Expensive headphones vs 'normal' people

Bit of a ramble ahead.

Whenever I let on that I've spent thousands of dollars on headphone equipment (and not even close to what some have spent on it), people who aren't into this hobby react as if I'm literally wasting money on extravagance that serves no benefit. We all know those people who simply don't get it. They're shocked that someone would spend even several hundred on headphones let alone thousands - and these can often be people who are musicians themselves or are music enthusiasts as well. I've had people say to me "I guarantee that my $50 logitech headset sounds at least 75% as good as your $900 headphones". And then when they try them on of course they understand. But that initial perception is so common because you really do have to hear it. And while I do admit that diminishing returns are a thing with high end gear, it feels like the upper end of the headphone world doesn't get any traction with the uninitiated, whereas the world of speakers or other audio/video equipment does. Put together a high end sound system and everyone oo's and aah's at it when you demo it for them. Regardless of which has the better sound overall, I have a theory as to the reason for this difference in response from the non-audiophile world.


Part of it is likely due to the obvious macrodynamics of high end speakers that are more nuanced with headphones. You don't feel it in your chest as much. But I feel like a large part of the reason high end headphones are met with attitudes of invalidation is because there's something inherently selfish about headphones. Sitting in a room with high end speakers and great sound is something that can be shared with others. It would feel a bit weird to pass the communal headphone around the living room (even though I personally think that's awesome). So you spent $1600 on a new headphone that only YOU can enjoy? That money improves the listening experience of only one person at a time. Improving the richness of one's conscious experience in any area is a worthwhile motivator, but when other people can't benefit from it or share it in any way, it becomes more difficult to understand.


To give a comparison, I know someone who has spent $1500 on a viola bow. Now I'm sure there are tangible benefits to getting an expensive viola bow, but I'd never be able to understand why you'd spend that much more on just a bow. In my mind it's frivolous spending... he's not even a very good viola player, he's still just learning. I think most people would react the same way I did, not understanding that world. But once he demonstrated the difference... you start to understand. It took a glimpse into that world for me to start to get it. With headphones, you can't provide that glimpse until you literally put your high end cans on someone and play music they like. Whereas with speakers, TVs, or home theater systems, it's much easier to get that glimpse. It's meant to be a communal experience.


The challenge with headphones, in my experience, is to get around the selfish nature of the hobby. This hobby may not be for everyone, but it's certainly for a lot more people than are currently invested, it's just that many people haven't had the chance to try it yet. Maybe this is a bit of a platitude, but before telling anyone the price you paid for them, get your family members or significant others to try your high end cans out (on your nice dac/amp). Then when you upgrade, sell or give your older gear to the people you want to enlighten. Headphone hand-me-downs are the perfect gateway drug to a shared enthusiasm for high end gear.

TL;DR = People laugh at expensive headphone gear, but are impressed by expensive speaker/audio gear because headphones are only used by one person at a time - the experience isn't as easily shared. Force your headphone setups upon people (not violently but only for the sake of the cans ).

 

Well, you are doing the bolded. The key is that it has benefit to you. Some people spend thousands of dollars on bicycles, bicycling outfits, fancy backpacks, hiking shoes, lightweight pants and cooking utensils, etc. I don't begrudge them. Whatever makes you happy.

It's not too hard to convince people who can be convinced. Invite them over to listen. Either they 'get' it, or they don't. If they don't, who cares? Some people want to believe there isn't an improvement so they can either justify their own purchases or so they don't feel compelled to spend money on it. That's fine too. That's their prerogative. If it makes you happy, and you're not hurting anyone, who the hell cares what someone else thinks?

 

I agree, there's no reason to care if someone else is critical of my purchases. But I do think there are ways to make those critics enthusiasts as well. If someone doesn't get why you'd spend thousands on a bike, you'd instantly get them to at least start to understand by getting them to try riding it.

 

Yeah, trying to argue that this hobby is any different to any other 'literally wasting money on extravagance' hobby like watch/pen collecting is a bit silly.

It also makes more sense to spend those larger amounts on a speaker setup, 9 times out of 10 you're going to have a vastly superior listening experience with them. Plus headphones are still seen as an accessory to speakers for portable use by the general public, so they're more accepting of higher end speakers than headphones.

