Hello all, I'm NEW

[staticV3]

BTW I would love your guy's thoughts on which Dekoni Pad material is considered the best with the Sundara? I keep reading it might be the Elite Velour, but would like to get some thoughts.

Generally, aftermarket pads should be approached with caution.
Earpads are a large part of how manufacturers tune their headphones and replacing them with aftermarket ones risks messing up the tuning.

That's especially true with the Sundara whereas in 2020, HiFiMan revised the earpads to bring the tuning more in line with Harman:


Replace the pads with Dekoni and you can no longer rely on measurements from oratory1990, Amir, Crinacle, etc. to EQ your headphone.

 

[Jackal]

Once installed and set up, Equalizer Apo stays completely hidden. It's neither in the Task bar:
View attachment 204900
nor in here:
View attachment 204901
nor can I find it anywhere in the Task manager:
View attachment 204906

CPU Usage is also extremely low. I'm using a ridiculous 700 band GEQ at the moment and EQApo is using 0.2% of my 6700K.
So yeah, I'm sure it's running somewhere in the background, but who cares?

All your settings persist between reboots and not even on startup does EQApo make itself noticeable.
It stays entirely out of your way, so it's a complete no-brainer imo.

If you'd like, then I could prepare some EQ settings for the Sundara for you.

Hey Static,

I downloaded the program and saw a video on how to apply the settings to my output device which is the moto m2

So I'm guessing now it's about putting in some values?

 

[Jackal]

Generally, aftermarket pads should be approached with caution.
Earpads are a large part of how manufacturers tune their headphones and replacing them with aftermarket ones risks messing up the tuning.

That's especially true with the Sundara whereas in 2020, HiFiMan revised the earpads to bring the tuning more in line with Harman:
View attachment 204957

Replace the pads with Dekoni and you can no longer rely on measurements from oratory1990, Amir, Crinacle, etc. to EQ your headphone.

Ok makes sense

 

[Jackal]

Another thing to add.....

Don't know if I have to make any changes here.

If anyone can help in inputting the correct EQ values for the Sundara, that would be appreciated.

 

[Deleted member 46664]

Another thing to add.....
View attachment 205008
Don't know if I have to make any changes here.

If anyone can help in inputting the correct EQ values for the Sundara, that would be appreciated.

If you are using Equalizer APO and you want to be sure it is always on, uncheck the two boxes for Exclusive Mode.

 

[Deleted member 46664]

Hey Static,

I downloaded the program and saw a video on how to apply the settings to my output device which is the moto m2

View attachment 204988
So I'm guessing now it's about putting in some values?

The easiest way to make filters for Equalizer APO is with the Room EQ Wizard. It can be used to automatically make filters based on it's acoustic read of your room. You can fine tune from there.

Both the APO and REW come with extensive documentation. I strongly recommend you read both before you start tampering with either.

 

[Jackal]

If you are using Equalizer APO and you want to be sure it is always on, uncheck the two boxes for Exclusive Mode.

Ok I did. Thx

 

[Jackal]

The easiest way to make filters for Equalizer APO is with the Room EQ Wizard. It can be used to automatically make filters based on it's acoustic read of your room. You can fine tune from there.

Both the APO and REW come with extensive documentation. I strongly recommend you read both before you start tampering with either.

In my room? For headphones? I want to optimize it for my Sundara's

 

[Jackal]

So this is what I was able to do.

Based on Amir's suggestion.

Is that it? Was it that simple?

 

[Chrispy]

Hello everyone,

I just ordered a Sundara. It will be connected to a Motu M2/Heresy stack. I also have ordered hart cables. I will wait and listen to them before I make a choice but, I keep hearing that the Sundara's cold use some EQ'ing. I'm by no means an audiophile (yet) so I have no experience in EQ software and I would rather not have to have extra programs running in the background. If I do feel the cans could use some EQ would I be better served with something like the Loki mini +?

Question on software EQ's. Once set up, I'm assuming something like "Equalizer APO" has to be open and running for the sound changes to take effect?

I really appreciate this site and all the hard work that goes into it!

More about the pursuing of the gear which you've got going.....so you're already an audiophile . Welcome to the madness. Seems you've got a lot of great suggestions on what to do next....

 

[Deleted member 46664]

In my room? For headphones? I want to optimize it for my Sundara's

Ahh ... "Sundara" is a headphone ... it would have helped if you said so up front.

 

[Chrispy]

Ahh ... "Sundara" is a headphone ... it would have helped if you said so up front.

