[kingdixon]

Don't worry about trying my settings out, yours is very similar and sounds great.
Here's the measurements for the iSine 20: https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AudezeiSine20.pdf
All I did was try and compensate values for the iSine 20 to sound like an HD600 found here: https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SennheiserHD600.pdf
Here's what I found when equalizing the iSine 20.

50hz low shelf filter by 14db gives off the impression that there's bass except when called for. Good side is that this increase is not invasive unless if the recording calls for it.
100hz -> 500hz thickens the mids, it sounds good with the HD600 but not so much the iSine 20.
800hz -> 1000hz needs a slight reduction, as this area tends to make the mids honky. I cheated and made a slight dip in 1khz, so I can keep the volume between 800-900hz to keep the mids forward.
1000hz-> 1500hz hazes the mids, makes brass instruments honky and vocals tinny.
2000hz seems to be fine, this should be left untouched from my adjusments
2500hz needs a slight increase, as this gives female vocals the sweetness I desire
3000hz -> 4000hz increase is desired, as it brightens up vocals. I like brighter sounding headphones.
4000hz -> 5000hz increase was desired, this brightens up violins, I recently reduced mine as violins were slightly too resonant
5500hz was slightly reduced to avoid grainy mids and reduce fatigue from the bright mids I set up
6500hz was increased to give airy mids
9000hz slightly increased to give treble texture
10000hz reduced to remove metallic treble
17000hz increased for extra sparkle
20000hz increased for airy treble and extension.

Thats a good brief for a beginner like me to understand how eq works, so thanks for that.

Also, after checking the countless eq photos i took out of this thread, i think the one iam currently on is the original cipher replica posted by @KMann (thanks to him)

One more thing, i see now why iam not hearing any recessed vocals, because you misread the 6db to -6db at 2540 hz, i now think at 6db is a bit shouty so i might lower it a bit to 5 or 4 db and see how it compares ..

 

[Smugsie]

Thats a good brief for a beginner like me to understand how eq works, so thanks for that.

Also, after checking the countless eq photos i took out of this thread, i think the one iam currently on is the original cipher replica posted by @KMann (thanks to him)

One more thing, i see now why iam not hearing any recessed vocals, because you misread the 6db to -6db at 2540 hz, i now think at 6db is a bit shouty so i might lower it a bit to 5 or 4 db and see how it compares ..

So I did! My apologies, I fixed my post accordingly.

 

[headwhacker]

Hi guys,

I have a suggestion and a question,

First, Can we gather different eq recommendations under one post by any means instead of searching each time the whole thread for different eq settings, even people can send their recommended eq to thread owner and pin it on second post or something, if thats an option.


And my question is .. this is the best setting that works for me till now and it gives a clearer sound while still sounding full (other eq settings sounded clear but sounded too thin that it seemed unnatural )

Here is my favorite eq setting on rockbox (original by Kmann) :



But the problem with some songs, there seem to be some distortion that i cant figure which frequency causes it.

Honestly, its my first time to use an eq with an iem, so no experience with it.

I tried some rockbox option called adaptive fatigue reduction and it clears the distortion but it have some effect to it that i dont like.

So any suggessions to modify this eq and fix the distortion. Sure i might fix it with trial and error but better to understand from you here.

Anything you recon is fishy with this eq setting?

Thanks

You need to set the precut down to the highest boost value on your filters. I can see your highest boost is 6dB. Set precut to -6dB. This way you avoid digital clipping. Downside is you will need more volume your player may not have enough power to support it.

As per your suggestion, I think it is better to start a new thread with only EQ settings preset recommendations as the topic.

 

[kukkurovaca]

I appreciate the response man, but if I'm being honest I don't want to have to try a bunch of different tips to maybe get an ideal fit. I was glad to be able to give Audeze's sound a try and will definitely buy an Audeze product again in the future, but with a different form factor. Not a knock against the iSine since I'm not a huge fan of IEMs to begin with but was expecting a high-end IEM to blow away the comfort and sound I'm used to. They do on the sound front.

Totally understandable. As with a lot of new product releases, this feels very much like we're essentially paying to beta test the product. The physical design and accessories were really not ready for prime time when they shipped the product. Some folks (myself included) were willing to spend extra time and money to figure out the fit, and some are lucky enough to have ears that work well from the get.

 

[zeny]

hello i have a question if anyone can please answer... between the isine 10 and 20, without using cipher cable, which of the two sounds at their best right out of the box (doesn't need EQ)?

 

[SilverEars]

If you are not going to EQ, forget about them. You need the cipher cable or need to EQ. They fixed the response with EQ.

With this said, it's a shame EQ takes away from the open sound presentation I heard without EQ, but it's the damn mids that the EQ fixes(also the resonance). All of this EQ fix is detrimental to the capabilities of the iem, but makes it sound "proper," but not to it's potential.

I can't say even if these are planars that the sound is refined. There are slight planar hollow response that creates a slight a bit of blur to the sounds. It's like you are looking without glasses. I've heard good transient response elsewhere.

