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A different kind of AD700 review (EQ'd v. Flat) - Page 4

post #46 of 52
3/12/10 at 7:20pm
WOW, just wow. This was a great read... the first post and the argument which ensued. Just one question fjrabon: what about harmonic distortion and square wave responses?
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post #47 of 52
3/12/10 at 7:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Silenced View Post
WOW, just wow. This was a great read... the first post and the argument which ensued. Just one question fjrabon: what about harmonic distortion and square wave responses?
Those are very real, and to be taken into account. but both relate directly to how well a headphone can reproduce a sound signal's frequency and amplitude under certain conditions. that has more to do with the science of sound reproduction than the science of sound, if that makes sense.

Total Harmonic Distortion (Or THD) refers to when, generally under stress, audio equipment adds in harmonics to the fundamental tone its trying to reproduce that aren't actually in the source signal. That is, in simple terms, it adds in random frequencies that aren't supposed to be there.

Square Wave Response basically measures how fast a headphone (or any sound reproduction equipment) can respond to rapid changes in amplitude at various frequencies. Most equipment can't perfectly reproduce a square wave, but the closer it gets, the better it sounds. This is what most audiophiles refer to as "speed" or at least I think this is what they're referring to when they refer to speed. The ability of a headphone to have a "hard leading edge". But again, just a measure of how well it reproduces frequency and amplitude in a certain very difficult condition. Think of a hard snare drum hit with the tip of a heavy pair of sticks. The better square wave response, the better the headphone is going to be able to nail the full impact of the snare.
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post #48 of 52
3/12/10 at 7:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Silenced View Post
WOW, just wow. This was a great read... the first post and the argument which ensued. Just one question fjrabon: what about harmonic distortion and square wave responses?
The ironic thing is that it was I who in another thread on the AD700 - which makes it doubly ironic - mentioned the frequency graph for these phones, like the one at headroom, saying that it pretty accurately matched my experience of the phones, and I was ripped to shreds there by everyone chiming in to say, "it's not just about the frequency graph, d000d!" To which I had to explain that I didn't think it was all about the graph, but that the frequency profile could be a very useful tool in describing the sound, etc.

Lol, I think this place is a little psychotic.
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post #49 of 52
3/12/10 at 7:41pm
nice write up!
unlike many around here - I have no problem using an eq. it's a tool at my disposal, and to dismiss it would be foolish.

depending on the headphone, source, and what i'm listening to, i could have no eq, a little eq, or crazy eq (especially in games) with no regrets.
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post #50 of 52
3/12/10 at 8:07pm
Thread Starter 
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Originally Posted by ourfpshero View Post
nice write up!
unlike many around here - I have no problem using an eq. it's a tool at my disposal, and to dismiss it would be foolish.

depending on the headphone, source, and what i'm listening to, i could have no eq, a little eq, or crazy eq (especially in games) with no regrets.
Yeah, in that case I'd highly recommend getting one where you can save settings. The samson I just bought (got a great deal on it from a guy who was updating his live sound rig) is great.
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post #51 of 52
11/22/10 at 6:10pm

I made an approximation to what you recommended with your EQ settings, and it made a huge difference.  It takes some of the airy quality away from the sound, but in a way it's a good thing.  Everything has much more presence, and the bass is given enough of a boost to be prominent in the mix.  It seems as though listening is slightly less exhausting, couldn't tell you why.

 

Nothing wrong with a little EQ - almost like buying a new pair of headphones.


Edited by djmer - 11/22/10 at 6:12pm
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post #52 of 52
2/15/11 at 12:04pm

I think Aristotle was having the same debate some 2300 years ago about whether or not the whole (sound) was more than the sum of its parts (frequency). That aside, the main post made for a really interesting read. I'm looking forward to getting my pair of AD700s any day now and after I've formed an opinion on their stock sound I might consider playing about with a bit of EQ. Thanks!

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