 

I agree. There is a reason it's called a hobby, and your only limit is how much you're willing to spend. If it makes a difference to you, than that's all that matters. As far as sharing with others, I always offer, but my reason for getting into headphones was to do critical listening for mixing/mastering so I have no need to justify my purchases. I also wouldn't say I have spent close to $10,000 on headphone gear.

 

Haha I disagree with so much of this. But of course preferences will vary. You also make a great point about headphones being seen as accessories. Definitely true.

 

There's definitely a vanity component here, one that extends to cultural understanding of audio gear. Speakers have been a way to show off for a long time. And not even particularly good fidelity speakers. How many people do you know who spent hundreds or thousands on a "kick-ass" 5.1 or 7.2 setup for their "home theater"? How many people are buying $300+ sound bars for their TV sets right now? It's something you can try to show off, and some people are really into that. Speakers have been socially accepted vanity pieces for decades; there's a culturally embedded sexiness about it. Not so for headphones (at this point in time -- maybe later).

 

@a44100Hz too true! I'm thinking of those people who put crazy subs in their cars that shake the neighborhood. It's clearly to show off.

 

I had similar discussion the other day with some co-workes.
Should we have ISO and ANSI standard for how to have fun in life?

 

lol $1500 viola bow is cheap! Most people wouldn't be able to fully utilize a Sartory bow that is around 50,000 dollars. Like anything that goes up in expenditure, its a niche thing. Even if you imposed your headphone stack on someone and they thought it sounded good, They aren't even going to invest in headphones or become changed.

The point of this thread is a bit pointless imo, as I don't know what its trying to get at.....that we become evangelical headphone missionaries?

Ranting that most people are plebians for not understanding headphones?

Most people's max will be Bose QC noise cancelling headphones. I can't even get a good friend to get an oppo pm3, because its "too expensive" or because they want wireless headphones. There are people who are content with the apple ibuds. It all about the demographics and trust me....not everyone's priority is to come home and fire up a tube amp and listen to music on headphones.

 

@Cellist88 Not as much of an imperative as a description or a plausible explanation for the difference in reaction. I don't really feel comfortable giving advice or suggestions on any of this stuff yet. Just my anecdotal experiences dealing with people who criticize the hobby, which is all this was. Sorry if you were hoping for more.

 

I say this as some whose main driver are the Andromedas, expensive headphones are an exorbitant luxury, and one not everyone will understand or enjoy. And that’s fine. I don’t get people who smoke expensive cigars but they enjoy it.

 

I think good headphones and headphone amps are a secret in plain sight. . It doesn't take a lot of money to put together a system that will stun anyone with more than a casual interest in music. If folks' idea of quality is a Sony MDRV-6, then a Senn H6XX driven by anything decent will make a believer out of most. Nowadays, a good headphone rig is affordable. If you can fight the upgraditus bug...

 

I always felt refering to this as a hobby is a bit off the mark, as if trying different headphones was like tasting different wines. As if a collection of headphones is similar to a collection of scotch vintages.

Hobby feels like the wrong analogue. Music is a hobby. Finding headphones that enable you to enjoy your music to the maximum extent isn't a hobby, it's a goal, to supplement the music hobby. There are clear steps along the way, part of it is self discovery, but I was always a bit uncomfortable with categorizing it as a "hobby". Treating it as a hobby are what leads some people to buy 20 different mid-fi headphones, which to me is a perilous path borne of a bit of misguided intentions.

That said, as to the money aspect, it does seem a bit crass to make snap judgements regarding how people spend their money. People buy what makes them happy. It's not really anyone's place to judge others on that score. The fact is, headphones are a waste of money. So is scotch, and wine, and vacations, and going to the theater, and having a good meal prepared by a michelin star chef, and so on. In this robot utopia, perhaps we would all be living in 200 sqft living areas, going to work, coming home, and sitting still in an empty room appreciating how little money we are wasting.

The most important thing to realize is we have limited time on this earth. We only have so much time to spend on things we enjoy. It may be you can convince other people that discovering ways to improving their listening experience with headphones is a worthwhile use of their time, but if you can't, it's no loss. That shouldn't detract from your enjoyment, and you shouldn't take it personality when others would rather spend their money on other things.

That said, it is a bit special when one introduces another to good sound and what good sound really means, and it fundamentally clicks in that person. Music is such a fundamental part of what it means to be human, that is connects us in special ways. It is worth the effort to make the attempt, even if it goes nowhere.

