Should I set the crossover frequency to the lowest frequency my headphones can reproduce?

[jbgarcia]

I have Sennheiser HD 598 headphones that I usually play through a FiiO E07K DAC connected to my laptop. But recently I've been considering connecting directly to my laptop's analog jack for 2 reasons:
 
1) My new laptop has a dedicated ESS Sabre HiFi DAC plus a dedicated amp (I have the same on my LG V10 and I like how it sounds);
and
2) My FiiO E07K's frequency range tops at 20 KHz (I'm pretty sure the Sabre goes higher than that). That last one is important to me because my 598s have a top frequency range of 38.5 KHz (not that I'll be able to hear anything close to that) and I feel like I'm missing out on some of the higher frequencies up to maybe 23 KHz.
 
Anyway, my question is somewhat related to that. When I connect my headphones directly to my laptop, I have some SoundBlaster X-Fi software that can adjust my sound. I always keep all the effects and EQ stuff off, but I am curious about the crossover frequency section, which is set to 80 Hz. From what I've read online, what that does it pretty much cut off all frequencies under that or send it to a subwoofer (which my laptop happens to have, although it's a small one on the bottom of the laptop. I don't know if the subwoofer is used for headphones too or only speakers). I do know that my headphones can play frequencies as low as 12 Hz.
 
My big question (finally) is: Should I set the frequency crossover to 12 Hz because that is the lowest my headphones can play, or do I leave it as is? Can I damage my headphones if I set too low a crossover frequency?
 
By the way, sorry if what I wrote makes little sense. I'm not an audio engineer nor do I have extensive knowledge of audiophile lingo. I just tried to explain what I was thinking as best I could.

 

[MindsMirror]

The crossover should not have any effect on the headphone output.

I would think the Fiio should still sound better than what's on your laptop. It is extremely rare to be able to hear over 20KHz at all, the higher range won't be of any benefit. If you already have both devices, just listen and decide for yourself which sounds best.

 

[buke9]

I have Sennheiser HD 598 headphones that I usually play through a FiiO E07K DAC connected to my laptop. But recently I've been considering connecting directly to my laptop's analog jack for 2 reasons:

1) My new laptop has a dedicated ESS Sabre HiFi DAC plus a dedicated amp (I have the same on my LG V10 and I like how it sounds);
and
2) My FiiO E07K's frequency range tops at 20 KHz (I'm pretty sure the Sabre goes higher than that). That last one is important to me because my 598s have a top frequency range of 38.5 KHz (not that I'll be able to hear anything close to that) and I feel like I'm missing out on some of the higher frequencies up to maybe 23 KHz.

Anyway, my question is somewhat related to that. When I connect my headphones directly to my laptop, I have some SoundBlaster X-Fi software that can adjust my sound. I always keep all the effects and EQ stuff off, but I am curious about the crossover frequency section, which is set to 80 Hz. From what I've read online, what that does it pretty much cut off all frequencies under that or send it to a subwoofer (which my laptop happens to have, although it's a small one on the bottom of the laptop. I don't know if the subwoofer is used for headphones too or only speakers). I do know that my headphones can play frequencies as low as 12 Hz.

My big question (finally) is: Should I set the frequency crossover to 12 Hz because that is the lowest my headphones can play, or do I leave it as is? Can I damage my headphones if I set too low a crossover frequency?

By the way, sorry if what I wrote makes little sense. I'm not an audio engineer nor do I have extensive knowledge of audiophile lingo. I just tried to explain what I was thinking as best I could.

I doubt that you can hear 23khz unless you have not heard any loud noises ever. The crossover is for speakers and that adjustment is for the subwoofer in a multi speaker system and lowering it would mean the sub doesn't get any frequency above 12 hz more or less turning it off. You can't hear for the most part below 20 hz after that it is just bone conduction you fell it but don't hear it.

 

[akg fanboy]

  I have Sennheiser HD 598 headphones that I usually play through a FiiO E07K DAC connected to my laptop. But recently I've been considering connecting directly to my laptop's analog jack for 2 reasons:
 
1) My new laptop has a dedicated ESS Sabre HiFi DAC plus a dedicated amp (I have the same on my LG V10 and I like how it sounds);
and
2) My FiiO E07K's frequency range tops at 20 KHz (I'm pretty sure the Sabre goes higher than that). That last one is important to me because my 598s have a top frequency range of 38.5 KHz (not that I'll be able to hear anything close to that) and I feel like I'm missing out on some of the higher frequencies up to maybe 23 KHz.
 
Anyway, my question is somewhat related to that. When I connect my headphones directly to my laptop, I have some SoundBlaster X-Fi software that can adjust my sound. I always keep all the effects and EQ stuff off, but I am curious about the crossover frequency section, which is set to 80 Hz. From what I've read online, what that does it pretty much cut off all frequencies under that or send it to a subwoofer (which my laptop happens to have, although it's a small one on the bottom of the laptop. I don't know if the subwoofer is used for headphones too or only speakers). I do know that my headphones can play frequencies as low as 12 Hz.
 
My big question (finally) is: Should I set the frequency crossover to 12 Hz because that is the lowest my headphones can play, or do I leave it as is? Can I damage my headphones if I set too low a crossover frequency?
 
By the way, sorry if what I wrote makes little sense. I'm not an audio engineer nor do I have extensive knowledge of audiophile lingo. I just tried to explain what I was thinking as best I could.

