omniweltall
Headphoneus Supremus
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- Nov 13, 2016
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Hi Betula, just a few thoughts. Keeping in mind there are 2 sides of audio: tonality and technicalities.I have been thinking about this latest discussion regarding tone controls and EQ. It is definitely a good topic to talk about, but in the end as most things in this hobby it boils down to personal preference rather than objective truth and it is good to respect other's opinion and preference.
While I have always been a purist (prefer to experience gear as the manufacturer intended it to sound like) I admit, under certain circumstances a little EQ can be useful.
On the one hand your ears/audio taste will never develop if you always put a ton of bass on anything you hear. It is like eating everything with loads of ketchup, even a nice steak. (I am sure you know somebody who does this.) On the other hand, of course everyone is entitled to eat/listen to anything adjusting it to their own personal taste. If you want to eat your wagyu beef with ketchup, that is your personal decision and you have the right to do so without facing any judgements.
When I first swapped from dynamic headphones to the 2C I was surprised on the lack of mid-bass. Since a lot of head-fiers describe LCD2 as bass cannons. This is simply not true. LCD2 has a flat and neutral bass compared to most dynamic headphones especially under its price range. But if you don't go immediately after your accustomed mid-bass quantity, you discover that the LCD2 bass has a lot more to offer than mid-bass quantity. Extension, clarity, detail, punch. Qualities you can never hear elsewhere. Qualities you might learn to prefer to the usual mid-bass quantity of other headphones. And perhaps you find your music sounds even more delicate and professional. Discovering an array of different flavours instead of soaking everything in ketchup.
Another thing I'd like to mention is the quality of your system (DAC and amp). Some lower quality DACs and amps might not be able to give back the authority, extension and punch of bass notes. They might not offer an extended, detailed and airy enough treble. You won't notice this until you audition truly higher-end amps and DACs, over the 4 digit mark. The higher-end gear you use, probably the less EQ you need to achieve an enjoyable sound. Also, the more quality equipment you own, the less you want to colour their capabilities.
All I am saying is don't rush to use your preferred EQ, especially if you have just upgraded your gear. Give time to experience how the manufacturer intended it to sound like, and once you really know the new sound, add your own taste if necessary.
I will use another, exaggerated picture. Let's say you buy a convertible car. The manufacturer intended it to be a convertible so you can enjoy sunshine without a roof. You are more than free to install a permanent roof on it to match your personal taste, but does that not defeat the original purpose of the car?
I used provocative examples here on purpose to ignite your thinking. I still think there are scenarios where EQ can be necessary: certain weak recordings or a weak link in your audio chain. In general however I think the less EQ you use the better it is.
EQ and tone controls can be useful, but we have to be very careful using them as they can completely derail your ears and make you stuck in a puddle instead of discovering the vastness of the ocean. My two cents.
1. EQ is used to change tonality and tonality only. It doesn't improve technicalities in any way. It doesn't give you more details or better imaging. Just simply the flavor. So, with correct usage of EQ, it is almost like having multiple headphones.
2. Using EQ really depends on each individual's taste. I, for example, love more bass. I'm guilty of that and I agree with your ketchup example. But others may have different usage. It doesn't have to be more bass. And this has nothing to do with how good of a gear one has. Higher-end gear should give you better technicalities (together with its own tonality). If a higher-end gear gives it more kick, that means that gear is also playing with its default frequency. Cause the 2C has flat bass frequency.
3. Regarding high-end gears, I find price is really a terrible benchmark of performance in this hobby. I have found many high-priced gears to perform very undeserving of their price tags (But I'm sure you are already aware of that). This hobby just relies on human biases way too much.
4. I disagree with your convertible car example. A sunroof has only one specific function, while audio is too much of an art. A headphone is a tool to listen to music. EQ is like an extension of that tool. With EQ, you have a choice of using it one day, and not using it another day. It is at your disposal. Also, some tracks may also have something missing or too much of something, then you can also EQ it. It gives you that flexibility. I play with my EQ settings all the time. For example, I love Julian Baker but I find one of her song has too much upper-mid, so I EQ it down a bit.
Btw, I just tried THX AAA 789 and its performance equals a lot of $1,500-2,500 amps I tried. It is a $350 amp. It can rival or even best some of the really famous & expensive amps I tried.