PEQdB Diamond Target Curve - New Stanford white paper

[totti1965]

Based on research involving around 400 (!!!) test subjects, Sharur (Saurav Chala, who has graduated in Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (Audio Science) in Stanford in June 2026) has placed target curves for headphones—and IEMs in particular—on a much broader data foundation than previously existed.
He wrote a white paper and hopefully will present it at an AES Convention:
Comparative Evaluation of Headphone
Target Curves Using Virtual Listening Tests
The target curve he proposes shows significant differences compared to the Harman 2019 target, especially in the high-frequency range:

https://peqdb.com/wiki/PEQdB-Comparitive-Evaluation-of-Headphone-Target-Curves.pdf

Perhaps this target curve can be a new standard, because it is significantly more often preferred than any other target curve and resembles the in-ear measured frequency response of a Monitor speaker listened in the nearfield.

 

[Chagall]

This has already been discussed.

I’ve tried it and liked it at first, but after a couple of days I found the tuning a bit somewhat gimmicky - basically more bass and more highs. It can sound impressive initially, but to me it doesn’t feel like the most neutral or reliable baseline.

Harman 2018 OE is still, IMO, the more robust starting point. From there, it’s easy enough to adjust bass or treble to taste.

 

[Redacted]

I'm not minded to read the paper, but in short, what is a "virtual listening test"?

 

[totti1965]

I'm not minded to read the paper, but in short, what is a "virtual listening test"?

AFAIK: Simply that the tests were made online and not at the rooms of the university. With exactly the same headphones.

 

[totti1965]

Sharur made a YouTube video, in which he explains exactly how to test the suggested target curve.
It may be interesting for people who own a MacBook and a US$ 100 Measurment Coupler (IEC 60318-4)
I think, the sound quality that he reaches with the US$ 13 AKG EO-IG 955 IEM in combination with the US $ 12 W1 Ear Tips is quite amazing:

The video

0:00 min to 0:20 min Introduction (new PEQdB diamond target curve)
0:20 min to 0:27 min Spinfit W1 Eartips used (Medium sized)
0:27 min to 1:05 min IEC 60318-4 Coupler used
1:05 min to 1:31 min Input and output check in the audio settings
1:31 min to 1:57 min Swapping left and right physical channel (Occlusion effect reduced)
1:57 min to 4:01 min Starting the rendering with room equalizing wizard (REW) Software
4:01 min to 4:31 min Export of the measurements
4:31 min to 6:07 min Channel matching in PEQdb software
6:07 min to 9:19 min Equalizing matched channels to global EQ (PEQdB Diamond target curve)
9:19 min to 9:30 min Pasting to clipboard and equalization in downside renderer
9:30 min to 10:00 min Measurement of left and right units after calibration
10:00 min to 10:37 min Summary

 

[Somafunk]

Sharur made a YouTube video, in which he explains exactly how to test the suggested target curve.

I suggest you look at his latest videos before you post anymore of his ramblings on this site, he claims autism/schizophrenia etc are not real amongst other real weird shit.

 

[Selkirks]

His YT channel tracks like a descent in to madness. Poor kid.

 

[Somafunk]

His YT channel tracks like a descent in to madness. Poor kid.

Yeah its quite tragic but his attitude to everyone around him on forums etc from the very beginning was so aggressive, he's banned from them all.

 

[totti1965]

Wait! I have posted the wrong Paper.
This is the right one, which refers to PEQdb Diamond:

https://purl.stanford.edu/bp189zs9642

 

[thewas]

Now that such people have access to AI tools, they can make their BS even look serious at first glance.

 

[muslhead]

Now that such people have access to AI tools, they can make their BS even look serious at first glance.

so true, all you have to do is look at my resume

 

[Alexander Gödde]

Sharur is toxic. Lots of insults and demeaning of others to a really sickening degree. Add lots of fantastic claims that often obviously have no basis in reality and I think the audio community is best served ignoring him.

 

[Chagall]

Sharur is toxic. Lots of insults and demeaning of others to a really sickening degree. Add lots of fantastic claims that often obviously have no basis in reality and I think the audio community is best served ignoring him.

