How to EQ Headphones and Earbuds: An Audio Engineer's Guide for Beginners, feat. the Sony WH-1000XM5
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- Have you ever wondered how to EQ your headphones or earbuds? Well, here is a beginner's guide to EQing your headphones or earbuds by an audio engineer with the Sony WH-1000XM5s to demonstrate 🎧 Purchase the Sony WH-1000XM5 from Best Buy: go.magik.ly/ml... (ad)
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🚨 *Do you have more questions for me? Did any of these tips help you understand EQ a lot more? Let me know!*
🎧 Purchase the Sony WH-1000XM5 from Best Buy: go.magik.ly/ml/1kafk/ (ad)
This video is sponsored in part by Best Buy.
Thank you for those EQ settings tips. Really enjoyed it and learn a lot. I have the Sony WF 1000XM4. What is your best EQ settings please for it please?
@@dominiquemanuel1555 I have my EQ settings available for channel members 😊 RUclips.com/thisistechtoday/join
What is this EQ app ?
@@subhankitbasu620 the built in Sony one lol
Have you made an EQ listing for the Soundcore Q45’s by chance?
I’m down to join the channel group is those cans are on the list 🤔
I've been a photo retouching since 06 and it's been my career since 09, Ive recently got into the 'audiophile' thing for a humbling changing and I'm loving it. The similarities between EQ and photo grading are so strong. I feel reassured that I'm doing the right thing intuitively as you're doing the same things with the sliders that I'd recommend to a beginner in photoshop. Great video, thank you 😊
I've been using Poweramp for years and not too long ago they added a wonderful EQ feature where you can set an EQ per Bluetooth device. So now depending on what Bluetooth headset or speaker I have connected to my Android device I can have the EQ set up for that specific speaker, and it will automatically switch between which EQ depending on which device is connected at any given time.
Yeah , been using that app since 2014 , now even hi res output is possible in Poweramp for bluetooth device
I ve been using poweramp for 3 years and it never fails
@@emmanuelyawofosudapaahkuma566 wavelet does a similar things too
@@ninaadleo same year. Best player imo
Holy shizzz... I've been poweramp for years and didn't even realize this. I feel so dumb 😅
This was the best explanation I've seen on how you actually adjust an equalizer in an app. You explained it in a very easy to understand way and how to isolate certain sounds! Awesome and you didn't say my EQ is the only way, but emboldened you the user to experiment. Great advice I'm having at it right now after watching your tutorial, thank you very much.
What i like to do with equalizing in ears or headphones is use a tone generator. You can instantly find the flaws in the frequency response (most flaws are usually in the low and mid treble) The idea is to have a flat frequency response in your ear. Simply find a benchmark frequency (usually 1khz if its flat in the graph) and then try to make the rest of the frequencies the same volume to your ear. Usually bass and mids are fine, its really the part between 1khz - 10khz which is badly tuned in in ears and headphones.This does take a bit of training and you have to find the right volume (usually 45% to 50% volume). The great thing is that you can easily hear peaks and dips with a tone generator so you know what to correct.
Interesting method. I can see how that would work. There's also a lot of issues with midrange and lows on consumer headphones and earbuds, so it's really the whole spectrum. I tend to focus on what sounds musically better than technically better
You're a lifesaver!!! This method worked the best for me
this is good for a flat sound, which is great for studio work/mixing however it might not sound the best
Hi Brandon, absolutely professional and to the point✌🏽
I grew up with my father's (musicologist and producer) recording studio (SWT Südwest-Tonstudio).
I produce myself (Ableton Live, Yamaha, Roland, Akai, MPC ONE, Neumann... a lot of stuff) and have had the SONY-M5 for 2 weeks now.
WOW, really fantastic and the sound differences to Sennheiser, Bose... are minimal.
I chose the SONY-M5 because they also have a cable input, so no latency in production.
In fact, I've been using the excellent SONY MDR-84s from the '90s for years ; - )
But what primarily interests me: My daughter is 14 years old, listens to One Direction, Harry Styles, Beatles, as well as Funk & Hip-Hop...
I just turned 60 but I still go to raves and clubs. No problem🕺🏼
To the point: Of course, my hearing ability can no longer be compared to that of a teenager. My last hearing test 4 months ago still confirmed that my hearing was above average. But I also noticed the typical, age-related frequency gaps.
My question to you as a professional: How can I mix and master my productions correctly for a younger generation despite my age?
A topic that probably concerns every musician and producer one day.
