Comment by b0rsuk

We have a lot in common.

It is said that in most cases 192 kbit .mp3 is indistinguishable from >192, and blind tests support that. Granted, there are instruments like castanets which make it easier to hear the difference. In general though, I can't distinguish 128 from 192 and I listen to music a lot. Also it's unlikely that my hearing is already damaged because I try to keep volume low.

But I've noticed that where I put the speakers makes a huge difference. I can easily tell the difference from speakers on the floor versus speakers on my desk. Where I'm at the moment also matters a lot. If I lie on the floor, floor speakers don't sound as bad anymore.

In the end, I use headphones. Midrange Audio Technica ones, and I'm probably already overpaying a bit. But I bought them for build quality and comfort, and I wasn't disappointed. I can have wear them for hours (Not healthy I guess, but I'm used to wearing them even with no music being played). Headphones have the advantage that it suddenly stops to matter where your speakers are and where are you relative to them.