I agree! Performance for clicks...shortsighted and weird.

 

[totti1965]

Saurav Chala aka Sharur has made a nice YouTube video in which he introduces his Stanford Master Thesis. Unfortunately it is a bit hidden by the fact that he has made around 160 videos during the last 4 weeks.
An optimized headphone target response curve
The paper: https://purl.stanford.edu/bp189zs9642

The YouTube video:
0:00 min to 0:47 min Introduction to video
0:47 min to 2:40 min Abstract
2:40 min to 4:13 min Introduction to the paper (Reason, Methodology)
4:13 min to 19:50 min Methods
19:50 min to 22:40 min Results

a) 19:50 min In-Ear pairwise preference results
b) 20:30 min Over-Ear pairwise preference results
c) 20:55 min Bradley-Terry model results
d) 21:15 min Song specific results
e) 22:39 min Limitations

23:33 min to 24:08 min Conclusion
24:08 min to 24:31 min End

Anyone who wants to try out Sharur’s theories and recommendations can do so for relatively little money:
Sharur recommends the US$13 AKG EO-IG 955, which he prefers over any other IEM because of its much lower occlusion effects compared to conventional IEMs.
He considers it important to use these earbuds backwards—that is, to swap the right and left channels electrically and then use the earbuds as if they were „proper“ IEMs. Right Earbud into left ear and left earbud into right ear.
He also highly recommends the use of Spinfit W1 Eartips, which cost also about US$ 13.
In Germany the Spinfit W1 Eartips will be avilable again from June 14 on - but not every size.

Due to variations between different samples of the AKG EO-IE 955 and also left to right channel variations, he recommends individual calibration for perfection…

I'm really looking forward to hearing how it sounds.

 

[beeface]

His YT channel tracks like a descent in to madness. Poor kid.

I subscribed to his channel recently. You shouldn't worry, he seems to just be posting silly/trollish videos for his own amusement

 

[totti1965]

I subscribed to his channel recently. You shouldn't worry, he seems to just be posting silly/trollish videos for his own amusement

But in between—from time to time—there always seem to be a few real gems or serious videos.
Sharur really doesn't make it easy for us!

 

[Apples]

His target is knowles target which is Harman with a overly bright treble. The treble to bass balance is off. Sounds thin from the Harman 200hz mud scoop then the overly bright treble makes the bass to treble balance off. Its fine if you like it but i think its fine with more mid bass warmth. No need to worship him its not that special.

 

[kemmler3D]

"The ultimate headphone target research paper" ... "MUST READ"

Hmm.

Humility is not necessary to make real progress, but it is a sign that someone is aware of the facts and prior work, which is.

Can anyone summarize the evidence that supports the idea that this target is really more accurate against certain references?

 

[Apples]

"The ultimate headphone target research paper" ... "MUST READ"

Hmm.

Humility is not necessary to make real progress, but it is a sign that someone is aware of the facts and prior work, which is.

Can anyone summarize the evidence that supports the idea that this target is really more accurate against certain references?

He did a shootout and people chose his target over others. It is funny when some targets in the community get destroyed in the shootouts that people vote for on his website. But there is a suspicious pattern that every target he makes gets top rated over everything especially when they have been wildly different.

 

[listener650]

There is a basic assumption we all make for any researcher undertaking a scientific endeavor—the assumption of good faith & honesty in reporting results.

IMO we cannot extend this assumption to Sharur given his history of pathological dishonesty. He has contradicted himself, spouted misinformation, and lied so consistently over such a long time period that it's impossible to trust anything he says or does.

How are we supposed to know he hasn't manipulated results or otherwise conducted the studies in a manner unbefitting of an unbiased scientific endeavor? We can't, because he has a years-long history of being a dishonest troll who's perfectly happy to say complete bullshit just to spite others. So no one should take him seriously.

I'm sure if he knew back then that people would remember his childish behavior and that would mean it was virtually impossible to take any of his future "scientific" endeavors seriously, he'd have thought twice about making his whole online persona "edgy overconfident jerk." Some bells can't be unrung.