Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Sound Science › Equalizer help!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Equalizer help!

post #1 of 12
6/10/12 at 3:25am
Thread Starter 
The max volume on this player, EQu for the Iphone, was much lower then the volume of the normal ipod player, so I had to move the entire curve up about 4db. The treble side was already up 3 db. When I checked the highest point was +7.3 db. Using a decibel measurer. I determined that the highest volume on this player, after my adjustments, was equal to that of the normal player at max volume. Yet despite being at the same volume, much distortion occurred on the EQu player, and not the normal one.
 
I would be grateful if you could tell me why this is, and if there is a way to fix it.
 
Sincerely,
 
Betsy
Reply

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

post #2 of 12
6/10/12 at 5:19am

Modern digital music typically is on the verge of clipping (close to 0 dBFS). Any amount of boosting with an equalizer, regardless of the frequency, can cause those samples to clip even harder. To prevent that, some equalizers apply a negative gain to create headroom.

 

Lets say you want to boost treble by 3 dB. You can do that but you also have to apply a negative gain of at least -3 dB to the whole track to avoid clipping. Some EQs a) do that automatically, some b) apply a fixed negative gain as soon as you raise one slider, others c) do nothing.

 

edit: btw, posting one thread with the same question is enough...


Edited by xnor - 6/10/12 at 5:56am
Reply
post #3 of 12
6/10/12 at 9:46am
Thread Starter 

But, I didn't notice as much clipping on the itunes balancer, nor a volume lowering :/


Edited by clairyvic - 6/10/12 at 9:55am
Reply
post #4 of 12
6/10/12 at 11:20am

Maybe that one uses dynamic range compression, i.e. squishes the waveform where it would go above 0 dBFS.

Reply
post #5 of 12
6/10/12 at 1:17pm
Thread Starter 

Well, the max decibel levels when I measured where under that of the normal player slightly. So I still don't understand what's going on?

Reply
post #6 of 12
6/10/12 at 2:53pm

I read that there are two modes: loud and safe. Try loud instead of safe.

Reply
post #7 of 12
6/10/12 at 5:15pm
Thread Starter 

I have it on loud.

Reply
post #8 of 12
6/10/12 at 5:26pm

And when is the volume lower? Always, or just when you boost some frequencies? What does your EQ curve look like?

Reply
post #9 of 12
6/10/12 at 6:43pm
Thread Starter 

 equalizer1.png Volume is lower like, the default setting (on the yellow line) is lower, so I had to move the whole thing up (still 8% quieter at max levels then normal which is fine) yet still hits some distortion.

 

Default is yellow line. That's quiet. Got to level that is shown which is roughly 8% quieter then normal, yet still some distortion. This is to boost treble of bass heavy AIAIAI's. Might just get this: http://www.slashgear.com/fiio-e5-headphone-amplifier-1923327 

 

Will that help with distortion?

 

Or just get the more balanced hm5 headphones. But idk which option I should choose.


Edited by clairyvic - 6/10/12 at 6:50pm
Reply
post #10 of 12
6/11/12 at 3:01am

If clipping (distortion) happens in the digital domain, which seems to be the case, then you have to lower the EQ curve and turn up the volume on your iphone. If that is not enough then an amp like you linked would certainly help, as would another headphone that is a bit brighter.

Reply
post #11 of 12
6/11/12 at 11:59am
Thread Starter 

What if I just got a neutral amp, and kept my balance the way it is. Using the amp to boost quality at higher volumes. So keep the aiaiai's, turn up treble like it is right now, and amp to get rid of distortion? Would that make for a high quality balanced sound?

Reply
post #12 of 12
6/11/12 at 12:18pm

Yes, I've written that an amp would help. That way you could reduce the gain in the EQ (to reduce distortion) and boost volume with the amp.

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Sound Science

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Sound Science › Equalizer help!