I would be happy to exchange ideas...
Cheers //Markus | tonfusion
Relatable 😁
I was actually messing with my EQ the other day, good tips that i didnt know, also thanks for your time and effort!
Happy to help!
Here are my custom EQ settings for the Sony WH-1000XM4
400: 0
1k: +4
2.5k: +6
6.3k: +1
16k: 0
Clear Bass: -1
Boosted the mids because the XM4 has a bass heavy sound signature. This really brings out vocals and instruments forward and makes bass a little bit tighter but still full.
Great video! I’ll definitely be sending my family and friends this when they ask me for EQ advice. Informative but fun and practical at the same time!
Here are my custom sugar amounts for various drinks:
Water: 0
Coffee: +2
Tea: +1
Energy drink: -2
Beer: 0
Absinth: +3
@@PushyPawn idk about the energy drink -2, i personally like a bit more energy in my mids 😂
Lmaoooo you guys are cracking me up 😂😂😂
Isn't that slope a bit too aggressive? I mean 4-5 dB changes between consecutive bands?
If you use the Sony Headphones app EQ, then you never use any other EQ´s right, like the one in Apple Music, cause that will mess everything up right? EQ on EQ can never be good. Do you by any chance have EQ settings for Apple Music for listening to an Macbook? Would be awesome!!
It's amazing how they sounded like crap at the beginning and became alive with your eq settings. Thanks.
Listened to this video while wearing my XM5s (that I bought on your recommendation!). Best decision ❤ I'm using one of the custom EQs on the app, but now I know how to tweak it if I need to!
I just got those headphones and I’ve never used any headphones close to this quality so it was a bit overwhelming going through all the settings in the app lol
Thanks for the video! It really helped!
im not sure, all 3 seem hold enormous potential, in their own way, so yeah interesting
I didn't notice a lot of the differences at first, but my Eq was already adjusted. Making it flat again is a must for this video to hear the differences. Probably goes without saying for a lot of the people watching, but thought I'd mention. 👍👍
it is what it is atm, bcs some comments asked, yes its worth 100-200$ basically like upgrading dac
Someone tell me I’m not the only person who recently got new expensive headphones and has gotten a little bit too obsessed with getting the sound absolutely perfect
Bro as a self proclaimed audiophile I'm REALLY digging your videos. I would love to see you do a custom eq comparison between Sony XM5 and Sennheiser Momentum 4
Thank you for this, I use Steelseries Sonar for the EQ software, it has more frequency choice to be customized which makes me more confused lol. so I just copy your setting at 10:25 as baseline and add another frequency at 85hz to boost the bass a bit more to my preferences and IT WORKS! finally a clean yet punchy enough sounds.
My Sony XM5 EQ:
400: -3
1k: -1
2.5k: +5
6.3k: +3
16k: +4
ClearBass: +2
*I use my headphones for the gym, so I opted for an ever so slightly higher bass response.
Awesome explanation video - thank you!!
Did you know you can turn sony XM5 into a monitoring headphone with EQ ?
The formula is this
400 HZ : 0
1 KHZ : + 3
2.5 KHZ : + 6
6.3 KHZ : + 3
16 KHZ : + 1
Clear Bass : _ 3
I'm doing the adjustment work and took the monitoring headphones and compared them with the XM5 and tried to match the XM5 headphones with it with EQ and the sound was completely equal to a monitoring headphone.
This EQ formula may seem boring to some people , but this is the real sound of the studio , and it will be very pleasing to those who want to listen to the song with the same sound as it was recorded in the studio 😉
So to think of a few familiar and well mixed songs as the average for the true sound and understand every set of headphones playing its frequencies with different incorrect emphasis, and to use the equalizer to compensate this deviation from the true sound with a personal preference trim.
created myself a 10 song playlist for this purpose and found pretty much perfect setting for my new headphones very quickly. thank you 👍
I just couldn't find the right sound for my Technics EAH AZ80 until I watched your video. I was doing it all wrong. Turning up frequencies because I thought more is better was the wrong approach as I found out watching your video. Thanks a lot. Btw if someone is reading this comment using the same in ears. Don't use the EQ in the official app. I couldn't tune them properly because there are only 5 frequencies. Bass for example isn't really tunable when it comes to the deep bass frequencies. Put it in Flat and start from there. Use Wavelet instead, much better for Equalizing.
