Headphone Confusion

[Jaay]

This is along the lines of personal monitoring. I know questions like this have been talked to death, but I have not found much in this vein:

I hear people talk all the time about personal monitors. The PM-3 was put out for such a purpose. Why not just use your module's headphone out and a good set of isolating headphones? What's the advantage to using all this outboard gear? I know that headphone out and monitor out don't sound the same, but if you just want to hear the gist of what your playing, owuldn't this suffice?

If there has been a past discussion like this, someone point me towards it? thanks.
-Jaay

[Boingo]

Originally posted by Jaay:
Why not just use your module's headphone out and a good set of isolating headphones? What's the advantage to using all this outboard gear? I know that headphone out and monitor out don't sound the same, but if you just want to hear the gist of what your playing, owuldn't this suffice?
-Jaay

I listen to both headphones and amp depending on the occasion. I have both sealed and open headphones and they have their place too. To limit yourself to just one or the other makes no sense if you're lucky enough to afford it.

Sometimes I just like to crank it up and experience the kick rattling my intestines. Sometimes I use the headphones to pick out the subtle nuances of sound you can't detect through an amp or when I'm trying not to disturb the family. Limiting to just one choice when you don't have to reduces the advantages of owning e-drums. Besides, I do want to hear more than just the jist of what I'm playing.

If I was forced to make a choice, I might pick headphones because it's more practical.