PS: these rambling thoughts may have been impacted by partaking in quite a few of the aforementioned "hobbies"

 

Maybe the solution is not to let on how much one spends on any hobby. It can sound like bragging about one's disposable income.

 

Personally, I can relate to this story, but I also don't necessarily feel that headphones are singled out. I think there are many people who would give you the same cock-eyed look if you said you had $25,000 speakers. In my opinion, it is entirely down to value perception (which is totally different to real value). Here's my example.

I'm a watch lover and, as such, I tend to end up buying expensive watches, some approaching the cost of a fully loaded BMW 5 series. If you just had a reaction to that, you are not alone. I want to also add that I drive a crummy 2006 Toyota company car. If you put 100 people in room and offered them the watch or the BMW for free, I suspect 99, if not all, would take the BMW. It's easy to see how silly the purchase of watch looks next to a car (of the same price). I mean just think of the value of material alone in the car versus the watch!

Here's the difference. My watch, today, if I were to sell it, would be worth $X and the BMW, is worth 0.9 $X. And in a 2 years, my watch will be worth $X and the BMW will be worth 0.75 $X and in 30 years the BMW will be worth 0.1 $X. My watch will still be worth $X. Someone mentioned the silliness of collecting pens, which is a great example. Pen are also one of those things that can hold their value extremely well.

I also understand that if you are buying a new BMW it will drop in value quickly, and there are people dealing with rare/vintage cars that do appreciate/hold their value well: those types of items are available in any hobby. As with watches there are ones of the same price that do drop like a new car in value. So I am comparing a collectors style purchase vs a casual style purchase. But it's not relevant here. People would have the same reaction to AKG 1000 as they would Elears (you spent how much?!) and one type will very likely hold it's value for years where as the other loses a great deal at purchase time.

As a hobby, watch collection (if your just a little smart about it) is actually a very cheap hobby, even at that price level. The cost is the time-value of the money. People who buy/change lease on a new car every 4 years, even on a Ford, are spending (losing) more than me. Now, albeit, I get that a car has function (getting you to work, for example) and the watch doesn't, but there are many who have an additional sports car for fun.

My point is people have their perceptions of what value is and it is generally very highly subjective. I don't talk to most people about the value of my watches, or headphones, because it likely won't add anything to our relationship. If I do get the rare comment, "Nice watch", or, "Great sounding headphones", I just say thanks and move on.

I think anything, at a high level, is generally met with the same reaction. The average consumer know average products (unless it is a keen point of interest) and won't have an understanding of the above average part of that industry. And that's okay, we are all likely subject to that. Have you ever thought, "She spent WHAT on a pair of shoes or handbag?!"

 

I think another component to consider when discussing "extravagant" purchases is that whereas a car, a watch, a pen or what have you either performs a certain task equally well as a cheaper version (watch/pen) and a car sort of does (however it can have performance such as speed, comfort, utility above other cars) but you probably won't be using a car for hours on end every day as many of us do with our audio rig.

 

That's a great point. How many hours does anyone use their car? And some will say, "a lot - I drive to and from work for at least an hour commute each way!"

I wear a watch 16 hours a day. Many of us listen for many, many hours a day. Either way, if a hobby brings you joy and you aren't hurting anything, who cares what others think, no matter the hours.

 

People who don't know anything about something... don't know anything about something.

Maybe they know something about something else. Or maybe they are "normal" about everything. Probably an enviable state of mind!

 

Actually for some of us it is almost exactly like that - I have about 5 headphones in current rotation, and I appreciate them all for the different signatures that they offer.

Going back to your original post, it’s not really surprising to me that people would think that spending more than 20 bucks on headphones is a waste of money. I have a 2 hour public transport commute every day and by far the most popular headphones that I’ve observed are the Apple EarPods. The truth is that for most of these people music is simply there to make the grind a bit more tolerable. Other than that they have little interest in music. I have one coworker that has just ten albums on his phone out of a collection of 15 - he doesn’t really like the other 5. Music is just not that important to him, as it isn’t for a good proportion of people.

The truth is that whenever I’ve given whatever headphones to somebody to try, most of the time they say they sound really good. It’s when I tell them the price they say “f**k that, I’ll stick with what I’ve got” and that typically happens around the 200 buck mark.