Where are the 2 EQ charts that you said would be in the description? Thanks for all your hard work btw 🤝
Thank you so much man I appreciate you we really need more people like you.... you explained it so well and easy with clear vids of what your also doing at the same time.. this video has helped me so much I've just adjusted my headphones and omg its made the biggest difference they sound insane now so much more clearer while still maintaining a nice punch to them.... thank you for making this video you deserve so much more appreciation and recognition
Wow thank you so much. now my headphones sound so good. I thought they sounded good when it was on the stock “bass boosted” eq but now I have my custom one it really brightens it up and ads a little bass 😊
Your EQ made my sound way better
Just completed watching the how to equalize your headphones and earbuds video and it was so refreshing to be reminded of how to really equalize again!, thank you!
So glad I could help!
Thanks for this. I was able to tune my Xm4’s. They sound so much more balanced and separated. Before the artist was too blended into the music. Now they sound like they are singing along with and bit in front of the music. The flat profile was okay but not bright enough for details to have their own shine.
Did you make your own for the Xm4`s or did you use his for the Xm5`s? Would you like to share yours for the Mx4`s, own a pair my self and would be a nice starting point.
Wow, my M4s sound way better now. Thank you for such a detailed video on this.
Would love to see a extensive video about Poweramp.. it has so many settings that i feel your input will be easier to understand the complexity of poweramp. I like the way you describe everything in this video. Thank you very much. 😊
I just spent a bunch of money on fancy headphones and now I'm thinking they're wasted on me because I could not tell the difference between 90% of these examples lol
@@krystellegibson9614 Exactly! For each example he showed, I'm like they sound the same lol.
🤔 does listening to audio clearly make you smarter? 🤔🤔🤔
@@genericname9199 probably because you don’t have the ear for it which isn’t something to be mad about because it takes a lot of experience with audio engineering to really get the difference
Have u all ever thought that youtube compression has actually affected the audio .
@@eftiiano i'm just a regular listener (33 yo) and i could head the difference , and i'd my airpods pro 2 so not that good earphones... but maybe some people listen at the video with no earphones , so it will make sense then 😅
Custom EQ’s vocal freq. range is clearer compared to flat EQ, and I noticed that the instrumentals overpower the vocals for both EQ’s (something that can only be changed in mastering process I think). The mid-range freqs are the most playable; adjusting the soundstage’s ceiling, sides, depth, and clarity. Essentially manipulating till simulating 3D space of hearing.
I've been eq my cheap qkz ak6 with dolphin ds50 headphone as the reference. It's been great as I don't use my qkz as my daily driver, no need for upgrading to the expensive one. EQ gets the job done
Thanks for this video. I been doing eq's the common "wrong" way for as long as I can remember. My headphones sound great!
I ain't buying nothing till the sennheiser momentum 4 video comes out, I just can't decide until I have a definitive comparison between the two. For context, I'm lighting operator and that means I'm around loud sounds all the time but at the same time I spend my spare time learning music production and lighting production so sound quality really matters and it has to be Bluetooth ofcause added on top that I do a lot of gaming aswell. You can see how many factors are influenced by the choice I make. So please 🥺, don't wait for Christmas for the video to come out I NEEED IT NOW!
Very nicely explained, thanks! I'm keeping your EQ in my settings. I use another which ups the bass one back to flat and the 2.5 on +5, 6.3 on +4 and 16 on +3. It's just a little meatier sounding but probably not as balanced as yours. Depends on the track doesn't it. I love how you can open the sound up and make everything work like this! I also love these headphones :)
Thanks dude, now I can feel the bass in my veins!!!
Very helpful to ser up my first set of premium headphones. Thank you!
I love when you make videos like this, Brandon. Great evergreen content for us noobs.
Kudos for the excellent video. This is my EQ for XM5. I feel like the upper midrange is already elevated so I turn down 2.5KHz rather than up. Also, I always keep one band as reference point (0) to keep my EQ "normalized".
ClearBass: -2 | 400: -1 | 1K: 0 (ref) | 2.5K: -2 | 6.3K: +3 | 16K: +3
I just wanted to add, for those relatively new to EQ, that although boosting around 2.5KHz makes the lead vocal/instrument seem to "cut through" the mix, and adds attack to percussions and guitar, thus making the music sound more lively, it can result to long-term listening fatigue. Human hearing is super-sensitive to this frequency range, so take it easy on boosting this range. 😀Did I get that right?
This video is underrated.
Thank you so much for your video. I own both WH-1000XM 4 and 5 and I was struggling to find one equalizer that made my XM5 sound as good as my XM4.