You must own an msi gaming laptop if I am guessing correctly based on the ess sabre DAC built into your laptop?
I recommend you test your hearing here: http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2009/03/can-you-hear-this-hearing-test/ 
Tell us if you can even hear up to 22khz 

I would recommend not using the xfi software at all, but if you insist you should probably set it as low as possible because I don't know why you would want your laptop woofer to be active when you have your headphones on

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  I have Sennheiser HD 598 headphones that I usually play through a FiiO E07K DAC connected to my laptop. But recently I've been considering connecting directly to my laptop's analog jack for 2 reasons:
 
1) My new laptop has a dedicated ESS Sabre HiFi DAC plus a dedicated amp (I have the same on my LG V10 and I like how it sounds);
and
2) My FiiO E07K's frequency range tops at 20 KHz (I'm pretty sure the Sabre goes higher than that). That last one is important to me because my 598s have a top frequency range of 38.5 KHz (not that I'll be able to hear anything close to that) and I feel like I'm missing out on some of the higher frequencies up to maybe 23 KHz.
 
Anyway, my question is somewhat related to that. When I connect my headphones directly to my laptop, I have some SoundBlaster X-Fi software that can adjust my sound. I always keep all the effects and EQ stuff off, but I am curious about the crossover frequency section, which is set to 80 Hz. From what I've read online, what that does it pretty much cut off all frequencies under that or send it to a subwoofer (which my laptop happens to have, although it's a small one on the bottom of the laptop. I don't know if the subwoofer is used for headphones too or only speakers). I do know that my headphones can play frequencies as low as 12 Hz.
 
My big question (finally) is: Should I set the frequency crossover to 12 Hz because that is the lowest my headphones can play, or do I leave it as is? Can I damage my headphones if I set too low a crossover frequency?
 
By the way, sorry if what I wrote makes little sense. I'm not an audio engineer nor do I have extensive knowledge of audiophile lingo. I just tried to explain what I was thinking as best I could.

 
 
 

  2) My FiiO E07K's frequency range tops at 20 KHz (I'm pretty sure the Sabre goes higher than that). That last one is important to me because my 598s have a top frequency range of 38.5 KHz (not that I'll be able to hear anything close to that) and I feel like I'm missing out on some of the higher frequencies up to maybe 23 KHz.

 
First off, it's harder to miss out on something you can't even hear.
 
Second, it's even harder to miss out on something that isn't even on whatever you're listening to - chances are extreme high frequencies are at best noise, and likely filtered during mastering anyway.
 
Third, you can ignore the rated frequency response range. Headphones are rated for the absolute limits of their response, not the point where they take a nose dive and never come back up, which is how speakers are rated (ie the -3dB point).
 
Fourth, the extreme high freq range of a transducer or combination thereof doesn't tell you how smooth the response is. It could be jagged throughout the range anyway. At best, if it's an electrostat or ribbon speaker where the -3dB point and it goes up to, say, 40,000hz, or if it's an electrostat headphone rated up to 100,000dB, what you are getting is a very high quality driver, but even then what you are hearing it do differently vs others is how much smoother its response is all the way to 20,000hz and beyond it. In other words if its treble sounds smoother and extended it isn't because it goes up to 40,000hz, but that a high quality electrostat can go up to 20,000 and waaaay beyond it without significant deviations from where it is at 1000hz.
 
Lastly, if the response above 20,000hz affects the sound, that assumes that 1) it's in the recording as an actual sound and not some kind of electronic noise, and 2) it affects how the driver moves, in which case playing a much higher frequency which forces the driver to move faster could potentially affect how it moves overall in other frequencies. And again this is where electrostats, ribbons, and all non-dynamic drivers come in - these don't need to pump back and forth, so while these are the worst designs for a subwoofer to pound hard enough to crack a ghetto car windshield while playing Lil Jon, they are also far smoother moving as necessary at very high frequencies.
 
 

 
Anyway, my question is somewhat related to that. When I connect my headphones directly to my laptop, I have some SoundBlaster X-Fi software that can adjust my sound. I always keep all the effects and EQ stuff off, but I am curious about the crossover frequency section, which is set to 80 Hz. From what I've read online, what that does it pretty much cut off all frequencies under that or send it to a subwoofer (which my laptop happens to have, although it's a small one on the bottom of the laptop. I don't know if the subwoofer is used for headphones too or only speakers).

 
Chances are the subwoofer doesn't work with the headphones. You can easily check that - play a 30hz sine wave with headphones on and touch the laptop. If it's not vibrating, then it isn't.
 

  I do know that my headphones can play frequencies as low as 12 Hz.

 
Doesn't matter - that's well below the range of human hearing and the headphone isn't going to make it go loud enough at that frequency to actually make you feel it. You could EQ it though, but disclaimer first: I am not responsible if you
 
1) Destroy the headphones, or any speaker you use with it
​
2) Start feeling an unexplainable feeling of dread that eventually turns into depression, if not see ghosts at the corner of your eye or your reflection on a powered down monitor looks like it's an alternate dimension.
http://www.cracked.com/article_18828_the-creepy-scientific-explanation-behind-ghost-sightings.html
 
 

 
My big question (finally) is: Should I set the frequency crossover to 12 Hz because that is the lowest my headphones can play, or do I leave it as is? Can I damage my headphones if I set too low a crossover frequency?

 
 
To start with, whatever you listen to including huge orchestral pieces won't have a lot in that range anyway. So unless you play a sine wave or low freq sine sweep, your headphone isn't even playing anything in that frequency range. So basically, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
In some cases though what headphones use similar to that is a subsonic filter. I use it myself, but that's because I have a low shelf EQ boost to everything below 50hz, just to get that range closer to where my headphone is at 80hz. It's for safety just in case more than anything - I doubt anything I listen to has anything in that range, but given I'm boosting or in other words asking the headphone to go louder where it's weak, I'm just being safer than usual.