[GaryWA]

I don't really know the technical name for it, but s's are very harsh in some songs and I have to turn it down a lot to listen to it at all.

I am listening on a Samsung Galaxy S3, Poweramp music player, with ATH-M50's and an E6 amp.

I've set the 4k frequency gain to the lowest, but it didn't seem to do anything.. Any ideas?

 

[Spakka]

It's called sibillance, it can be a problem with anything; headphones, source, amp, the music itself. 

 

[bigshot]

Try a little lower than 4kHz. Also check to see that the track isn't clipping.

 

[Radioking59]

In my experience with the m50 the sibilance you are hearing is in the recording. I've tried different headphones (HD600) and the m50 with better amps and DACs and the sibilance was still present in the same spots.

 

[tin man]

Quote:

I am listening on a Samsung Galaxy S3, 

Are you listening to MP3s or uncompressed music?

 

[Tiemen]

It's in the recording most of the time, but some headphones will exhibited it more than others.
Best headphones in this area are IMO: open HD 650, closed K 271.