Headphones.com EQ Repository & Request Thread

[listen_r]

Closed headphones generally vary more in basically every way you could imagine, so it makes sense for multiple reasons why it’d be tougher to EQ.

That being said, I gave it a shot for ya!

DCA Aeon 2 Noire:

Confidence: LOW

Uses data from GRAS KB50xx and B&K 5128

Preamp: -3.1 dB
Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 90 Hz Gain 2.0 dB Q 1.000
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 115 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 1.400
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 180 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 2.000
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1000 Hz Gain 0.8 dB Q 1.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 3500 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 5750 Hz Gain -1.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 9750 Hz Gain -5.0 dB Q 3.000
Filter 8: ON HSC Fc 5000 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 0.700

Adjust band 1 for overall bass
Adjust band 8 for overall treble

Audeze LCD-5:

Confidence: MEDIUM

Uses data from GRAS KB50xx, B&K 5128, and B&K 4128

Preamp: -6.2 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 0.700
Filter 2: ON LSC Fc 110 Hz Gain 3.2 dB Q 0.900
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1450 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 2200 Hz Gain 0.3 dB Q 2.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2700 Hz Gain 7.0 dB Q 1.000
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 3425 Hz Gain -10.2 dB Q 1.400
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 4500 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 5200 Hz Gain 4.2 dB Q 1.400
Filter 9: ON HSC Fc 7500 Hz Gain 2.7 dB Q 1.000

Adjust band 2 for overall bass
Adjust band 8 for grittiness
Adjust band 9 for overall treble

Regarding your question, I’d love to have them all posted in a more easily browsable format once I’ve covered a larger body of headphones. Nothing planned now, though.

[generic]

Because…humor…Schiit Lokius for HD800S

[NameyMcNameface]

Thanks for your work.
Since a person can never have too many EQ presets, I’ll batch request the Senn 58x, Philips Fidelio X2 (original one not the X2HR if possible) and since it’s Summer and getting too warm for cans half the time - Dunu SA6 and Ety ER2XR on the IEM front
Sorry for being greedy
Cheers

[listen_r]

Happy to fulfill as many requests as possible, the sooner I get as many of them done, the sooner people can just use the search function in this thread to find what they need

Gonna start with X2. First step is… well, there’s only one measurement of it, from Tyll Hertsens at InnerFidelity. Most other squigs out there are of the X2HR. So the question becomes: How different are they really?

IMO this can be read as “not really different.” Tyll used a different HMSii.3 than RTINGS, and it has a few different features (most notably a bigger dip around 5-6 kHz present on all of this measurements and in the DF HRTF for his rig). I’m gonna operate under the assumption they’re the same, and if you find the results unpleasing you can boost a little extra with a high shelf at 1.5kHz or so to bring it where the X2HRs would be after EQ. Okay, EQ time!

Philips Fidelio X2HR

Confidence: LOW

Uses data from GRAS KB50xx, B&K 4128, and HeadAcoustics HMSii.3

Preamp: -8.0 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 11.0 dB Q 0.700
Filter 2: ON LSC Fc 168 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 0.600
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 265 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 4.000
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 800 Hz Gain -0.5 dB Q 3.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1635 Hz Gain -6.0 dB Q 2.400
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 1635 Hz Gain 4.2 dB Q 1.000
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 4000 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 2.000
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 5200 Hz Gain -5.5 dB Q 2.000
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 6300 Hz Gain 4.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 10: ON PK Fc 9400 Hz Gain -5.5 dB Q 1.400
Filter 11: OFF HSC Fc 3500 Hz Gain 0.0 dB Q 0.700

Adjust band 2 for overall bass
Adjust band 11 for overall treble

Also, just want to note, this headphone had a particularly wide variance between units/rigs, so definitely play around with it a bit.

Sennheiser HD 58x:

Confidence: MEDIUM-LOW

Uses data from GRAS KB50xx, B&K 5128 and HeadAcoustics HMSii.3

Preamp: -9.4 dB
Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 0.0 dB Q 0.700
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 11.5 dB Q 0.300
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 34 Hz Gain -3.5 dB Q 0.800
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 150 Hz Gain -3.2 dB Q 0.600
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 550 Hz Gain 0.4 dB Q 1.400
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 1375 Hz Gain -0.8 dB Q 2.000
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 2600 Hz Gain 1.3 dB Q 2.400
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 3400 Hz Gain -1.6 dB Q 3.500
Filter 9: ON HSC Fc 3500 Hz Gain 4.5 dB Q 0.600
Filter 10: ON PK Fc 9800 Hz Gain -4.8 dB Q 2.000

Adjust band 1 for overall bass
Adjust band 2 for bass extension (might need to be curtailed to avoid THD, use your ears)
Adjust band 9 for overall treble

