How to EQ Headphones and Earbuds: An Audio Engineer's Guide for Beginners, feat. the Sony WH-1000XM5

This video is sponsored in part by Best Buy.

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[ThisIsTechToday]

🚨 *Do you have more questions for me? Did any of these tips help you understand EQ a lot more? Let me know!*

This video is sponsored in part by Best Buy.

[jGRite]

I've been using Poweramp for years and not too long ago they added a wonderful EQ feature where you can set an EQ per Bluetooth device. So now depending on what Bluetooth headset or speaker I have connected to my Android device I can have the EQ set up for that specific speaker, and it will automatically switch between which EQ depending on which device is connected at any given time.

[philj]

This was the best explanation I've seen on how you actually adjust an equalizer in an app. You explained it in a very easy to understand way and how to isolate certain sounds! Awesome and you didn't say my EQ is the only way, but emboldened you the user to experiment. Great advice I'm having at it right now after watching your tutorial, thank you very much.

[pdoot]

I've been a photo retouching since 06 and it's been my career since 09, Ive recently got into the 'audiophile' thing for a humbling changing and I'm loving it. The similarities between EQ and photo grading are so strong. I feel reassured that I'm doing the right thing intuitively as you're doing the same things with the sliders that I'd recommend to a beginner in photoshop. Great video, thank you 😊

[AGInC-Room]

Hi Brandon, absolutely professional and to the point✌🏽

I grew up with my father's (musicologist and producer) recording studio (SWT Südwest-Tonstudio).
I produce myself (Ableton Live, Yamaha, Roland, Akai, MPC ONE, Neumann... a lot of stuff) and have had the SONY-M5 for 2 weeks now.

WOW, really fantastic and the sound differences to Sennheiser, Bose... are minimal.
I chose the SONY-M5 because they also have a cable input, so no latency in production.

In fact, I've been using the excellent SONY MDR-84s from the '90s for years ; - )

But what primarily interests me: My daughter is 14 years old, listens to One Direction, Harry Styles, Beatles, as well as Funk & Hip-Hop...
I just turned 60 but I still go to raves and clubs. No problem🕺🏼

To the point: Of course, my hearing ability can no longer be compared to that of a teenager. My last hearing test 4 months ago still confirmed that my hearing was above average. But I also noticed the typical, age-related frequency gaps.

My question to you as a professional: How can I mix and master my productions correctly for a younger generation despite my age?

A topic that probably concerns every musician and producer one day.

I would be happy to exchange ideas...
Cheers //Markus | tonfusion

[Kilplix]

I was actually messing with my EQ the other day, good tips that i didnt know, also thanks for your time and effort!

[theearthisbread]

What i like to do with equalizing in ears or headphones is use a tone generator. You can instantly find the flaws in the frequency response (most flaws are usually in the low and mid treble) The idea is to have a flat frequency response in your ear. Simply find a benchmark frequency (usually 1khz if its flat in the graph) and then try to make the rest of the frequencies the same volume to your ear. Usually bass and mids are fine, its really the part between 1khz - 10khz which is badly tuned in in ears and headphones.This does take a bit of training and you have to find the right volume (usually 45% to 50% volume). The great thing is that you can easily hear peaks and dips with a tone generator so you know what to correct.

[miggyyusay]

Here are my custom EQ settings for the Sony WH-1000XM4

400: 0
1k: +4
2.5k: +6
6.3k: +1
16k: 0
Clear Bass: -1

Boosted the mids because the XM4 has a bass heavy sound signature. This really brings out vocals and instruments forward and makes bass a little bit tighter but still full.

Great video! I’ll definitely be sending my family and friends this when they ask me for EQ advice. Informative but fun and practical at the same time!

[RJYOUNG]

I didn't notice a lot of the differences at first, but my Eq was already adjusted. Making it flat again is a must for this video to hear the differences. Probably goes without saying for a lot of the people watching, but thought I'd mention. 👍👍

[jacobjumpup]

I just got those headphones and I’ve never used any headphones close to this quality so it was a bit overwhelming going through all the settings in the app lol

Thanks for the video! It really helped!

[milkflavored]

Listened to this video while wearing my XM5s (that I bought on your recommendation!). Best decision ❤ I'm using one of the custom EQs on the app, but now I know how to tweak it if I need to!

[MrJ.]

Bro as a self proclaimed audiophile I'm REALLY digging your videos. I would love to see you do a custom eq comparison between Sony XM5 and Sennheiser Momentum 4

[cryder]

My Sony XM5 EQ:

400: -3
1k: -1
2.5k: +5
6.3k: +3
16k: +4
ClearBass: +2

*I use my headphones for the gym, so I opted for an ever so slightly higher bass response.

Awesome explanation video - thank you!!

[hlmx]

Thank you for this, I use Steelseries Sonar for the EQ software, it has more frequency choice to be customized which makes me more confused lol. so I just copy your setting at 10:25 as baseline and add another frequency at 85hz to boost the bass a bit more to my preferences and IT WORKS! finally a clean yet punchy enough sounds.

[sanchomill]

It's amazing how they sounded like crap at the beginning and became alive with your eq settings. Thanks.

[gwapster]

Kudos for the excellent video. This is my EQ for XM5. I feel like the upper midrange is already elevated so I turn down 2.5KHz rather than up. Also, I always keep one band as reference point (0) to keep my EQ "normalized".
ClearBass: -2 | 400: -1 | 1K: 0 (ref) | 2.5K: -2 | 6.3K: +3 | 16K: +3

I just wanted to add, for those relatively new to EQ, that although boosting around 2.5KHz makes the lead vocal/instrument seem to "cut through" the mix, and adds attack to percussions and guitar, thus making the music sound more lively, it can result to long-term listening fatigue. Human hearing is super-sensitive to this frequency range, so take it easy on boosting this range. 😀Did I get that right?

[krystellegibson]

I just spent a bunch of money on fancy headphones and now I'm thinking they're wasted on me because I could not tell the difference between 90% of these examples lol

[bjplayss]

Thank you so much man I appreciate you we really need more people like you.... you explained it so well and easy with clear vids of what your also doing at the same time.. this video has helped me so much I've just adjusted my headphones and omg its made the biggest difference they sound insane now so much more clearer while still maintaining a nice punch to them.... thank you for making this video you deserve so much more appreciation and recognition

[LoiteringReaper]

Custom EQ’s vocal freq. range is clearer compared to flat EQ, and I noticed that the instrumentals overpower the vocals for both EQ’s (something that can only be changed in mastering process I think). The mid-range freqs are the most playable; adjusting the soundstage’s ceiling, sides, depth, and clarity. Essentially manipulating till simulating 3D space of hearing.

[cdot.]

Thanks for this. I was able to tune my Xm4’s. They sound so much more balanced and separated. Before the artist was too blended into the music. Now they sound like they are singing along with and bit in front of the music. The flat profile was okay but not bright enough for details to have their own shine.