EQ = sound quality?

[Makiah S]

Quote:

 
Thanks. I'll try each out and see what I like.

indeed, I like a very colorful EQ for EDM and a VERY netutral eq [or no eq] for Sound Tracks

 

[JohnSantana]

so what about using better amp ? or even DAC ?
How do we determine that if using DAC / amp like Fiio E11 can actually boost sound quality ?

 

[liamstrain]

Quote:

so what about using better amp ? or even DAC ?
How do we determine that if using DAC / amp like Fiio E11 can actually boost sound quality ?

 
That's a whole other set of discussions. Personally, I would rather have amps and dacs that measure neutral and implement a separate eq somewhere in the chain (digital or other), rather than using the dac/amp as a "hardware eq." That gives me more flexibility with a wider range of headphones and usages. 

 

[JohnSantana]

Quote:

 
That's a whole other set of discussions. Personally, I would rather have amps and dacs that measure neutral and implement a separate eq somewhere in the chain (digital or other), rather than using the dac/amp as a "hardware eq." That gives me more flexibility with a wider range of headphones and usages. 

Thanks for the reply Liam, yes I'm using Windows Media player Eq and also DENON iPhone apps player (10 band graphical EQ).
 
what does that mean by "measure neutral" ? I thought that by using EQ and Amp the sound is no longer neutral.

 

[liamstrain]

By measure neutral, I mean that the dac and amp do not color the sound. No bass boost, no audible roll-off, etc. A wire with gain (and if desired, maybe some tubey second order distortion) - but no permanent/uncontrolled changes to frequency response. That's the EQ's job. 

 

[skamp]

You should always EQ subtractively.

Yes. And this is how an amp that's normally powerful enough to drive a pair of not so sensitive headphones can easily get maxed out. With my subtractive EQ and Replaygain on, I measured a volume reduction of a full 12 dB on my system!

 

[Joe Bloggs]

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Yes. And this is how an amp that's normally powerful enough to drive a pair of not so sensitive headphones can easily get maxed out. With my subtractive EQ and Replaygain on, I measured a volume reduction of a full 12 dB on my system!

 
Yup, before I got a Fiio E17 with 12dB of gain I had to cheat by letting the EQ go above the 0dB line and use a limiter down the chain for insensitive headphones.

 

[firev1]

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I like Electri-Q though, it can do narrower bandwidth cuts than EasyQ and I'm just used to it and have made lots and lots of presets for it XD
 
What purpose does oversampling serve, does it somehow make the non eco mode better?  I'm inclined to think that eco mode is better right now but all my presets were made in non eco mode and switching modes changes the filter FR according to the graph the program draws :/

I think you will love Engineer's Filter Joe Bloggs.
 
Anyways, I did not post as promised on the advanced eq thread as promised but I would like to say the concept of it and doing it has really given new life to my headphones. To prevent clipping I usually set global gain down by 3db. Never mind reduction in non linear performance, the gains in terms of FR and my experience that I got makes it totally worth it! 
 
As for replaygain, I decided to have it of and move the volume knobs as I need it. 

 

[Makiah S]

Quote:

I think you will love Engineer's Filter Joe Bloggs.
 
Anyways, I did not post as promised on the advanced eq thread as promised but I would like to say the concept of it and doing it has really given new life to my headphones. To prevent clipping I usually set global gain down by 3db. Never mind reduction in non linear performance, the gains in terms of FR and my experience that I got makes it totally worth it! 
 
As for replaygain, I decided to have it of and move the volume knobs as I need it. 

Yea I want to set my Global Gain dwn in my presets as well. I'm so used to FooBars auto zero function, although I know some one here just told me how to do it so I'll have to back tracka little!

 

[Joe Bloggs]

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add a Gain control point / band / whatever you call it (click on the graph to create a point, right click on it and select Basic->Gain only) to move the entire graph down below the 0dB line.

 

[Makiah S]

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yhanks

 

[zunehdrocks]

This is an old thread but whatever...
Accudio from golden ears automatically adjusts eq to make popular headphones neutral. They base it on their fq response measurements.