DUNU SA6 (Original):

Confidence: LOWEST

Uses data from Resolve’s RA0402 Coupler

Preamp: -2.7 dB
Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 0.0 dB Q 0.700
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 440 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 0.900
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1275 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 0.900
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 2000 Hz Gain -1.3 dB Q 1.400
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 3325 Hz Gain 4.5 dB Q 1.400
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 4600 Hz Gain -7.0 dB Q 3.000
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5900 Hz Gain 5.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 6900 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 2.000

Adjust band 1 for overall bass
Adjust band 2 for warmth
Adjust band 3 for vocal presence and overtone texture
Adjust bands 7 and 8 to balance lower treble to work with your anatomy

Etymotic ER2XR:

Confidence: LOW

Uses data from B&K 5128

Preamp: 0 dB
Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 0.0 dB Q 0.700
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 165 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 0.800
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1600 Hz Gain -5.0 dB Q 0.700
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 3200 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 1.400
Filter 5: ON HSC Fc 3500 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 0.700
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 13500 Hz Gain -5.0 dB Q 2.000

Adjust band 1 for overall bass
Adjust band 4 for ear gain & clarity
Adjust band 5 for overall treble
Adjust band 6—in frequency and gain—for controlling the upper treble peak. It will shift depending on anatomy so play around with it.

[NameyMcNameface]

Thanks, I’ll give them a go over the weekend.
Like you mentioned, most of the stuff I’ve seen for the X2 is the XR version. I believe that Philips claim that nothing had changed between them, but I’ve also read a few accounts claiming the two models do sound different. I remember Philips saying the earpads were changed so that may account for the claims.
If you really want a challenge, I own a pre-E Grado 125, but I don’t recall seeing many/any measurements for the early models and supposedly Grados are a pain to EQ

[listen_r]

This is yet another situation where I’m not really sure how different the 125i and 125e are. These differences could purely be down to placement on the rig.

I’ve generally treated any of the Grado SR series as functionally the same as they all measure within the bounds of channel balance of one another, so I’d probably just EQ based on the average of all of the SR series available or something like that.

Even outside of that, they are really tough to EQ for a few reasons. On-ear designs mean pinna deformation and placement is going to be different for each user, two already-big red flags for equalization potential. But the open design (lack of bass extension) and not-especially-low harmonic distortion certainly doesn’t help.

Would you like a generic EQ for the entire similarly-measuring SR series? or just an EQ using the SR125i measurement I have on hand from InnerFidelity?

[Essentials]

Probably can’t help me with this one, but can you do EQ settings for ZMF Atrium Closed with stock pads.

At the moment I am just boosting the 1800hz by a few db.

[listen_r]

Unfortunately I couldn’t find any measurements except for Zach’s on 5128, but here’s my attempt using that data. Definitely play around with the band gains, frequencies and Qs if you need to… closed backs are already a pain, and only having data on one head makes it even tougher.

ZMF Atrium Closed:

Confidence: VERY LOW

Uses data from B&K 5128

Preamp: -4.0 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 250 Hz Gain -4.0 dB Q 0.400
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1450 Hz Gain 4.2 dB Q 0.700
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 3350 Hz Gain 6.0 dB Q 4.000
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 3750 Hz Gain -9.0 dB Q 3.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 5500 Hz Gain 6.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 8000 Hz Gain -6.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 7: OFF LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 0.0 dB Q 0.700
Filter 8: OFF HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 0.0 dB Q 0.700

Adjust band 1 for warmth
Adjust band 2 for vocal presence
Adjust band 3 for clarity
Turn on & adjust band 7 for overall bass
Turn on & adjust band 8 for air

[NameyMcNameface]

My bad. I thought the e model predated the i. My pair is even before the 125i - just a plain ol 125. I suppose if measurements specific to my 1st gen. aren’t available, then what the heck, I’ll give that generic all SR model EQ a try

[pennstac]

Thank you for all the work. So I’d like to request
Rosson RAD-0
ZMF Auteur Classic.

I don’t use much eq on either of these but would like to see if it’s worth it

I also have the Hive Nectar eStat
My Grado RS 1e with the beautiful audio hybrid pads avoids the on ear issues but is probably too much of an oddball to have measurements.

