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AutoEQ: Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses

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Re: AutoEQ: Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses

#31

Post by sanjiwatsuki »

scblock wrote: post #19

I would caution against applying an EQ curve to headphones without review beforehand. If EQ includes large boosts (which the example image and table shows) that can easily introduce clipping distortion if applied linearly without appropriate headroom adjustments. Additionally, depending on transducer performance large bass boosts may simply increase transducer distortion in the bass frequency. Some headphones respond…

AFAIK, every tool that integrates with these things apply a negative boost equal to the peak added to avoid clipping.

Re: AutoEQ: Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses

#32

Post by serverholic »

l33tbro wrote: post #29
bitbang wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends largely on how it's implemented. There is a big difference between the quality of a well implemented convolution engine and a crappy biquad filter.

Where would something like Fabfilter fall in the scale? I imagine there's some pretty complex stuff going on under the hood.

Fabfilter isn't really doing anything magical. Its default mode is a pretty normal EQ with phase shifting. Linear-phase mode is like any other linear-phase mode with the same drawbacks.

Re: AutoEQ: Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses

#33

Post by serverholic »

praash wrote: post #23
serverholic wrote: post #4

FYI, EQs will distort audio. Especially if the adjustments are large. Your average EQ will introduce phase shifts to the various frequencies that make up a sound. Linear-phase EQs don't phase shift but they also introduce pre-ringing and post-ringing effects.

Phase shifts make no practical difference when you're equalizing headphones. You really shouldn't need to use notch filters there. EQ phase is relevant if the dry signal has a chance to mix with the EQ output. Changes in phase is not "distortion". When you end up making large boosts (especially to make sub bass audible), that's when your headphone drivers might start to distort sound. This is fixed with less volume,…

An EQ that cuts frequencies can actually increase the amplitude of the waveform due to phase shifts. It's not just boosting. What I'm talking about is more relevant on analog gear which is more sensitive to volume.

Re: AutoEQ: Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses

#34

Post by l33tbro »

serverholic wrote: post #32
l33tbro wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where would something like Fabfilter fall in the scale? I imagine there's some pretty complex stuff going on under the hood.

Fabfilter isn't really doing anything magical. Its default mode is a pretty normal EQ with phase shifting. Linear-phase mode is like any other linear-phase mode with the same drawbacks.

Probably the UI that made me think it was a Wonka creation. It's really not sonically much different to a stock EQ.

Re: AutoEQ: Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses

#35

Post by dsr_ »

sanjiwatsuki wrote: post #31
scblock wrote: post #19

I would caution against applying an EQ curve to headphones without review beforehand. If EQ includes large boosts (which the example image and table shows) that can easily introduce clipping distortion if applied linearly without appropriate headroom adjustments. Additionally, depending on transducer performance large bass boosts may simply increase transducer distortion in the bass frequency. Some headphones respond…

AFAIK, every tool that integrates with these things apply a negative boost equal to the peak added to avoid clipping.

And every recommendation on the site starts with the appropriate amount of negative gain.

But if you miss it, somehow, then setting it to the next whole number of decibels larger than the largest gain will do.

Re: AutoEQ: Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses

#36

Post by dsr_ »

natdempk wrote: post #24

It would be interesting to compare the suggested EQ curves here vs. commercial offerings that claim to introduce a neutral response like Sonarworks. In theory I think they should be doing quite similar things, but curious if there are any real differences or if they land in the same general area.

This is exactly what Sonarworks is doing, but without a specific software package to implement it (and sell to you).

Re: AutoEQ: Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses

#37

Post by rokweom »

Autoeq is not just a collection of ready-made EQ settings for different headphones, it's also a database of measurements from few different review sites and a tool for creating custom EQ curves. Do you have a specific target that you like? You can create a custom curve tuned for that target. Do you want to know how a certain model of headphones sounds? You can make your current ones sound almost exactly like them. Really cool project.

Re: AutoEQ: Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses

#38

Post by londons_explore »

All this assumes the headphones are linear devices... which clearly isn't the case!

None of these tools seem to do anything but rudimentary nonlinear correction... Even simple things like measuring and cancelling harmonics nobody seems to do...

Re: AutoEQ: Automatic headphone equalization from frequency responses

#40

Post by nitrogen »

bitbang wrote: post #5
serverholic wrote: post #4

FYI, EQs will distort audio. Especially if the adjustments are large. Your average EQ will introduce phase shifts to the various frequencies that make up a sound. Linear-phase EQs don't phase shift but they also introduce pre-ringing and post-ringing effects.

Depends largely on how it's implemented. There is a big difference between the quality of a well implemented convolution engine and a crappy biquad filter.

Note that not all biquad filters are crappy.
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