Headphones as a nearfiled listening source?!...

Which headphones?

Near-field listening is done on speakers - studio monitors at a close distance from your ears.

Headphones can provide great insight, but a top-flight pair of speakers will typically match or surpass them.

I would guess this one.

True Ribbon Headphones & Amplifiers | RAAL-requisite (raalrequisite.com)

"Headphones can provide great insight, but a top-flight pair of speakerswill typically match or surpass them"

Depends on the headphones in question. Top flight headphones will blow away even the most expensive speaker for detail.I have never heard speakers resolve better than them.

@jim204

Yeah, no kidding. 

Yeah, no kidding !!

Prolly was due to the fact that you can’t get more near field than headphones.  Duh.