Which headphones do you have and ACTUALLY use?

Audio-Technica

First thing first, AutoEQ gives you a glimpse of what other set of IEM can do based on the frequency graph. I have a lot of fun A/ B the 2 IEMs I own and figure out how close the come to mirroring each other. I found that if the driver types are similar or the same it makes for near identical experiences which is a great news.

That means I can confidently just own a reputable Tri-brid like the CrinEar DayBreak that only cost $169 (full retail) and AutoEQ it to sound like the Zigaat Horizon twice the price at $330 and it sounds to my ears identical, same goes to several tribrids set with DD+2 BA+2 micro plannar, after several test I’m now comfortable to AutoEQ a new set I’ve never heard and accept that the experience will be near identical. If you like the Sennheiser IEM you can get the $200 IE300 and AutoEQ that to the big sisters the IE600 and IE900 as they are all single DD and share the same shell and acoustic makeup.

You can take a step further and manually EQing yourself but that’s not my jam.

I also agree the best kind of review is the Bias review, one you know the baseline you can accurately determine your outcome.

I try to pick whatever medium format as far as audio files, and I don’t mind MP3. Switching from 44.4khz to 700khz+ just add air to my ears, it’s not that important to me. I also not looking for perfection in music as the matter of fact I prefer the opposite. I hardly listened to Studio version of anything anymore.

And now for the most important topic, I’d be cautious about Julian K, I found his Audiophile Carrots interconnect video very offensive, one he used giant baby carrots and worse he over paid for them by at least $600. You can find plenty of the audiophile carrots for much much less here. Since they are from the US, they last at least 2-3 weeks. :joy:

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What do you mean by this?

Do you mean the app and the measurements database?

In fact, the true audiophile ORANGE carrot originates from … Holland!

Other countries have stolen our orange carrots, while some countries paint their non-orange carrots to mimik ours.
I understand that we will likely invade the top carrot producing countries, remove their leaders, take a substantial part of their carrot production as compensation and than let our carrot industry take over theirs :slight_smile:

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Yes. It’s https://squig.link/

In the nutshell you can AutoEQ to the target ie, Hartman target or the IEF 2025, etc. or you can pick your IEM or headphone then pick another headphone to copy the frequency graph. It’s pretty cool. There some learning curve but if a Neanderthal like me can do it you should pick it up in no time.

Is that legit? Cause:

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Sorry I fixed it.

It’s better for IEM because even the 711 rig is good enough and you don’t need the 5128 but for headphones it’s kinda hit and miss. If you checkout Hangout audio upper right corner there’s some options you can choose between 711 and more accurate 5128

What’s your sound profile I maybe able to help you to the people who prefer that target. You can start there.

Also if you are an android user you can be the paid version of Wavelet and you can export directly to wavelet. All of this can be overwhelming like a kid in a candy store so let me know if you need help. I assume you have the dongles and appropriate software to do the EQ

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Works!

But … they also use measurements - which kind of confirms my point!

If you need measurements to match one headphone to the other, than this is a strong argument for the role of measurements in saying anything about the tonal character of headphones.

In that context: I’m a big fan of REW, a free room correction software. I use that (and DIRAC) for all my speakers, as well as speakers of friends and family.

EQing has it’s limitations though.
I have a mid end surround system (Teufel) and am just selling my higher end speaker system (Infinity Kappas) due to space limitations.
I had the opportunity to do a side by side comparison of both systems, first without EQ and then EQed using both DIRAC and REW.
I wanted to find out if I could make a mid end system sound like a highend system by EQ-ing them to the same curve.

The mid end system does not sound totally bad, but somehow the high end system sounds much much better. And yes, I did a blind test (literally blind folded, while my girlfriend switched back & forth).

So, it’s not only the frequence response … there is more going on here…
My theory is that it has to do with the response of the speakers themselves, especially the Infinity EMIT tweeters, but also the very well constructed woofers and midrange speakers on the Infinitys.

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Ah, good old Wavelet! I have used it years ago, but it did not work with my android audio player app. Might give it a 2nd chance!

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One of my favourite profiles is my Hexa to Monarch 2 :slightly_smiling_face:

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Hexa is such a good hype set. I’m not big in the shape for some reason it does not seal well for me, but it’s not a bad tuning at all. Both have the 8k peak that you either like it or hate it, :rofl:

Have you tried the DayBreak? It’s probably the set of the year for me if you like the JM-1 tuning, simply because it’s the cheapest.

