Trust me, get the free Onkyo HF Player (assuming they make an iOS version). There can be a significant difference between equalizers, often enough it is audible. The frequencies you dropped are not the offending frequencies. If you want to increase the clarity drop the bass around 200Hz by about -4db and also around 125Hz by around -2db. Those are just starting points and our preferences are of course subjective, but if you look at the frequency response graph for the xM3 that I posted several pages back now, you will see, at least according to that measurement, the bass bloat is most pronounced from about 200Hz down. The lowest bass frequencies you can still drop a little and it does help, but I found a significant, and I mean significant improvement in clarity once I dropped those bass frequencies down. Your results may vary, but 400Hz I don't think is actually that much of the culprit.
The premium prices for B&O H9 and B&W PX come from targeting the luxury market with styling and metal/leather construction. ANC performance only correlates with price when it is a primary selling point, such as with Bose and some Sony models.
I shall compare them with my friend's XM2 to confirm what my ears felt. Also I expect the XM3 to open up a bit with run-in. As someone pointed out in this thread a few pages ago, the ANC settings have a big impact and I can confirm that. As you reduce the ANC the bass reduces a bit. Shall keep the thread posted on what I find with a few days of use. Thanks much
Totally get where you are coming from mate, and I also agree, the Z1R isn't really overly bass centric, but it is certainly bass competent and geared toward warmth. I actually feel the xM3 when the bass bloat is tamed has some of the Z1R sonic signature in it. The way the treble is presented in particular, it is really well integrated and able to portray what treble should, but it has enough restraint to lend a relaxed character to the overall signature. At least that has been my take up to now. Cheers.Thanks @Sonic Defender! I have the paid HF player for when I listen to my FLAC/DSD/ALAC files on the go and agree that the EQ on that is great vs the "hammer" fix with 400Hz on the Sony app which as you point out aren't really the problem (I did look at your posts on the FR curve). But that would not help me with the Tidal and Spotify listening from the phone would it ? I also found a big difference in SQ when changing the ANC levels in the Sony app. I can tinker around looking for the right EQ settings by pairing the XM3 with my desktop and using the JMC24 app which has great EQ features but its really with my phone I will use them.
Hi @robodelfy my cans are a mixed bag with Roxanne and Z1Rs being warm sounding (some would call them bassy and I wouldn't) while the L700 are quite open and I use them often at my desk. So you may well be right and it might be my ears
just messing around. Strangely when connected to HF Player or JRMC it would keep skipping in songs even when playing 320kbps stuff. Something to be checked. Plays perfectly from Tidal and Spotify
To get a custom select the flat EQ from presets. You need to do that twice, the first time you select flat it loads, but you see all of the preset choices. If you then select the flat preset again, all the choices then disappear and you can begin adjusting the flat preset. The moment you do anything to the flat preset it becomes a custom that you can then save.so today the XM3 sounds good after a few hours of run-in. You were right @Sonic Defender they do have some similarity with the Z1R sound signature once the bass is dialed down. The Onkyo HF player seems to have been updated and in the EQ I haven’t yet found a custom setting but many many presets. So I must hunt there. I also tried it wired into the dragonfly and Bluetooth off my PC and my phone. It sounded best when connected to Tidal on the PC via BT. Will see how it scales with the Hugo2 wired in
