Crossfeed / HRTF users - what do you use?

[YCH]

Hi people,

A friend introduced me to HRTF some time ago and now I can't stand listening to music on headphones without it. Especially on my grado cans. The soundstage gets squeezed to the extremities and...it's just uncomfortable.

I'm currently using Steinberg's X-ternalizer plugin with Winamp. It sounds pretty good for most music, though a tad bright in some cases. Dolby Headphone sounds okay in a pinch as well (I make sure to avoid DH-3).

However, I would like to have the choice to use HRTF for more than just my music. Like, it would be nice to be able to just toggle the effect on or off in the taskbar or something.

Of course, I realize there are headphone amps out there with crossfeed switches. How effective are they...say in Headroom's line of amps? Are they DSP-based, or simple analog circuits? Do they emulate the HRTF graphs in dummy-head measurements?

Also, how do the X-Fi's CMSS-3D fare in this application?

Thanks

 

[SonicDawg]

Generally I would much prefer crossfeed over HRTF, because the latter tends to include too much artificial reverb, and mostly destroy the original tone of the music, e.g. dolby headphone, Wave Panorama 5, etc. I highly recommend headplug for winamp. It is highly configurable, and with a right setting, can dang right creates a sound "arc" in front of you.

 

[YCH]

Wow, I just downloaded Headplug. Will try it out and post my impressions of it when I've used it enough. Thanks!

SonicDawg, have you tried the X-ternalizer plugin for Winamp? I think it comes with Cubase or something. If you want I can send you the needed files.

 

[YCH]

Man, this HeadPlug plugin is really something. Initial impressions = GEWD.

Thankfully, I did a project on HRTF, so all the settings are easy to understand

 

[davy374]

headroom's amps use analog crossfeed. I keep mine on all the time. (05 total bithead and 06 micro).

 

[cosmopragma]

Quote:

Crossfeed / HRTF users - what do you use?

I've tested a lot, but I never came across your X-ternalizer plug-in.
Crossfeed (for different purposes and in order of preference):
1) K1000s

.The original natural crossfeed is unrivaled by any artificial effect.Transparency is very good since it's a design feature.You will never know how K1000s without crossfeed sound though.

I've tested the AKG BAP1000 HRTF processor some time ago.(one of the 9 presets naturally, no chip for my individual HRTFs since this required measurements in a lab).The BAP1000 adds (AFAIK) a bit artificial crossfeed, a HRTF equalization and a tiny amount of reverb.
Did it work?Yes and no.I did find a preset close to my individual HRTFs, and the result was an excellent and truely coherent stage, a fine tonal balance and overall a fatigue free experience, but unfortunately the age old ADC and DAC sections of the BAP1000 are clearly outdated and noisy.
I'd like to mimic the BAP1000 in the digital domain, but it seems to be a very complex task, too complex so far for me.
2) The Meier Audio Corda Cross-X

Darn, I'm late, I have to go to work.
Perhaps afterwards I'll write something additional about my experience with hardware and software effects.

 

[SonicDawg]

Since I recommended headplug, I should also include my setting (thanks to tigre from hydrogenaduio forum

)

Crossfeed power: 0.4
C/F Delay: 10 (0.23ms) (I think this is the most headsize-dependent)
Treble Power: 0.26
Treble Cutoff: 3900Hz
Main Signal Compensation: 0.48
Decomb: 1.000

You are welcome to show your setting as well

 

[YCH]

My current settings (probably have to screw around with it some more to find the optimal one)

Crossfeed power: 0.7
C/F Delay: 11 (0.25ms)
Treble Power: 0.12
Treble Cutoff: 3900Hz
Main Signal Compensation: 0.8
Decomb: 0.8

 

[parrot5]

I prefer the Bauer stereophonic-to-binaural DSP over the CrossFeed that's included with Foobar and also over the 4Front one.

 

[YCH]

Hey Parrot5,

I tried the bs2b plugin, and it's pretty good, though I still prefer the Headplug.

Has anyone tried the much maligned CMSS-3D mode that comes with the X-Fi soundcard? I...may...upgrade to an X-Fi (lol I'm still using an Audigy 2). As you may have guessed, I'm a PC gamer as well, so I don't have much of a choice when it comes to soundcards. Audiophile-centric soundcards just don't have as good game support and performance as Creative's soundcards. You might also think: "hey why not have TWO soundcards then?" Well, after all the watercooling stuff and 2 video cards installed I can only use one of the 4 PCI slots on my motherboard

 

[SonicDawg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by YCH Hey Parrot5, I tried the bs2b plugin, and it's pretty good, though I still prefer the Headplug. Has anyone tried the much maligned CMSS-3D mode that comes with the X-Fi soundcard? I...may...upgrade to an X-Fi (lol I'm still using an Audigy 2). As you may have guessed, I'm a PC gamer as well, so I don't have much of a choice when it comes to soundcards. Audiophile-centric soundcards just don't have as good game support and performance as Creative's soundcards. You might also think: "hey why not have TWO soundcards then?" Well, after all the watercooling stuff and 2 video cards installed I can only use one of the 4 PCI slots on my motherboard

The X-Fi and the CMSS-3D are generally not so well-regarded in this forum. The latter fares well only in movies and games and other non-critical sound sources. For music they are, well, CREATIVE....