Speakers or Headphones?

Like everybody else, I was hoping to find something that would block all the sound of my college dorm out. I was stuck between a quality set of headphones, or perhaps some conservative speakers to do the job drowning out noise while studying. Telephone dial-tones ring in at nearly 80dB, an average conversation is between 60dB- 70dB, while quiet libraries tend to sit around 30dB. The best headphones you can buy are rated to block out 25db-30db of noise at most.

Different people have different opinions though, as I asked around everyone gave me a different point to consider. It seemed to come down to blending into the crowd with the headphones...or ramping it up and going full blast, and being obnoxious with a high quality set of 500 watt wall speakers. Choices, choices!

Deano told me: "I prefer speakers when I want to know what's going on in my surroundings, which is mostly all the time. Headphones can block out too much sound when I'm feeling paranoid. Headphones also have great sound because they block out so much sound. Speakers on the other hand, can get larger depending on what you spend, but have more potential in the long run. They allow everyone else to hear the music to, which is never good if your neighbor doesn't like your musical taste/desired volume."

So speakers have more potential, but block out less of the surrounding noise. Headphones, as Deano told me, seem to block out too much noise in some situations, and are limited in long term potential by their small size.

James seem to echo Deano: "Of course headphones would be the default in most situations, but there is definitely something to be said for having a pair of wall-thumping speakers for Saturday nights; when you don't have to worry about interrupting anyone's studying."

I bought a set of Direct Sound EX-29 headphones, for under $100. They block out 29db of noise, over the 25db the $300 Bose Quiet Comforts, that everyone raves about for being "super quiet". If I want to get some wall shaking sound, I'll head over to see James, or Deano - I don't need the hassle of disturbing, or making my neighbors angry.

My mid-level college headphones will work just fine for me, and I can take them anywhere I go. I even bought an amplified headphone outlet - It plugs in anywhere you have a power outlet, and a headphone jack. The sound really "sings".