Oh this video is so dope Brandon! Thanks for making it
Thanks for stopping by dude!
This helped a lot. I always listened to these on bright setting but your setzing sound better. It can sounds closer to momentum 4
I love the 7 bad frequency dwarfs, that's so funny and also so helpful.
Thank you so much for this Brandon! Event though I have been EQing things for myself for over half a decade, but I did pick up a few useful tips from this!
Something i've been looking for 👌🏼
Excellent videos. I'm learning so much!
I have the between 3ANC, can you show me an EQ that makes them clear and punchy? Thank you and I enjoyed this video and your EQ was really good
This is totally helpful! Got the XM5 and applying the Excited EQ preset combining it with the Piano EQ of my iPhone.
I cant explain why but you seem such a nice person. Thank you for the tutorial tho!
I appreciate that!
Thank you, i bought it after watching your video. Please suggest perfect EQ for bose flex 2nd gen.
I’ve been using the sennheiser momentum 4s and I used their new customisable eq, now when I use the headphones there’s like a inconsistent loud spark or kick however you explain it, and it will be in the most random sequences, anyone know how I can stop this
Sir kindly momentum 4 comparison waiting for long time now
I litterally used this guys voice to EQ and De esse plys Dyn-EQ because his S's sounds so SHARP ! LOL
Great Guide on EQ tweaking. What song starts at 10:33-10:47?
I subscribed!!
Thank you sir this helped me understand a little more about the basics 👍
Glad it helped
I have been looking for this for the past few months.❤️
Haha, I've gotten a lot of comments about it from a lot of people 😅
Can u make a video on wavelet too
Hii i think you should make a video for best settings for sennheiser momentum 4s their isnt one single video about it
Wonderful video 👍🏼 but I have a request, please explain a bit Slower, so that it will be much better to understand with enhanced clarity 🙏🏼 Thank you.
I own cheap headphones and so EQ on a phone is a must... My clear bass is mostly +3 or +5(due to steep sub bass roll off of those headphones) and 400hz is always negative since most of cheap headphones have a lil bit muddy bass and murky mids, mid is 1khz
Thanks for the tutorial was much needed 🤝
today you were my hero
I wish there was a way have different equalizer settings for the phones speakers and headphones
I have tried some EQ settings in several headphones, Sony's frequencies choices is weird, but I can say that compared to other EQs and headphones tweeking something to the max, the sound doesn't drown on the frequency, for exampme bass, you tweek bass all the way up in JBL headphones, say goodbye to mids and highs, or put mids all the way up, say good bye to the rest, not Sony.
Yeah, they EQ well
Great content as always! Looking forward to your Pixel Buds Pro review!
Soon!
For some reason I love the sound of songs when I amp up the 8k and 16k on full force while keeping the mid range at normal and slightly amp up the low range except the 32 hz. I cut that a little.
Do you have a custom EQ for pixel buds pro just got me a pair. Trying to figure out how to make it sound better
I do! It's available for channel members: ruclips.net/user/thisistechtodayjoin
Hi ! Please can you find for me best equaliser setting for JBL Extreme 3 . I love listening classical & jazz and I would love to know best settings using JBL equaliser app for this music. Thank you 🙏
Please let us get a list of these songs ❤
These are my settings after like one week of messing around with the EQ and other settings, I'm a video and audio editor myself btw :)
SBC or LDAC codec
AAC is garbage, no frequencies over 15KHz, lots of artefacts, no detail. I really wish these had APTX so I could use them without artefacts on my Macbook Pro, since I cannot force SBC since MacOS 11.
400Hz: -4 (takes away the boomyness)
1K: -1 (less hollow)
2.5K: +2 (more presence)
6.3K: +3 (more treble)
16K: +9 (air)
Clear Bass: -2 or -3 (makes bass more refined and less overpowering)
Additionally on Android to get some extra sub bass:
Bass tuner:
Sustain Compressor
Cutoff: 20Hz
Post-gain: -2dB
What app can i use in sub bass???
@@shadowgs_5077 use wavelet for that, only on Android though.
Also the EQ is outdated, these are the values I'd recommend:
400: -6
1K: +1
2.5K: +2
6.3K: +1
16K: +5
Clear Bass: -2
@@DennisSchmitz omg thankyou i have a question how can i adjust it myself with your eq reference on other devices for example eq settings for the corsair void elite wireless headset on the pc or the 9 bandwith of the android eq 😊
@@DennisSchmitz thank you i use the xm4 and it sounds very clear specially the voices 😊
@@DennisSchmitz also on android if i wear the headphones do i use normal eq from the settings of the android or change them? What is that thing called adapt sound?