I guess I was a step ahead, I knew that! Maybe its the constant email blitz from drop.....I'm not a headphone fan or user myself.

 

[Deleted member 46664]

I guess I was a step ahead, I knew that! Maybe its the constant email blitz from drop.....I'm not a headphone fan or user myself.

Yep ... looks that way...

 

[Jackal]

Ahh ... "Sundara" is a headphone ... it would have helped if you said so up front.

Ah so sorry I took for granted that it was known. Again My apologies.

 

[Deleted member 46664]

Ah so sorry I took for granted that it was known. Again My apologies.

No worries ... judging from the other responses, I might have been the only one who didn't know....

 

[JanesJr1]

So this is what I was able to do.

View attachment 205049




Based on Amir's suggestion.
View attachment 205050

Is that it? Was it that simple?

Maybe I missed this above, but there are a couple of things to do that will save a ton of back-and-forth on this website about how to EQ your Sundaras.

First, take the advice above to read the wiki instructions on the EAPO website.

Second, bone up on info about EQ curves, particularly the Harman curve, which is a reference Frequency Response curve for headphones. It's important to understand what it is and what it isn't. Just search it here on ASR or on the web, and find the educational forums on ASR's Forum tab. for all sorts of audio topics.

For EQ settings for the Sundara's, ASR members will have ideas, but you should also become familiar in general with the "Oratory 1990" list of headphone EQ settings (for hundreds of headphones) that conform to the Harman curve. Other sources are Amir's reviews, the ASR discussion threads that follow his reviews, or ASR forum threads under the forum topic heading for the specific headphone you are interested in.

For example, with a new headphone or IEM, I will start by using the Oratory 1990 curve for that headphone. Then I will tune and tweak to meet my own personal preferences; or try other curves, like Amir's. The ASR forums are also chuck full of insights and debates about how best to handle any given headphone or piece of hardware. You can get an Oratory 1990 sheet for the Sundara by downloading a .pdf from the Oratory 1990 reddit site (just google it and page through the list of headphones by brand).

Oh, and lest it go unsaid, this process can be fun, and not a chore. You could just "set and forget", and things might be ok. But if you have a little Sherlock Holmes in you about tweaking your audio, you will be amazed by the improvement in your listening skills, and will learn a ton of things about music and music reproduction. It is an enriching experience if you are receptive to the idea. I'm still at the bottom of my learning curve, but the ASR members on this forum have immense experience to learn from.

 

[staticV3]

@Jackal try the GEQ that's attached to this post. It's oratory1990's GRAS KEMAR measurement of the Sundara2020 (basically identical to Amir's measurement):



EQed to the AutoEQ target (Harman OE2018 minus 2dB bass):

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635427956482899969/935277221826953227/Headphone_targets-1.png

Here's how to load the preset into EQApo:


Afterwards you can toggle the EQ On/Off without a change in volume.
If you find there's too little/much bass, then I can adjust the target

There are two versions in the Zip: one with full correction and one that corrects only <7KHz.

 

[Jackal]

@Jackal try the GEQ that's attached to this post. It's oratory1990's GRAS KEMAR measurement of the Sundara2020 (basically identical to Amir's measurement):
View attachment 205185


EQed to the AutoEQ target (Harman OE2018 minus 2dB bass):

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635427956482899969/935277221826953227/Headphone_targets-1.png

Here's how to load the preset into EQApo:
View attachment 205186

Afterwards you can toggle the EQ On/Off without a change in volume.
If you find there's too little/much bass, then I can adjust the target

There are two versions in the Zip: one with full correction and one that corrects only <7KHz.

Thank you I was able to DL and apply. I have almost everything set up. Waiting on the new cables and the new headphones. But now I can A/B the hell outta this THANKS!!!!!!!

 

[Jackal]

@Jackal try the GEQ that's attached to this post. It's oratory1990's GRAS KEMAR measurement of the Sundara2020 (basically identical to Amir's measurement):
View attachment 205185


EQed to the AutoEQ target (Harman OE2018 minus 2dB bass):

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635427956482899969/935277221826953227/Headphone_targets-1.png

Here's how to load the preset into EQApo:
View attachment 205186

Afterwards you can toggle the EQ On/Off without a change in volume.
If you find there's too little/much bass, then I can adjust the target

There are two versions in the Zip: one with full correction and one that corrects only <7KHz.

Once again thx for all your help. I used the full correction. My question is am I supposed to add Amir's corrections on TOP of the EQ?

Because when turning it all on I get this....

 

[staticV3]

No. It's one or the other.