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Topic: Shouldn't all headphones be aggressively EQed to match HRTF? (Read 21211 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Shouldn't all headphones be aggressively EQed to match HRTF?

Reply #76 –
wouldn't something like REW EQ simulation works fine? I have a very limited experience and understanding of all this, but what I measure after applying an EQ usually looks really super close to what the EQ pop up of REW predicted.


Re: Shouldn't all headphones be aggressively EQed to match HRTF?

Reply #77 –
Quote from: castleofargh on
[...] what I measure after applying an EQ usually looks really super close to what the EQ pop up of REW predicted.
And even if it wasn't that close, you could simply do another iteration and see what got you closer to your target.  ;)


Regarding nonlinearity, the thing is this: if a speaker is so highly nonlinear that it becomes impossible to EQ, even just by ear and hand, then even audiophiles that enjoy distorted low-fi would probably notice it negatively.


"I hear it when I see it."
 

Re: Shouldn't all headphones be aggressively EQed to match HRTF?

Reply #78 –
The OP has a very valid concern, the resonance bump in the 7 K range is real and depending on circumstances could lead to hearing damage.  I actually wrote a little android app to look for this.  But there are many reasons why aggressive correction can be disastrous, lead to hearing damage and tinnitus.
A couple of additional points, the equal loudness curves at threshold do not necessarily correlate to "listening volume loudness" perception in individuals with hearing loss.  So if you are 20 dB down at a freq range at threshold testing, you may be not notice much difference in loudness at higher Spl levels.  Also, there are "micro" dips in your hearing along the curve, for instance I am 20 dB down in my left ear at 3 K but only 10 dB down at 3.3 K. 
I have personally found you can get some tinnitus if you are not careful with changing things too much (but I am older and have some hearing loss already).  The field of "notched music training" (the opposite of over compensation) is being heavily researched in regards to tinnitus therapy.
If you have doubts about this resonance phenomenon, the IE800 was designed with Helmholtz resonators to address it.
Why other IEM companies don't address it is unclear.  The fellow who's thesis is in my XDA post has gone on to make a startup to address ear canal/audio calibration.

If anyone is interested in some of this I have a bunch of papers addressing this subject.