Besides the resonance with certain sounds, I like the highs without EQ. Good treble extension.

 

[Wyd4]

Far too subjective to say. Depends on your preference.

For me its the iSine20.
I feel it has a bit smoother top and a little more body to the sound.
But that is just my preference.

 

[headwhacker]

hello i have a question if anyone can please answer... between the isine 10 and 20, without using cipher cable, which of the two sounds at their best right out of the box (doesn't need EQ)?

For me without cipher or EQ just get something else. But if you are willing to EQ, they are one of the best sounding headphone. Actually, you can make it sound however you like it with EQ.

 

[kingdixon]

You need to set the precut down to the highest boost value on your filters. I can see your highest boost is 6dB. Set precut to -6dB. This way you avoid digital clipping. Downside is you will need more volume your player may not have enough power to support it.

As per your suggestion, I think it is better to start a new thread with only EQ settings preset recommendations as the topic.

Well, that was spot on, and the japanese zx2 gave enough volume for it to work .. thanks buddy

iam fixing the precut value to -5 db and using the 800 hz modification suggested by @Nec3, now it works very fine for me.

As for the 2540 hz , ye lower than 5 db vocals starts to lose the sparkle and some air around it, so keeping it at 5 db ..

Thanks guys !!

 

[Wyd4]

Or maybe, if like me, you may love them as is.
Perhaps I am messed up as I need to eq hd800, T1 and ether C to be happy.

 

[davehutch]

Managed to find some neoprene tubing. Much better. Softer and more flexible.
Comfy now

Rubber on the left, neoprene on the right.
5mm OD, 3mm ID

 

[nassq8]

hello i have a question if anyone can please answer... between the isine 10 and 20, without using cipher cable, which of the two sounds at their best right out of the box (doesn't need EQ)?

I received iSINE 20 three days ago, and still experimenting. In general, I do not like to EQ my HP, as it simply destroys its intended sound signature. I like to play my music files unprocessed (bit-perfect) . But for iSINE 20, this isn't the case! This IEM really needs to be EQed to realize its potential; otherwise, you will be stuck with almost flat response and somewhat muffled tone. The EQ profile I've preferred so far is the one posted here by KMann of Audeze.

The best app I found for portable use is Neutron. For android devices, plug the numbers supplied above in the eq_presets.xml, a file used by Neutron to control the presets. The file can be found in this path:

~/android/data/com.neutroncode.mp/eq_presets.xml

Go to the "9-Band Parametric" section and insert the given figures, like the one below:

<preset id="32" name="9-Band Parametric" bind="0" lock="0">
<band type="PEAKEQ" gain="-2.659996" freq="394.3999" Q="0.9" />
<band type="PEAKEQ" gain="-3.16" freq="735.7999" Q="0.919999" />
<band type="PEAKEQ" gain="-6.099997" freq="1583" Q="1" />
<band type="PEAKEQ" gain="6" freq="2545" Q="2.079998" />
<band type="PEAKEQ" gain="3.7" freq="3975" Q="1.259999" />
<band type="PEAKEQ" gain="-5.13" freq="10150" Q="4.389997" />
<band type="PEAKEQ" gain="-4" freq="199.5" Q="0.709999" />
<band type="PEAKEQ" gain="-2.97" freq="12157" Q="0.559997" />
<band type="PEAKEQ" gain="1.639997" freq="7666" Q="0.709999" />
</preset>

And that's it.

HiFi-M8 is excellent portable amp/dac, very transparent that outputs exactly what's in the source. I tried Neutron with my Fiio X5 III, and I got nice result; but not as good as HiFi-M8.

 

[se7en7]

I am going to order a balanced 2.5mm cable from toxic cables what 2 pin variant will work with isine 10's in drop down menus?
Thank you

 

[golfinggino]

I personally don't agree with you must eq or don't buy the isine's, I listen to a lot of different sources:

off my laptop with jds labs the element and foobar 2000 with the cipher eq settings
off my ipod with the cipher cable with tidal
off my fiio x5 3rd gen with and without eq ( both sound great to me )
off my Samsung s8 plus with usb HiFime Sabre 9018 and hf player (even straight off my S8 they good )

I certainly would not want to scare people off by saying you must EQ or don't buy these - they all sound great to me - just my opinion

 

[MICHAELSD]

I personally don't agree with you must eq or don't buy the isine's, I listen to a lot of different sources:

off my laptop with jds labs the element and foobar 2000 with the cipher eq settings
off my ipod with the cipher cable with tidal
off my fiio x5 3rd gen with and without eq ( both sound great to me )
off my Samsung s8 plus with usb HiFime Sabre 9018 and hf player (even straight off my S8 they good )

I certainly would not want to scare people off by saying you must EQ or don't buy these - they all sound great to me - just my opinion

If a user needs to EQ then they're not getting a proper seal is what I generally find with IEM. These sound perfectly adequate from the 3.5mm or the Cipher cable without any EQ.