Why don't more people use EQ to get the desired sound?

[wdahm519]

Not going to read what everyone else has read, but REDUCTION IN QUALITY... 'nuff said.
 
If you had some really nice external EQ that was measured at almost no THD or anything else (I'm not ever sure how you'd measure an EQ actually... too lazy to think about it right now), then maybe I would.

 

[t-h-e-p-i-m-p]

rpgwizard: jävla sent i finland  =P. kan inte säga att kx eq är någon "quality" 

 

[wind016]

 
Quote:

Not going to read what everyone else has read, but REDUCTION IN QUALITY... 'nuff said.
 
If you had some really nice external EQ that was measured at almost no THD or anything else (I'm not ever sure how you'd measure an EQ actually... too lazy to think about it right now), then maybe I would.

It helps to read other responses. Anyways, PSP Neon HR eq has oversampling that is a nice feature. Changes in sound is also visually apparent on the PSP
 

 

[bcasey25raptor]

Quote:

jävla sent i finland  =P. kan inte säga att kx eq är någon "quality" 

translation: damn late in finland = P. can not say that kx eq is no "quality"

 

[rhythmdevils]

Quote:

In this case FLAC would represent the perfect headphone while mp3s would represent what actually exists.  If you know of any perfect headphones let me know and I won't have to use EQ anymore...
 

My modded orthos whenever I'm done with them.  Which might be never

 

[Roller]

Quote:

My modded orthos whenever I'm done with them.  Which might be never

When they're done, do make a nice review of them, as well as all the dirty details and pics

 

[HesterDW]

Well not my headphones but my speakers I eq the hell out of em. E7 bass boost on max, bass boost on my AV40s on, with virtual subwoofer on in Jriver. I cant find a EQ that doesnt mess with my Denon's mids though. :/

 

[TMRaven]

While there's always a percentage of purism going on when turning a cold-shoulder to EQing is involved, there is a good bit of quality degradation when it comes to certain EQs.  I find my DT990s lacking in some sub-bass, but I also find the iTunes EQ causing for quite a bit of quality loss no matter how much or how little you use its EQ.  I will say I EQ regularly regardless though, sometimes getting enough sub-bass out of a song is more important than worrying about some mids or treble sounding less crisp and detailed.

 

[wind016]

 
Quote:

While there's always a percentage of purism going on when turning a cold-shoulder to EQing is involved, there is a good bit of quality degradation when it comes to certain EQs.  I find my DT990s lacking in some sub-bass, but I also find the iTunes EQ causing for quite a bit of quality loss no matter how much or how little you use its EQ.  I will say I EQ regularly regardless though, sometimes getting enough sub-bass out of a song is more important than worrying about some mids or treble sounding less crisp and detailed.

The Itunes EQ is one example of a crap eq I previously mentioned. It is the only reason why I switched to foobar even though it was extremely inconvenient. With foobar, you are open to much better vst eqs.
 

 

[HesterDW]

My D2000s hit sub bass just fine (Wiz Khalifa - On my level tickles my eardrums). But my ears are very sensitive to treble and crisp treble that people seem to call detail I call harsh. My favorite eq for harsh treble is the 'rock' equalizer in most programs. But it seems to take away all of the mids. So Ive got great sub bass, perfect treble, but no mids at all. 

 

[wind016]

 
Quote:

My D2000s hit sub bass just fine (Wiz Khalifa - On my level tickles my eardrums). But my ears are very sensitive to treble and crisp treble that people seem to call detail I call harsh. My favorite eq for harsh treble is the 'rock' equalizer in most programs. But it seems to take away all of the mids. So Ive got great sub bass, perfect treble, but no mids at all. 

Learn how to use an equalizer properly. Presets are terrible and generally do not have preamp matched to the setting.

 

[HesterDW]

Thanks, taking a look at the 'how to equalize your headphones' thread now.

 

[Br777]

Quote:

...but EQ will never let you hear the sound closer to what was first recorded.

 
 
This statement is simply not true.  its easily provable. 
first understand that A quality EQ will essentially change the volume of given frequencies.
 
so you do a simple test.   play a sweeping frequency (sometimes known as a sine wave or log wave) through your headphones.
If you hear it EXACTLY as it was recorded or "meant to be heard" you will hear the entire sweep at the exact same volume from 20hz to 20khz at the same volume (of course most headphones simply cant do that, and most ears cant hear it but both headphones and ears are capable through most of that spectrum).  But you dont hear an equal volume sound, and with MOST if not ALL headphones, its not even close.  it dips, it spikes, sometimes all over the place. 
 
If you then use an eq to compensate for those imbalances and manage to get the sweeping frequency to sound nearly flat again, then guess what, you have just used EQ to "let you hear the sound closer to what was first recorded"
 
when people say they wont use EQ b/c they want to hear the recording as it was intended, they are making a paradoxical statement.  They shoud say "  i want to hear the music closer to how my gear makes it sound" unless their headphones perfectly produce every frequency so that you hear them at the exact same level, and NONE do.

 

[FullCircle]

Quote:

"closer to what was first recorded"?  How do you define that?  What about HRTFs or the way it was mixed?  What if the headphone would be brighter than "being there" without some sort of filter in front of the driver.  What if the headphone's FR is incorrect for "being there" and you correct it with EQ?
 
First you dismiss 99% of mods and second you dismiss 99% of the factors in judging the accuracy of sound via headphones.
 
EQ is almost exactly the same as physical modding.  It is a tool designed to change the sound the headphone produces.  That change can make it more accurate or less accurate depending on your preferences.  The only practical difference is that the EQ stays with a piece of hardware of software while a mod travels with the headphone and effects its sound from any source.  That's the only legitimate argument I know of against it and I've never actually heard it advanced by anyone who dislikes EQ.
 

      AMEN
 

 

[jk6661]

I've found that EQing makes all the difference between music that sounds like a live performance and music that doesn't, for all the reasons the other pro-EQ people have said. I use Fabfilter Pro Q. It's pricey, but very high quality. (Sound engineers use it.)