The Limits of EQ - A case against using EQ profiles for headphones

Measurement Index
Resolve's Headphone Rankings, including NO EQ tier:

10 stages of learning to read headphone measurements

00:00 - Intro
00:33 - The role of EQ in my reviews
05:35 - Objective reasons not to use EQ profiles
14:20 - Conclusion

[mrgonk]

this is just an outstandingly straightforward, information-dense, practically and conceptually useful video. great stuff, and thanks for your hard work and insight.

[Dibromatic]

I'm going through this entire EQ rabbit hole, very helpful content that's coming out of this channel.

[aceofclubskid]

I own a pair of K371 (for the uninitiated, they match the Harmon target quite well). After experiencing a few different IEM's and my HD560s, I really felt like my K371's were lacking in treble and overall clarity. I used a frequency response graph and adjusted the big "trouble areas", parts of the frequency response that were heavily shifted from a more flat measurement.

While I'm quite inexperienced with eq, I was VERY pleased with the results. They have way more clarity and detail now, I even swear that the sound stage is better after A/Bing. Previously, they were a fun pair for a bassy experience, and now they serve as a solid closed-back alternative to my HD560s. I have no idea how "good" my eq job was, but I can tell you I drastically prefer it to crinacle and rtings' auto eq on Peace.

All of this is to say that there isn't one right way to enjoy headphones, and eq has value in not only finding your own preferences for sound but making things sound better to YOU. That's always what this "hobby" has been about to me: enjoying music more, not expensive audio gear purchases.

[JeremyHalterman]

For over-ear headphones, I've found the Harman target curve to be a good starting point for my ears, although you're spot on about the >5kHz thing. Using an impulse response rather than a parametric EQ remedies the lack of fine-tuning in that region, but I still end up notching a couple high frequencies before I'm fully satisfied.

[jeffhampton]

I really love your videos. Thank you for taking the time to be so clear in why you say the things you do, and why things like EQ can be so useful if done with consideration. Also, as a large-headed audiophile, I appreciate your humor.

[Studiomix]

This is for me the best explanation video I have seen. Very well done 👍🏼
I’m a mix engineer and mix analog, so I wanted a headphone solution in the analog domain. After a lot of research I got me a decent dac, a headphone amp, a parametric equalizer (set for Harman correction) and planar headphones. The only software I use for my hardware is can-opener and love this solution. 😊

Subscribed ❤

[henrywilotekto]

You made a good point on personal HRTF, that's why I would rather use test function in Equalizer APO to create my personal EQ curve for my headphones than to use AutoEQ preset, on android I prefer to use Neutralizer to Wavelet for systemwide EQ.
This way not only it will EQ the headphones to my personal HRTF, it will also compensate for any deficiencies on my hearing and non linearities on the gears I used in my setup. It's Ok to use the AutoEQ preset if your gears match the linearity/non linearity of the reference gears used to create the preset and you don't have deficiencies in your hearing (completely linear)

[evanrosenlieb]

Always great to watch a new video from Resolve the EQ guy!

[aracari]

EQ really can fix a mediocre (or even bad) sounding headphone. I have an "eq require headphone" (edition 10) and has over time become my favorite headphone. I don't really like Harman target for most use cases but it sounds wonderful on that specific headphone. Imo eq and targets in general shouldn't be treated as a perfect solution, but shouldn't be discounted to the point of not being considered when making a purchase.

[dkomanek]

Well I get the "everybody's ears are different" argument but when manufacturers tune headphone they also don't design it with yours head in mind so I don't see using presets as being worse than not EQing at all.
Unfortunately it's very hard to create a good preset. I've been playing with EQ for about two years now and only recently have been getting somewhat confident with it.
I've made so many terrible EQ presets but I don't regret using them. I liked how they sounded back in the day and it's necessary to experiment to actually learn to EQ.
The worst experience I've had with using presents was with IEMs that didn't respond to EQ well. Most presets just tried to compensate for the difference between measurements and target which made the headphones sound absolutely terrible while bringing out all of its flaws.

[careylymanjones]

I have the Sundaras and the HD6XX phones. I recently upgraded my Sundaras with a balanced cable, so I could take advantage of my Schiit Magnius' 5 watts at 32 ohms. WOW, they really DO scale up with more power. I'd been skeptical about claims they needed a lot of power, because they sound good with more modest amps, but with the balanced amp, I could get rid of the bass boost I'd been using. I now get the difference between being able to play loud and having the headroom to fill out the bass.

The HD6XX is about as good as it gets for vocals. I think they benefit from a little EQ in the upper treble. Sennheiser reduced the upper treble to make them less fatiguing, and a few db lift in the > 2, 000 Hz range livens them up a bit.

[hartyewh]

Great informative content. Since I started EQing a few months ago I've just gone with Oratory1990's Harman EQ and only one headphone hasn't been categorically improved by it. Turning it off just makes headphones sound broken for a moment until you get used to it again.

When I have time I'll start to personalize the EQ to find my exact preference, but without any tinkering I feel that the EQ already doubles the value of the headphone.

[ArturdeSousaRocha]

Well, I had to save a headphone using EQ because it got positive reviews but turned out to suck big time. I used a 10-band profile from AutoEQ and it's good enough. I still cannot reconcile the reviews with the actual uncorrected sound, though.

[epa]

Agreed. The best case to not EQ is to only add a bass shelf. The only headphone that met this criteria for me is the Aune AR5000 headphone, all other headphones I had/have had to go through more than just adding a bass shelf.

[ericjackman]

Got it, so the best measurement device is my own ears. Running sine sweeps and pink noise through the program now, thanks Resolve.

[codyghind]

Excellent, information dense take on mindful EQing. Bravo.

[noself]

Whatever you think about the Harman target, it’s a great starting point from which to tailor your headphone’s response to your personal taste.

[michaelcorcoran]

EQ is a great way to save money but not having to buy more headphones. Every company, every channel just wants us to buy more stuff.

[fahryst]

This is one of the most educating and entertaining videos from you, well done! As for me, I tried a few auto eq profiles aiming for harman target for some of my headphones and didn't like the sound that came out and gave up. Sometimes I use a profile that imitates xbass for sundara etc. (if I remember to). I have many headphone with different tonalities and flavors. I like almost all of them hence I keep them. Still I feel like I'm at the beginning of my audio journey. At this point I would like to learn to eq the problematic parts only. However if I ever settle on a determined sound or headphone and say to myself this is it, I would love to customize, mod and eq the hell out of it.

[tonyd]

Thanks for explaining the relationship, its was important