Speakers vs. headphones

Evidently two versions of this thread are currently running.

Ironically, the headphones have made me listen to my speaker system with more concentration. I’m enjoying  the music more and appreciating its quality more.

There’s no doubt that my speaker system is better in every parameter, but the headphones present a great alternative.

I, too, find that things that don’t sound so great on my speakers sound just fine on the headphones.

Frogman,

As a fellow musician, I certainly respect your judgement as to how real music sounds. I have an important question though:
Can I connect the phone/amp combo to my tablet to use as a streamer, or do I have to hook it up to my system?
I don’t want to have a wire extending across the room from my listening chair.

I’m looking at this for sale.  Is this what you have?

STAX SRM-D50 Electrostatic Headphone Amplifier / DAC
 

It’s a combo phone and amp.

Frogman,

Since I can’t afford three times the cost, I think I’ll hang on to what I’ve got for a while and wait until I see something used.

‘Again, thanks for your input.

Maybe ignorance is bliss, because I’m enjoying my mid level headphone system immensely.

I’m currently listening to Mahler’s 8th Symphony on headphones. Despite the marked superiority of my speaker system, I never before perfectly heard as clearly the complex contrapuntal texture of the vocal lines in the first movement.

I hate to say it, but I now find listening with my headphones a more immersive experience than listening with my speakers.  Maybe it’s the novelty, but I find I’m getting more involved in the music through headphones.  There’s a more immediate and direct connection without distractions or “room effect.”

Maybe I will feel different once  the novelty wears off.
I have a hell of a lot more investment in capital and time in my system than with phones.