I use EQ usually only with over ear headphones and I always feel there is something lost with EQ, but with over ears, itâs usually necessary and is not too damaging to the source depending on the headphone, but itâs always a case by case situation and I have to weigh the positives and the negatives of using EQ on every headphone I own. Some are simply not worth it such as the Aeolus.
I do not. Iâd suggest anyone unhappy with their IEM FR to do better at finding their personal FR preferences and find an IEM that is tuned to their preferences.
With IEMs, they are sometimes tuned right on the edge of the drivers performance. This is the case with the Mangird Tea and why itâs treble is tuned not to go past a certain treble amount. Itâs because the BA drivers will quickly move into poor BA timbre territory.
If youâre not happy with the way your IEM sounds, itâs always better to find one that better suits your preferences. Feel free to use EQ if you must but just know you are probably compromising the integrity of the music by doing so and you will not be judging the IEM by what itâs truly capable of by itself.
Remember, your IEM is designed to sound the way it sounds, especially any hybrid because it is made up of multiple drivers specifically catering to its FR.
You just hit the reason I rec the Mangird Tea ahead of the Blessing 2 in my tier 1 category and also exactly why I am completely against EQ for the reason youâre attempting to do it. If the tuning on the Mangird Tea is adjusted and boosted in itâs treble, youâre pushing the BA drivers into the territory of the Blessing 2 which suffers from poor BA timbre. The Tea is specifically tuned under that threshold so the BA timbre is not as obvious and annoying as on the Blessing 2.
This is exactly why the Tea is my #1 rec and NOT the Blessing 2.
This is only true if your listening level brings it above the capability of the driver. Again, EQ is nothing more than volume changes.
There is 0 difference in the stress on the driver if you listen to your IEM at the same output level on your amp with or without EQ.
Let me clarify as this can be a bit confusing.
If I set my amp to 40% volume with no EQ or apply EQ but keep the amp at 40% volume there is absolute 0 difference to the max stress placed on the drivers.
The only difference is, some of the frequencies will be more quiet and end up being less stress on the driver. (This is why there is a negative pre-out on my EQ profile) The overall volume you are listening at will be less, but the volume in the frequencies that are boosted will be the same.
In terms of my experience with the Tea, the EQ greatly improves the sound at my listening levels. Itâs clear I am not maxing out the capability of the BA as I do not hear any negative effects.
Your statement is only true if someone was listening at levels that are at the max threshold of the specific transducer.
With that said, I would love to find an option that is 1. comfortable. 2. does not need EQ and 3. is at least on par with the Tea for technicalities in the same or lower price bracket.
I do not agree with the majority of what you just said. Youâre either not listening for timbre, itâs just not that important to you or itâs just not that apparent with your music library.
The point is, EQ does can have negative effects on the music and can have a negative impact on the transducers capability on properly reproducing sound the way it was intended to. Again, it is why many earphones and headphones can fall apart as soon as EQ is applied.
I think Iâve clearly made my point on this, which you even agreed with.
AnywayâŠ
I think thatâs what weâre all looking for in an IEM.
Here is my recommendation tier list⊠For you Iâd recommend going directly to the MEST MKII.
For the uninitiated wondering about some of the EQ statements in this threadâŠ
For IEMs, look at EQ as a complete last resort. IEMs are designed to sound the way they sound. If you wish you had a little more bass/mids/treble, think about doing some research into an IEM that will suit your preferences that sounds the way you want it to without any EQ help.
Generally headphones can benefit from some EQ because they usually are harder to tune for because they usually only have one driver. Again, the same rules apply, apply as little EQ as possible targeting a known FR target curve or your own personal preference curve making the least amount of boosts or cuts possible. Cutting is usually always preferred over increasing EQ gain.
EQ should be used to correct issues with the transducers FR. NOT TURN ITâS FREQUENCY RESPONSE INTO SOMETHING COMPLETY DIFFERENT!
There are certain instances where the transducers technical capabilities are so strong that you can apply EQ to modify it FR without harming the integrity of the source too much. Example the Tin P1 for instance. This is what we usually refer to as an IEM that takes to EQ well. Many do not.
General EQ tip is to use as little as possible. Ideally none.
If you are using EQ just because you enjoy playing with PEQ sliders because they are fun to play with, youâre probably not an audiophile.
Do not form IEM/headphone impressions/assumptions with EQ applied. You can not give accurate impressions to others of an IEMs capabilities when you are hearing something obviously different than everyone else, especially if youâre using EQ on an IEM that takes poorly to EQ and wondering why it does not sound detailed. Itâs because youâve compromised that aspect of the transducer with EQ.
Iâve been doing EQ work in mixing and mastering of audio for over 20 years. Itâs an artform that I will admit I have still not mastered.
Yea, I disagree with the majority of what youâre saying and youâre making assumptions. The timbre of the Teaâs sound wrong to me without EQ. Again, it sounds like itâs missing something and itâs the main reason I added EQ in the first place.
EQ literally fixes this for me.
EQ Can have a negative effect if used improperly or used when not needed, but it also CAN improve the sound.
Prime example is this IEM, it sounds much better to me with EQ. Timbre has improved. Female vocals sound more natural now, distorted guitars sound realistic again, and overall it sounds far more correct to me with the small EQ adjustments Iâve made.
Does that mean I shouldnât own them because I think they sound better with EQ than without? Again, your opinion.
What I do agree with is a headphone that sounds good without EQ for the user is typically a better option than one requiring EQ. I would love to find that headphone/IEM that also meets my other criteria (Comfort, price, technicalities).
I fully understand what timbre is. Iâm sorry you think recessed treble means a natural timbre?
Again, listen to any of the tracks I previously referenced with and without my EQ profile. Itâs night and day how unnatural the distorted guitars sound on the Teaâs. They sound muted and recessed, missing the âbiteâ.
Tonality is subjective and depends on your library.
(which is also why when people (especially reviewers) claim something has great tonality without any mentions on what they are listening to makes me facepalm hardâŠ)
Where as timbre is simply if a particular instrument sound like it should (natural or not).
