Post Your Headphone EQ Settings

[bisayaboi]

I've been experimenting with EQ settings on MediaMonkey (ASIO) with the AD700 - Fiio E7 - X-Fi Xtremegamer and the results are honestly breathtaking for me. I've mostly added a few more decibels in the lower ranges and a little boost in the 16kHz+ range to prevent muddiness and what you get is a much more full-bodied sounding sound from the AD700. The treble is much more tamed and is never ever harsh sounding anymore. Keep the wonderful emphasized mids and clarity from the original and add a good amount of bass and body and you get perfection from the AD700.
 
I've tested mostly my random rock tracks but when I went to some Benny Benassi (electronic) and some Snoop Dogg (hip-hop) I was a bit shocked at how much better those bass-heavy genres sounded; they sound MUCH better compared to the default flat settings. The original sounds so disappointing and I definitely understand why some people don't like these; the original sounded very flat with very little body.
 
If you have the AD700 please try these settings out even if you have better headphones that you use right now try it and see how it compares to your other headphone. Flipping on and off the EQ should make the difference obvious. Now, these won't turn the AD700 into bass masters like the Denon's or anything but the improvement is very nice.
 
If I ever get my hands on the DT880 I'll try to make a comparison between the AD700+EQ and DT880.

 

 
If you wish your headphones were just a little more bright or warm or whatever sound you're looking for, EQ is most definitely there to help you get there. I don't understand why many Head-Fi'ers don't like to EQ?

 

[Kevin Brown]

I have AD900's, and I'll have to play with your settings. 
 
I keep thinking *someone* should make a generic EQ thread for all the headphones that people want to offer their own settings for.  And then anyone who wants suggestions for their headphones could just search that main big thread.
 

 

[mcnoiserdc]

Sorry the off-topic, but how do you compare the ad700 you had to the akg k 240?
Quote:

I have AD900's, and I'll have to play with your settings. 
 
I keep thinking *someone* should make a generic EQ thread for all the headphones that people want to offer their own settings for.  And then anyone who wants suggestions for their headphones could just search that main big thread.
 

 

[bisayaboi]

Quote:

I keep thinking *someone* should make a generic EQ thread for all the headphones that people want to offer their own settings for.  And then anyone who wants suggestions for their headphones could just search that main big thread.
 

Great idea.

 

 

[loganirado]

Quote:

Great idea.

 

x2

 

[paconavarro]

Here are my Eqs for the DT990 this is the second version of the EQ I'm still refining it a bit.

 
Here is the Eq for the Sennheiser HD515... HUGE difference...

 

[zero7525]

I don't use my computer, I use my potable DAP. Here are my eq settings anyways.

sr225: 
-2db @ 5khz (reduces sibilance)

RE0:
+2db @ 80hz (bass boost, lowest setting it can go)
+1db @ 3.2khz wide (to balance the slight recession at that spectrum)

Pretty simple, otherwise, flat would be okay too. 
 

 

[bisayaboi]

Wow that's a really nice EQ board! What music player do you use and does it support ASIO?

 

[Rich77]

Quote:

Here are my Eqs for the DT990 this is the second version of the EQ I'm still refining it a bit.
 

Spoiler

Here are my Eqs for the DT990 this is the second version of the EQ I'm still refining it a bit.

 
Here is the Eq for the Sennheiser HD515... HUGE difference...

 

What media player is that, or is that standard for Apple? (I'm vista)

 

[paconavarro]

@bisayaboy & Rich77 thats Neutrino player for MAC www.machinecodex.com you can access the AU plugins... its VERY sweet it can handle FLAC, MP3, WAV, AAC, and most of file formats, both video and audio... for windows I use winamp...

 

[EYEdROP]

I usually keep my settings flat. Otherwise, I use parametric EQ to only cut resonant frequencies. No boosting. I use as little EQ as possible, and take things slowly. It is really easy to screw up the sound with an EQ. What sounds good to you at the moment, might not be good in the long run. 

 

[paconavarro]

At some point I agree with you Eyedrop, but some of us are looking for specific sound or preference.
I found useful the Eq in most of the situations, some songs might not need Eq at all, but at least for me most of the time I have the Eq on.

 

[Kevin Brown]

Quote:

Sorry the off-topic, but how do you compare the ad700 you had to the akg k 240?

 

They are very different, but similar in ways.  I have not done a back to back comparison, but here's a quick take from memory: They are similar in that I feel both could use a hair more bass, but the AKG's do have better bass IMO.  Mids and highs: I've always felt the AD700's have slightly recessed mids, that's why I moved to the AD900's which "fixes" that.  As far as highs, I think the AD700/900 "win" because they are slightly mellower than the AKG's.  I'm talking about the Sextetts here.  The DF's sound very similar to the Sextetts but with another hair's less bass.  Soundstage: Both AKG's put the image in your head or slightly out in front.  The AD700/900's put the image further out more like speakers.


 
Quote:

I don't use my computer, I use my potable DAP. Here are my eq settings anyways.

sr225: 
-2db @ 5khz (reduces sibilance)

 

Here are my (WMP) EQ settings for Grado, that have worked for the SR80i, SR125i, SR225i, and MS2i:

31 Hz, 62 Hz, 125 Hz ...  4k, 8k, 16k
  +2       0        0           0  -3   +2
 
I use that -3 dB at 8k for "reducing" the "Grado sound".  Also, I use comfies on the SR225i's and the MS2i's.  I think they're too bright otherwise, even with this EQ dialed in. 

 

[matthewh133]

Quote:

@bisayaboy & Rich77 thats Neutrino player for MAC www.machinecodex.com you can access the AU plugins... its VERY sweet it can handle FLAC, MP3, WAV, AAC, and most of file formats, both video and audio... for windows I use winamp...

Hmm I downloaded it and it won't play back my FLAC files, only my 320kbps. Any idea what's going on?

 

[bisayaboi]

Quote:

I usually keep my settings flat. Otherwise, I use parametric EQ to only cut resonant frequencies. No boosting. I use as little EQ as possible, and take things slowly. It is really easy to screw up the sound with an EQ. What sounds good to you at the moment, might not be good in the long run. 

The point of good EQ'ing is to fix what one might wish more out of their headphones and make it sound better across the board and not just good for particular songs.