[listen_r]

The Average Grado™️:

Confidence: LOW

Uses data from GRAS KB50xx and B&K 5128

Preamp: -12.9 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 8.0 dB Q 0.800
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 87 Hz Gain -4.0 dB Q 0.500
Filter 3: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 5.7 dB Q 0.700
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 700 Hz Gain 0.5 dB Q 1.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1680 Hz Gain 4.0 dB Q 1.500
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 2075 Hz Gain -12.0 dB Q 1.800
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3150 Hz Gain 4.8 dB Q 2.000
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 4375 Hz Gain -6.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 9: ON HSC Fc 5000 Hz Gain -0.5 dB Q 0.700
Filter 10: ON PK Fc 5500 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 11: ON PK Fc 6750 Hz Gain -3.1 dB Q 2.000
Filter 12: ON PK Fc 8350 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 13: ON PK Fc 9325 Hz Gain -11.0 dB Q 3.000

Adjust band 3 for overall bass
Adjust band 9 for overall treble

Definitely play around with the bass level, especially if you end up getting noticeable distortion. Good luck!

[listen_r]

Unfortunately I’m not aware of any industry standard measurements of Auteur Classic or RS1e, so I can only provide presets for the RAD-0 and Nectar.

Additionally, these only have measurements on one head, so I advise caution. I have much lower confidence in these presets working for a given user.

Rosson RAD-0:

Confidence: LOW

Uses data from GRAS KB50xx

Preamp: -8.7 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 2: ON LSC Fc 90 Hz Gain 7.5 dB Q 0.700
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 500 Hz Gain 0.6 dB Q 2.000
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 900 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 1.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2000 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 1.400
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 3200 Hz Gain 7.5 dB Q 0.500
Filter 7: ON HSC Fc 4500 Hz Gain 7.0 dB Q 0.700
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 6000 Hz Gain -4.8 dB Q 2.000
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 11000 Hz Gain -7.0 dB Q 2.000

Adjust band 2 for overall bass
Adjust band 7 for overall treble

Nectar Hive:

Confidence: LOW

Uses data from GRAS KB50xx

Preamp: -6.5 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 1.400
Filter 2: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 5.5 dB Q 0.700
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 550 Hz Gain 0.4 dB Q 1.400
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1100 Hz Gain -1.8 dB Q 1.400
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2000 Hz Gain 7.0 dB Q 2.000
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 2950 Hz Gain -2.4 dB Q 2.000
Filter 7: ON HSC Fc 4500 Hz Gain 0.3 dB Q 0.700
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 4575 Hz Gain 4.4 dB Q 2.200
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 6000 Hz Gain -5.0 dB Q 1.900

Adjust band 2 for overall bass
Adjust band 7 for overall treble
Adjust band 9 for sharpness

[pennstac]

Thank you. I was surprised to see Hive data.

[listen_r]

Happy to help! And yeah, Hive has thankfully been around a while and Crin and Oratory have both measured at least one unit each. Pretty dang consistent between units too.

[frkasper]

@listen_r

And that’s it! So if any of you have any requests for EQ of any headphone or IEM out there that has a measurement, feel free to drop a request in here.

Do you have the HD660S measurement? Thanks!

[listen_r]

Sennheiser HD 660S:

Confidence: MEDIUM-LOW

Uses data from GRAS KB50xx, B&K 5128, B&K 4128, and HeadAcoustics HMSii.3

Preamp: -13.9 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 4.0 dB Q 1.400
Filter 2: ON LSC Fc 60 Hz Gain 13.0 dB Q 0.600
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 76 Hz Gain 2.4 dB Q 1.200
Filter 4: ON LSC Fc 375 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 0.700
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1400 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 1.700
Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 2400 Hz Gain 5.5 dB Q 0.600
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3000 Hz Gain 0.5 dB Q 1.400
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 3450 Hz Gain -2.7 dB Q 2.500
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 5600 Hz Gain -2.7 dB Q 2.000
Filter 10: ON PK Fc 10000 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 2.000

Adjust band 2 for overall bass level — if it’s too woolly, reel it back a bit (or vice versa)
Adjust band 6 for overall treble — if its too sharp or sibilant, reel it back a bit (or vice versa)

[mat953]

I am interested to see an eq profile for SHP9500, all previously tired profiles either sounded dull or sibilant.

Thank you for your great services in this community and have a nice day.

[Tara]

Is it okay to EQ sub-bass by such a huge amount? Doesn’t it introduce distortion? I know it will depend on each headphone but just curious

[generic]

In my experience many headphone drivers cannot generate much (or any) sub bass. I doubt that it introduces distortion or any audible change in those cases.

Now, it is certainly possible to induce audible bass bloat above sub bass.

[listen_r]

You’re likely not going to damage the headphone, but yes, boosting too much sub-bass into an open headphone with bass rolloff won’t always be doable due to limitations with the driver, and pushing it too hard will introduce harmonic distortion.

That being said, you should let your ears be the judge, because many times its actually much harder to hear the distortion than some would have you believe. If you find the bass gets noticeably crunchy or clipped, feel free to back off the gain on the band I specified as an adjustment point for “overall bass”.