How to equalize your headphones: A Tutorial

[Joe Bloggs]

I've been doing this for years and I can't envisage any way of programming this approach to work with one click without user feedback. That said I do have canned presets for a lot of headphones--is that what you want? But the results are going to be a far cry from optimizing a pair of phones for your own ears.

i will appreciate if u can send me some presets 

i listen most to synthpop, metal, rock, indie, ambient music

i am so curious to see what u have achieved, i might use urs as startup points and then continue tweaking

my headphones are ooze lcd2 rev2, and i use ifi dsd and jriver on windows

Unfortunately I have never set ears on these phones.

 

[Exacoustatowner]

Can anyone recommend a very good hardware parametric equalizer???
Please!

 

[analogsurviver]

  Can anyone recommend a very good hardware parametric equalizer???
Please!

I use Technics SH-9010. 5 band parametric EQ.
 
http://www.thevintageknob.org/technics-SH-9010.html
 
If you really want to go crazy, there is VERY seldom SH-9090 for sale
 
http://www.thevintageknob.org/technics-SH-9090P.html
 
- but do not forget - you need TWO. These puppies are extremely costly ... a pair currently on ebay :
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261600461238?rmvSB=true

 

[lamode]

  Can anyone recommend a very good hardware parametric equalizer???
Please!

 
Digital or analogue? Only the former is worth considering, imo.

 

[analogsurviver]

   
Digital or analogue? Only the former is worth considering, imo.

Oh no, not AGAIN. 
 
What is the difference between a virtual EQ with conjuction with computer and "digital EQ" - none of them would make the grade of "hardware" in my book.
 
If the frequency of the headphone is so jagged to require more than what analog EQs listed above offer, than the headphone should be replaced with a more reasonable model. No headphone that is considered good should not require more.

 

[Rico613]

.

 

[Exacoustatowner]

 
It's not parametric but it works for me and can be used as a parametric EQ with a little extra work, and it is digital (which puts noise into the power line that must be dealt with).  The 60L DEQ has some nice features that I use all the time.
 
http://www.rane.com/deq60l.html

Thanks Rico613! It puts noise in the power line? How do you deal with it?

 

[Exacoustatowner]

  I use Technics SH-9010. 5 band parametric EQ.
 
http://www.thevintageknob.org/technics-SH-9010.html
 
If you really want to go crazy, there is VERY seldom SH-9090 for sale
 
http://www.thevintageknob.org/technics-SH-9090P.html
 
- but do not forget - you need TWO. These puppies are extremely costly ... a pair currently on ebay :
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261600461238?rmvSB=true

Thanks Analogsurviver
I am seeing either inexpensive units that are likely not going to be great sounding-or EXTREMELY expensive units costing multiple thousands. Most these days are for DJ's and PA systems-not audio. I have a very common rolled off high and upper mid type of loss that would be easy to counter with an EQ. The fancy Room EQ will not take that into account.

 

[analogsurviver]

  Thanks Analogsurviver
I am seeing either inexpensive units that are likely not going to be great sounding-or EXTREMELY expensive units costing multiple thousands. Most these days are for DJ's and PA systems-not audio. I have a very common rolled off high and upper mid type of loss that would be easy to counter with an EQ. The fancy Room EQ will not take that into account.

You welcome Exacoustatowner ! ( What happened ? with Acoustat ) SH-9010 - if you are prepared to wait and thus shop carefully, is something in between the two options mentioned by you - can be had for say $200-300. It does come handy if you can refurbish it yourself or know someone who will do it for reasonable amount - it is nearly 40 years old and given some TLC, will still be going strong.

 

[Rico613]

 

 
It's not parametric but it works for me and can be used as a parametric EQ with a little extra work, and it is digital (which puts noise into the power line that must be dealt with).  
 

Thanks Rico613! It puts noise in the power line? How do you deal with it?

I'm using Shunyata DPC-6 power distributor.  It is designed specifically for noisy digital components such as computers, cd transports, DAC's, etc.  I found that the DPC-6 makes a profound improvement to overall sound quality.
 
http://www.shunyata.com/our-products/pwr-dist/48-power-dist-ref-series/303-dpc-6#!hydradpc6_rear
 
Check out the videos for the DPC-6 
http://www.shunyata.com/technical-feat/videos-gallery

 

[Exacoustatowner]

  I'm using Shunyata DPC-6 power distributor.  It is designed specifically for noisy digital components such as computers, cd transports, DAC's, etc.  I found that the DPC-6 makes a profound improvement to overall sound quality.
 
http://www.shunyata.com/our-products/pwr-dist/48-power-dist-ref-series/303-dpc-6#!hydradpc6_rear
 
Check out the videos for the DPC-6 
http://www.shunyata.com/technical-feat/videos-gallery

Thanks Rico!

 

[Exacoustatowner]

  Oh no, not AGAIN. 
 
What is the difference between a virtual EQ with conjuction with computer and "digital EQ" - none of them would make the grade of "hardware" in my book.
 
If the frequency of the headphone is so jagged to require more than what analog EQs listed above offer, than the headphone should be replaced with a more reasonable model. No headphone that is considered good should not require more.

Only holds if you don't have hearing loss-in which case...

 

[Exacoustatowner]

  You welcome Exacoustatowner ! ( What happened ? with Acoustat ) SH-9010 - if you are prepared to wait and thus shop carefully, is something in between the two options mentioned by you - can be had for say $200-300. It does come handy if you can refurbish it yourself or know someone who will do it for reasonable amount - it is nearly 40 years old and given some TLC, will still be going strong.

I'll keep my eyes open for the SH-9010! As far as why I dubbed myself Ex-Acoustatowner- long ago I foolishly allowed someone's very reasonable argument that they were too big for the room I had to get me to sell them for more reasonably sized speakers.
They had AMAZING sound that I never quite recaptured. 

 

[Joe Bloggs]

 
You welcome Exacoustatowner ! ( What happened ? with Acoustat ) SH-9010 - if you are prepared to wait and thus shop carefully, is something in between the two options mentioned by you - can be had for say $200-300. It does come handy if you can refurbish it yourself or know someone who will do it for reasonable amount - it is nearly 40 years old and given some TLC, will still be going strong.

I'll keep my eyes open for the SH-9010! As far as why I dubbed myself Ex-Acoustatowner- long ago I foolishly allowed someone's very reasonable argument that they were too big for the room I had to get me to sell them for more reasonably sized speakers.
They had AMAZING sound that I never quite recaptured. 

You can always tame excess bass power and resonance with room treatment and EQ, besides, tinny speakers will never reach low enough in any room.

Are you sure you need an external EQ? Most of us here do fine with parametric EQ plugins on the computer

 

[Exacoustatowner]

You can always tame excess bass power and resonance with room treatment and EQ, besides, tinny speakers will never reach low enough in any room.

Are you sure you need an external EQ? Most of us here do fine with parametric EQ plugins on the computer

Hi Joe
I am trying to correct for my own rather steep roll off in the higher frequencies due to hearing loss-and am using CD and or SACD's as source-not a computer-but that would be a great way to go otherwise. I have room EQ for my speakers already. It does not help with my own roll off.