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Well, you can use headphones, but there are some reasons you might want to use an expensive monitor system :
(1) You want bragging rights
(2) You have too much money
(3) You have a serious appreciation for good, well produced music
(4) You're serious about producing music
I didn't think monitors were that big a deal until I got my 824's. No headphone (and I've used some pretty expensive one's) has even come close.
It sounds ghey, but I'll tell you that the only way I can describe listening to good monitors for the first time is like the first time you fell in love.
Tracks you've listened to all your life come alive. You hear the slightest nuances. Sounds pan around you spinning your head, obscure noises flourish and breathe full colours into the mix. You rummage through every track you've ever owned and can't believe how different they hear, and how you've allowed them to suffer the injustice of never being heard as God (or your prefered deity)intended. You want to run out and tell everyone how fantastic it is. Of course, in reality, no one cares.
But, if you can't afford expensive monitors, then headphones are the best alternatives. I'll take $400 head phones over $400 monitors any day. Of course, you've got to be able to wear headphones for hours on end for this to be feasible. I get headphone fatigue after a short period of time.
A caveat though for headphone users: Don't start handing out your final mixdown until you've heard it on proper monitors - you'll be rudely surprised the first time you do, I guarantee it.
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