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I have not but I’ll check it out! Thanks :slightly_smiling_face:

For my hexa I got dunu S&S tips because I found that taper shape with my timeless fit me really well and they work great. I have a really small ear canal on one side and it can be challenging to get a consistent seal. For earbuds I like the ones that just fit against the outside of the ear canal and in the shop I use foam but that has a tendency to make things boomy and I usually want less bass, not more :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

I don’t use the hexa a lot, they’re a little too neutral for most listening like the 560S headphones but when I’m listening to jazz or something with a lot of detailed mids/highs they’re nice.

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I like the S&S tips. You know on DK3001BD the S&S are in white. Pretty cool. My new favorite tips are the Sancai noble. The Sancai series are pretty good I like the texture that would allow for some relief (pressure). Some of the set I have don’t have any vents and sometimes that’s a problem.

Try to EQ your timeless to the new Divine. The smooth upper mid is just great.

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Just wait until “brain burn-in” sets in and then they all sound the same :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

The reason they sound too neutral is because I listen to bose qc headphones all day at work and they have way too much bass, even with some EQ, a FR that I would call “terrible” . Even my beyerdynamic dt270 pro that I listen to at home, that most people consider pretty neutral has way too much sub bass for me and I have to tame that a lot.

I’ve been listening to my timeless IEMs for the last couple of weeks because it’s been quieter in the office and they’re a lot closer to the hexas. I put on the bose today and the bass sound terrible, like bad enough to make me feel physically uncomfortable, because I got used to the much more neutral timeless :laughing:

Some people with the bose qc max their bass out and I expect those people also eat steak well done :thinking:

I use a Beyerdynamic dt 770 PRO 80. I love this headset!

I’m just making fun of you, sorry!
If headphones sound different to you and EQ does something, we 100% agree :slight_smile:

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Ok, I sold my Austrian Audio Hi-X60 and purchased the Fiio JT7 (Open back ) and the very very cheap Superlux HD-660 Pro (closed back).
The Superlux are the cheapest headphones I have ever bought, by far.

Why do I need two different head phones (that’s what my girlfriend asked me, and she did not have a happy face):

  • with two different sound signatures it’s better to judge a mix
  • The open back cannot be used outside, cause of dirt and dust.
  • The closed back can be used by my singer too, as it does not “pollute” the mix. I can use them outside and when some ADHD punk breaks them I just buy new ones, no harm done.

First impressions:

  • @Al1885 is right: the Fiio JT7 sounds very detailled & neutral, kind of relaxed and almost ethereal, in a good way. The bass is clear (which surprised me) and not boomy at all (but sub bass might be lacking a little), unlike some closed back. It’s a very revealing headphone, perfect for finding all kinds of sh#t in mixes. Still they are pleasant to listen to. These are really great headphones, highly recommended!
  • The Superlux do not sound as good as the Hi-X60, but not bad at all. Bass is not as precise (but deep & not boomy), and highs are a little sharp, but they are (almost) on par with some 200€ Sennheisers and Beyerdynamic I heard. Built quality is soso, but good enough. For 35€ it’s a steal, really! These are the headphones I would recommend for any beginner with a tight budget!

Best headphones I ever heard are still the Focal Bathys though….

@sshoihet summary for you: they all sound the same :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

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Nice. That’s a great set of can under $500 and beat several under $1000.

King(s) of cheap and cheerful would be the JT1 and the new JT3. The JT1 I paid $35 for it and it’s very airy and wide for a closed back it scales really well too. The JT3 has more bass but still offers great imaging and well presented soundstage. As for mixing reference, I highly recommend getting a closed back FT1. Great punchy bass excellent details and it’s only $100.

I don’t do a lot of headphones especially outdoors but my time on the cans are usually between the JT7 & FT7.

Here’s the JT1

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The JT1 is known for heaving a (too) heavy bass. That’s why I did not get them. I need it as neutral as possible.

Again, the Superlux is quite ok. Though I am deeply ashamed that I own something with this brandname. It’s cheesy as f#ck! Superlux? WTF?

But it’s great not to be snobby and get cheap chinese stuff which is ok, instead of proper expensive European quality :slight_smile:

For mixing I can see your point. My argument would be it’s not the neutrality but rather accuracy you want when mixing. The JT7 would be much better for mixing with the flatter and more predictable bass curve than the more “listening” bias of the sub bass shelf and mid bass tuck of the JT3. That creates cleaner separation but not accurate.

Check out the difference, note, I love the 13k peak of delicious air on both set I think it’s what makes the HD650 a legend

One of the most accurate IEM for mixing for me is the Tipsy M3.

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