How to equalize your headphones: A Tutorial - Page 54

I have tried EQing my IEM Bose IE2. Well, the was two main peaks, at 6100Hz -3db and at around 10000 a huge one -6db. I don't know if it make the music better, it's more confortable for listening for sure, but I think I killed some important high frequencies because the Drums sounds kind of "muffled". I need to listen to a really high quality reference headphone to hear what it sounds like, I have no idea if Im doing it right
 

You can get treble energy back by adding a wide bandwidth, high shelf filter to boost the treble.  This way the treble will be bright (from the wideband boost) but smooth and even (from the cuts you made to smooth out the resonance peaks).

I will try that, Thank you
 

One more thing:  when comparing EQ settings (e.g. EQ and no EQ) you need to match volumes between settings.  You can do this by using the A|B function in Electri-Q, setting your EQ in A, then e.g. having a flat EQ, but with a Basic->Gain only point in B, lowering the flat curve to match the average height of the EQ curve in A, so that you hear music at roughly the same volume in A and B.  Otherwise you hand the unEQed sound an unfair advantage since louder is perceived as better.

I didn't notice volume difference between the two EQs. Just the lost details in the drums and other high frequencies. I made a very wide EQ because of the high peak from 10300Hz to 11000Hz but maybe that ended up affecting areas that it shouldn't have.

I have already made my purchase of a HD558 from eBay, that should make things easier, right?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alec246 

I didn't notice volume difference between the two EQs. Just the lost details in the drums and other high frequencies. I made a very wide EQ because of the high peak from 10300Hz to 11000Hz but maybe that ended up affecting areas that it shouldn't have.

 

I have already made my purchase of a HD558 from eBay, that should make things easier, right?
 

You are making small cuts in the FR, you will be "losing" something by definition.  The question is whether what you lost was something unwanted (sibilance / too much sparkle) or something wanted (PRaT, snap, etc.).  What complicates matters is that I find I can turn up the volume with the treble reduced, which makes up for the lost sparkle and makes everything sound better ;)

Of course the result of the EQ guide is just a guide, you can disabe any filter point that you feel is doing more harm than good and tweak the EQ to your tastes however you like.  In fact I did this for several months after the initial EQ to arrive at my current desired curve.

The HD558 may sound better out of the box but I don't think it will be easier to EQ.  If anything from my experience here and the curves posted here, full-sizes headphones tend to have the most complicated EQ profiles because of interactions with the cochlea.  Also some of the spikes and dips of full size headphones *might* be better left alone as they may approximate the HRTF of loudspeakers--especially headphones with distant angle drivers meant to approximate speaker placement.  I don't think HD558 is one of those phones though.

I don't think I will be trying to EQ the HD558 when I start using it, maybe just a little, but I trust Sennheiser knows what they're doing much more than Bose or Corsair!

When I try switching off my IEM EQ which I think has less detail in the upper frequencies it sounds metallic and distorced, so I'm still using it, I find it better with EQ than without, much more pleasent to hear music.
 

I just gave it a go on my SE215s and the clarity has increased so so much...

Attempted it on my ksc75's.

Using JRivers parametric equaliser. Results below.

Sounds somewhat muffled, but definitely easier on the ears. I will play around a bit to see the outcomes of different parameters.

Electri-Q format not suppported and I can't get NWEQ to customise.

Many thanks to the original poster!

Using JRiver I didn't really bother with EQ as I wanted to have that "oh,so pure" sound path through all parts of my system.

Then I got the LCD2's and the bass didn't feel "right",so I tried some manual EQuing but never could make up my mind which sounds best.

Now I just use the JRiver ROCK preset and I am happy with it.

Got it working so deleted post

hey guys, is there anyone that try this with w4?

I think w4R is a little veiled for me and bass quantity is a little more than what I want.

I already use large shure olives (foam tips)

please share your experiences in equalizing the w4 with me.

in my trying to find my resonance peak, I can say my resonance peak is somewhere between 4200-4300 (it is some odd )

thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Bloggs 

If it's bass you find wrong with your W4R just add one or two low shelf filters (left click to add new point, right click on point->basic->low shelf, double-click on point to change bandwidth(BW) to 1.5 or above) and drag the points around while listening to music until you like what you hear. This tutorial won't help you tame the bass because it's about taming the treble, which if I'm not mistaken you find quite tame anyway

thanks, I tried low shelf filters last night and it help

I think this tutorial is useful for bright headphone not some headphone that are in dark side of sound signature

mainly, I'm waiting for my 75 ohm added impedance to arrive