PS : 1st - to the moderators, I would consider that using EQ is a “mod”. Just not one done in the physical domain, but done digitally. If you move this to any other category in the forum, could you kindly have the courtesy to inform me. Thanks
Hereafter, I’ll refer to this website as owl. This web based tool, works by generating tones, and you define your own EQ based on your perception of these tones, to correct the Frequency Response(FR) of your listening device.
I will not go into the details, cos all that information is available on the web site, in the Q & A Section. Please note I am not in anyway affiliated to this web site. Discovered it via another member of the headphones community here - Luke.
It can take a while to learn how to use, and its usefulness is clearly a function of the skill of the operator.
I had made an effort to use it on an IEM with non stock eartips, the ARRTI T10 + Moondrop SPRING tips, which was my 1st attempt. I was not able to define many EQ filters, probably cos it was my 1st attempt. Implementing the filters was difficult because I had no way to translate the Q parameter of each filter into the Bandwidth parameter which my parametric EQ uses.
But Luke pointed me to this page, which assists with that, unfortunately that was after my 1st attempt with the T10
I’m bothering to share my experience here, cos I made a 2nd attempt, with another IEM, the KZ Libra X, which has a broadly trebly tone. In my opinion, does not have the best resolution, or technicality whatever that means, hope you get the idea.
Anyway, what you may want to know. The result has been very good, making the Libra X balanced, and quite pleasant to listen to, vocals, instruments, all quite significantly improved. I was pleasantly surprised. Shocked actually. The only thing missing is detail, and resolution, and a sense of front to back and 3 dimensionality, which I think is a function of the driver. I consider that each driver has its own limitations, and there is really nothing one can do to improve that.
But compensating for whatever changes the following chain introduces to the sound, I have found to be possible, using this tool.
- Ear canal resonances.
- IEM resonances /cancellations including the influence of whatever tips you use
- Our own HRTF
The end result introduces improved naturalness in the vocals, balance in the stereo field, but as I said, the key limitation is the quality of the drivers of one’s device, no way to overcome that. But FR, definitely that has improved in leaps and bounds on the Libra X.
Not saying that I’ll be listening to the Libra X any time soon, cos the resolution is nowhere near that of the T10, but it makes for an interesting academic exercise. Maybe I’ll give the ARTTI T10 another go.
Don’t think there’s any point in sharing the settings I used.
Yes you can save the settings locally on the device where you run your browser.
Now I would like a native version that runs in Windows.
I’ll end with this, resolution aside, which it cannot improve, but the FR changes on my Libra X are stunning.
I had thought of getting into physical mods, but sincerely, I won’t bother anymore, cos a physical mod, typically does just the same thing, and rather than broad changes made by physical nozzles, and physical filters, this owl tool, can allow you to be even more precise, and flexible, and the results can be checked in your parametric EQ, in just a few minutes. I’m impressed.
For casual listening, with the resolution quality challenge caveat, the FR is now stunning. Truly stunning. really balanced, from top to bottom.
There are of course tons of issues to consider, in using this tool. But this approach has promise.
The 1st thing I would recommend, is that the developers implement secure http, cos using a web site which does not secure communication with my web browser, in 2025, is simply not acceptable.