Headphones as a nearfiled listening source?!...

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

Yeah, no kidding !!

@jim204

Yeah, no kidding. 

"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.

I would guess this one.

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

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.