 5s or 6s or even the mighty Stealth 8s would rock your world!

Now they will likely not compete with your home system, but this is an office system, right? I don't want it too sweet or I would get less done.

Trey

^This. 

I too have a pair of Airmotiv 4s in my home office. Paired with a Sub-10 for that extra punch, they really sing. 

[garbulky]

Problem I have with nearfield is the bass and the depth. Sure you can get headphone like soundstaging but there is always that little something missing. I'd probably say for quality go with headphones - but I'm not sure how often you'll actually want to put them on vs turning on a speaker if you know what I mean?

[DYohn]

FWIW, I have both a headphone and a loudspeaker setup in my home office, and I find myself listening to the headphones far more.

[autiger]

It depends I tried the airmotive 4's and big ego and somtimes it wasn't quite loud enough. I went with a Fusion Flex (substitute the new A-100) coupled with the airmotive B1's. Plenty of bass and power. One problem with headphones is hearing the phone ring. You can't if the tunes are turned up. If you do go with speakers, I found putting some sorbothane under the speakers to isolate them really improved the sound.