Headphone Bass

[Kanmax]

Became a headphone enthusiast this year. Used to think amp/speakers (with subs) was the only way to listen to hi-fi but thanks to some good equipment I now enjoy headphones almost as much. I'm a card-carrying bassaholic and feel deep, tight bass should be felt in your chest (listen to pop/rock). Most of my previous resistance to headphones was not feeling the bass.

I love the imaging of my headphones (Sennheiser HD660S2), but the bass is nowhere near what I like. I therefore use EQ APO to cut gain by -18db with the preamp and then boost bass by 16db below 80hz after a steep roll-on. My headphone amp has lots of good power so no perceivable bass distortion (I also don't listen too loud). With this EQ I hear enough bass that I can actually be lulled into thinking I'm listening to speakers with subs if I relax and drift off into the music.

I understand there are headphones out there with better bass than mine. With that said, am I insane about bass or do some of you also do this EQ for headphone bass?

 

[Klonatans]

For insane and undistorted levels of bass you should try some planar headphones.

 

[kemmler3D]

Became a headphone enthusiast this year. Used to think amp/speakers (with subs) was the only way to listen to hi-fi but thanks to some good equipment I now enjoy headphones almost as much. I'm a card-carrying bassaholic and feel deep, tight bass should be felt in your chest (listen to pop/rock). Most of my previous resistance to headphones was not feeling the bass.

I love the imaging of my headphones (Sennheiser HD660S2), but the bass is nowhere near what I like. I therefore use EQ APO to cut gain by -18db with the preamp and then boost bass by 16db below 80hz after a steep roll-on. My headphone amp has lots of good power so no perceivable bass distortion (I also don't listen too loud). With this EQ I hear enough bass that I can actually be lulled into thinking I'm listening to speakers with subs if I relax and drift off into the music.

I understand there are headphones out there with better bass than mine. With that said, am I insane about bass or do some of you also do this EQ for headphone bass?

That sounds pretty insane to me (I like my bass only slightly boosted) but my LCD-XCs give the cleanest bass I've ever heard from any source.

I played a 15hz tone and jacked up the volume... for a second I honestly thought the walls were shaking. I didn't hear anything, exactly, but I got really freaked out for a moment. Not actually that fun, but proves the bass capability of these cans.

 

[solderdude]

Became a headphone enthusiast this year. Used to think amp/speakers (with subs) was the only way to listen to hi-fi but thanks to some good equipment I now enjoy headphones almost as much. I'm a card-carrying bassaholic and feel deep, tight bass should be felt in your chest (listen to pop/rock). Most of my previous resistance to headphones was not feeling the bass.

I love the imaging of my headphones (Sennheiser HD660S2), but the bass is nowhere near what I like. I therefore use EQ APO to cut gain by -18db with the preamp and then boost bass by 16db below 80hz after a steep roll-on. My headphone amp has lots of good power so no perceivable bass distortion (I also don't listen too loud). With this EQ I hear enough bass that I can actually be lulled into thinking I'm listening to speakers with subs if I relax and drift off into the music.

I understand there are headphones out there with better bass than mine. With that said, am I insane about bass or do some of you also do this EQ for headphone bass?

Consider a Woojer vest ?

When you like the sound of the HD660S2 with that extreme EQ and you don't hear distortion then just use it that way.

Look at 'basshead' forums to see what they like to use.
Most 'basshead' headphones don't have such a smooth midrange and treble response.
If you want to 'feel' more subbass on your head you can (as previously suggested) look into planar headphones.
For visceral bass I would recommend Audeze over hifiman.

 

[threni]

Became a headphone enthusiast this year. Used to think amp/speakers (with subs) was the only way to listen to hi-fi but thanks to some good equipment I now enjoy headphones almost as much. I'm a card-carrying bassaholic and feel deep, tight bass should be felt in your chest (listen to pop/rock). Most of my previous resistance to headphones was not feeling the bass.

I love the imaging of my headphones (Sennheiser HD660S2), but the bass is nowhere near what I like. I therefore use EQ APO to cut gain by -18db with the preamp and then boost bass by 16db below 80hz after a steep roll-on. My headphone amp has lots of good power so no perceivable bass distortion (I also don't listen too loud). With this EQ I hear enough bass that I can actually be lulled into thinking I'm listening to speakers with subs if I relax and drift off into the music.

I understand there are headphones out there with better bass than mine. With that said, am I insane about bass or do some of you also do this EQ for headphone bass?

I don't think you're insane. I have the original HD660S which has more than enough bass for me when EQd. (I like a little more "air" too.) I played around quite a lot but ended up with these peak filters:
Gain: -11
Freq:22 q:0.5 gain:14
Freq:3000 q:2.5 gain:4
Freq:5480 q:5 gain:-3
Freq:12500 q:0.5 gain:1.5
Freq:15560 q:0.5 gain:2
Freq:17500 q:0.5 gain:3