Quality EQ apps for ipod/iphone/ipad - Page 27

Now that I have better headphones than I used to, I don't need to use any EQ very often these days. I still like having the option to do so though.

That's the true audiophile coming out in you. I always knew you had potential.

Funny thing is, now that I have several primary headphones that don't need EQ,  the newest Rockbox builds have a 10-band EQ, that is still just as tweakable as the prior 5-band one....but hey, EQ does allow me to use even those few headphones that normally just hang out collecting dust, so I will never abandon it altogether.

But it is nice that my primary headphones don't need it.

 

(and you will be shocked at what my next DAP is when it arrives) 

Edited by Achmedisdead - 1/29/13 at 4:30pm

I used to use EQ like a mad man, (for many years) I wouldn't listen to music without, loved the equalizer app used to pump up DA BASS, but when I bought Colorfly C3 I really wanted to change my ways, it took about a month to fully adjust, however I now like the buzz from no EQ and thrill of the chase finding good synergy without faking it.

I betcha it's a Cowon betcha! ?
Edited by H20Fidelity - 1/30/13 at 2:55pm

Hmm, but all music is equalised as part of mixing and mastering. So it's all fake? Equalising is merely adjusting to taste or compensating for a flaw.

If you also consider loudness curves then at the very least one needs bass equalisation to adjust to preferred volume levels. Your phones are very unlikely to have the bass just right for you at the volume level you require. Most phones also lose it on the very low end. Just 7db added at 40Hz can make a big difference to bass experience of bass that's otherwise not heard.

Most of my phones are excellent but flawed. I EQ, with a parametric equaliser, to get rid of the shouty humps and piercing spikes. Equalising my venerable PL30s was a mind blow. I get audio worth much more than the value of my phones.

Sure, one can get used to (pretty much) anything, but why compromise.

So long as the phones have low distortion then equalisation has no downsides unless the equaliser is poor and itself distorts (ie. Ipod and windows Media player)

Couldn't imagine not EQing after trying the stock iPad/iPod sound. I love having the ability to adjust, and with my double amp setup (E-11 with ZO), it simply is amazing how you can tailor the sound.

Adjust all you want my friend, don't let me stop you.

Denon has added a pretty decent EQ App also. Very user friendly and adjustable. 

I downloaded the free version of Accudio. I like it. Lets me amp up my bass response. 

First of all... Bump! Anyone found anything new?

 

 

I can give a brief comparison of most, would need to spend more time for a proper overview though. Been using my ety HF5/iPhone 5 for all of these.

 

Audio Xciter: Some would say it mutilates your music. If you're a hardcore audiophile with good headphones, the "high" preset WILL make you head explode, and I don't mean that in a good way. Personally, I think it's one of the most interesting apps here... think of it as a VERY aggressive V shaped EQ that adds less distortion and more fun than a typical EQ. I end up using it on the road quite a bit (friends love it), and it certainly makes my etys sound more exiting. There's a trial version available.

 

Accudio: There's plenty of coverage here on head-fi. In a nutshell, it's an automatic EQ that flattens your headphones, and it's pretty amazing. The headphone simulation effect is meh, but looking at the profiles themselves is an interesting way to learn about headphones you want to buy. Cheap, as it's free, and works with FLAC files.

 

Audyssey Media Player: Like Accudio, but a tiny bit less neutral, more "dynamic". The UI is WAY better than Accudio's, and unlike Accudio, you can adjust the sound a bit more while the headphone profile is loaded. Not free.

 

EQu: A slick, simple UI (you can even change the color scheme). Just a great, plain parametric equalizer. No weird distortion. Not free, if I remember correctly.

 

Denon Audio: Another great equalizer, with a more familiar UI. Fairly certain it's free, and has tunein radio built in.

 

Equalizer/Equalizer Pro: 2 more basic equalizers, personally I prefer the UI of EQu and Denon audio. Didn't spend much time with these, and they're no longer on my phone. 

 

SonicMax BBE Pro: Another great equalizer, but with the added bonus of some neat audio "enhancement" effects as well. Some features ("beat" enhanced bass, treble enhancement) feel like a toned down version of Audio Xciter. It's great if you love tweaking, and this app has plenty of coverage on head-fi.

 

 

As long as your headphones are supported, Accudio/Audyssey are by far the best (and for me, the most used) of the bunch. I occasionally use Audio Xciter (for an aggressive V equalizer). and rarely use SonicMax (for moderate general sound enhancement, especially if I'm away from headphones), EQu (for a light equalizer), or Denon (for tunein radio).

 

 

 

I'll try Afessa EQ, Sonic EQ, and Audio 3D soon, though Audio 3D doesn't have a profile for my Etys yet. I'll be happy to spend more time on these and pick up other apps too, anyone have any suggestions?

 

Accudio is far from being neutral. The people behind it don't really understand what neutral is when it comes to headphone frequency response. I wrote a post detailing what the problem is here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/644688/the-accudio-app-by-golden-ears-a-headphone-revolution/60#post_9304107

 

As for all the apps that are processing the audio to "enhance" it in any way other than your own custom EQ curve, my advice has always been to stay the hell away from them, because it's no different than just randomly slapping a mastering plugin onto your audio bus instead of addressing the exact deficiencies of your specific headphone. The people who make these audio enhancing apps have no idea the exact headphone model you're using, so it's extremely likely that whatever "enhancement" is going on is actually exacerbating the already problematic areas of your headphone's frequency response. Apps that claim to have unique custom EQ curves for specific headphone models (such as Accudio) are only as good as the people who are behind them, and Accudio is NOT what I consider reliable and authoritative. I have no idea if Audyssey's take on the idea is better--I'll have to try it and see, but there's no free version to try like Accudio.

 

To date, the only sensible solution I've seen, is to EQ your headphone according to its specific frequency response measurement (can be found on reliable, authoritative websites like InnerFidelity). A straightforward parametric EQ with an intuitive GUI that allows exact input of frequency, bandwidth, and gain, is still the best solution. And Equalizer is still the best one, considering all that. 

Edited by Lunatique - 4/24/13 at 9:26am

The best EQ app that I used before I sold my iPhone 4 is called Stereophonic. It has quite a lot of nice features and last I checked it was only a dollar or two (don't quote me on that.)