How to fix the EQ if it's more loud in the left side I have that problem the side overwhelmed the right side it doesn't balance the sound it's annoying for me I want both have equal sounds
Great EQ thank you my friend
Hey bro! Can u do a custom eq for realme buds air 6🙏
i always test it with song from the brilliant green - ash like snow..it get great instrumental sounding and vocal too
Enjoyed the test tracks, esp Bloodstream and Get Away.
Yeah, they're so good
Super helpful, Brandon!
👍👍👍
Tbh i like dolby Atmos and I don't have it supported on my device and my previous phone had that and i didn't realise that how good the background drums and guitar used to feel until i switched.
How would you EQ it. Would appreciate your graph settings for the ult wear
*SUGAR EQ*
Water: 0
Coffee: +2
Tea: +1
Energy drink: -2
Beer: 0
Absinth: +3
Thanks man really helps
Beautifully done 👍👍
8:55 with Sony audio products especially, I Find One overall EQ I like that works for most things, and this often mean cutting Bass, but that’s easy to compensate for with Sony clear bass. I can leave the EQ Alone and boost the bass ‘appropriately’ for that listening session or song
How the XM5 sounds like with the wired headphone jack?
I have a question about eq's.
Would you say all the numbers are there just to help visualize what youre hearing and adjusting?
Does Anything below 0 actually takeaway decibals?
I guess what im trying to say is, could you just say the bottom level of the eq is "0" and the very top is "11" and anything up from the bottom"0" is adding
negative is reducing a frequency range.
in 04:47 you used a music can you please tell me name of the music or song
How about for Bose qc ultra?
They only have three things adjustable.
I'm going to buy these phones! How can I find your Custom EQs after I became a member? It it easy to find just using the search bar inside your channel?
It’s under the member tab 😊
Awesome content! Patiently waiting for your sound testing on the Galaxy Buds2 Pro!
This is an awesome video... Very insightful👏👏👏
Thank you! Please share with others!
Do mx5 have physical bass like xm4s?
Or is it audible bass like mid range headphones because of the smaller 30mm drivers?
Brother pls suggest a eq settings for watching movies
I have sony wf c500
truth xm5 some time getting annoyed cus the ANC not accurate , especially when im on call in the train and my gf heard loud & clear noise that came from around me, even in public area if someone just passing me while they talk
but other than that overall its perfect for me , i do love the sound quality 👍
Curious to know your thoughts on using EQ in music apps vs headphone apps. Seems to make sense to use the EQ in my Surface Headphones app so that sound is more consistent across all apps, but I also use different headphones or ear buds, depending on the situation, and of course, there isn't an EQ app for AirPods Pro or Beats Fit Pro.
hi friend can you help me with my new sony ch720n with an equalizer like you did for the xm5?thanks😃
i have apple and android flagship does one sound better to you ?? if so which one should i use for that if theres a difference
Would you test the momentum 4 ?
We need to hear your review on the Pixel Buds Pro, can't wait.
Patience.
What eq settings would you recommend for senheiser wireless earbuds? I got these earbuds real recently, and I want to make full use of them. Even though these sound great, I would really appreciate if you can give me a recommendation.
Can you share an eq setting for the Sony link buds s?
Can you make the Linkbuds S sound similar to the Galaxy Buds Pro? More cleare less bass?
Keep up the good work
Have you figured out how to do this? Just bought my new linkbuds s and im kinda disappointed tbh .. especially with the vocals quality
Does equalisation made on phone work for all other sources of music such as laptop? Or when i switch to laptop i must equlise it again? (sony xm4 and sony xm5)
i got a question, if i equalize the headphones in cell phone is only for the cellphone?, what if i use them in pc.
Hi all
With inspiration from this great video, I have spent some time trying to make these headphones sound as close to natural as I can 'imho' and I think it's not bad, and works for most music genres for me.
Settings are
400: -1
1k: +2
2.5k +4
6.3k +1
16k +2
With clear bass anywhere from -3 to -7, I find very pleasant for most listening, feel free to try it out and give me your thoughts. I know it's not very 'bass'y', and I don't like too much bass, but you can of course adjust clear bass to your liking, I think it works pretty well with more boost as well.
Cheers all