Sennheiser HD560s Owner's Thread.

[masterload]

Hello

I have the new 560s version.

And using this settings:

New version of Sennheiser HD 560S (!)

Hey again! I used the AutoEQ import tool available in EqualizerAPO w/ the Peace UI - looks like it is quite jank. Here is attempt #2! I hope I got this right this time! Should I move your settings to the front bands (1, 2, 3), or leave oratory1990's settings as bands 1-10? Does that make a...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Are these settings still current?

Preamp: -4.1 dB
Filter: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 4.1 dB Q 0.5
Filter: ON HSC Fc 63 Hz Gain -0.42 dB Q 0.5
Filter: ON PK Fc 160 Hz Gain -1.3 dB Q 1.00
Filter: ON HSC Fc 632 Hz Gain -0.42 dB Q 0.5
Filter: ON PK Fc 1173 Hz Gain -1.0 dB Q 2
Filter: ON PK Fc 1813 Hz Gain 2.8 dB Q 2
Filter: ON PK Fc 3320 Hz Gain -2.1 dB Q 3.5
Filter: ON PK Fc 3870 Hz Gain 3.6 dB Q 2
Filter: ON PK Fc 4520 Hz Gain -3.7 dB Q 3
Filter: ON PK Fc 5280 Hz Gain -2.3 dB Q 3
Filter: ON HSC Fc 6324 Hz Gain -0.42 dB Q 0.5
Filter: ON PK Fc 6800 Hz Gain 4.1 dB Q 2

 

[solderdude]

When you want to EQ the response to a specific target measured on a specific fixture in a specific positioning from the measured copy then yes.... it will be 'accurate' to that.

You could question whether or not your head/ear shape/copy/pad condition/wearing method and seal are the same as the measurement the EQ was based on are very similar.

 

[usern]

You could question whether or not your head/ear shape/copy/pad condition/wearing method and seal are the same as the measurement the EQ was based on are very similar.

Okay, and what do I gain if I do that? Are you saying one shouldn't use Oratory or other target EQs? What do you propose instead?

 

[solderdude]

Okay, and what do I gain if I do that? Are you saying one shouldn't use Oratory or other target EQs? What do you propose instead?

I am saying that in general one does not need 'exact' EQ as calculated based on a single measurement on a single fixture.
What one can gain from that remark is that an 'exact EQ' (you know with many many parametric filters) is NOT as exact as they may think it is.

What one could do (IMO) is look for various measurements done with various test fixtures.
Look for the 'errors' that are in common with these measurements and EQ the 'grossest' errors.
Usually 2 or 3 bands should be enough.
Use that as a starting point and EQ to taste in the bass and between 1-5kHz.

Now, for the HD560S all one needs is a little shelf in the lows (to taste) and lower the 4-7kHz band a few dB and you are set.
Just 2 bands for 'correction'.

The problem is that most 'pre-chewed EQ' users have no idea how to do this and usually get 'enough' improvement using EQ from people they trust.

So if someone likes what they hear using some EQ found on the web they should use it. It just may very well not be as accurate as they believe it to be. That was the message.

And .. those into Oratory EQ and actually read the info on his reddit also should be aware that he also clearly puts hints in there to EQ to taste and even describes which bands they should play with.
And he is right... use that EQ (or that from others) as a starting point and tune to taste.
Human hearing is not the same as the response from any test fixture ... not the 5128, not the one Oratory uses nor Amir's rig.
What these fixtures (and clinging to corresponding standards) can be used for is keeping a variable constant (so comparisons within the standard are valid).

I think everyone that is serious about headphone measurements knows the limitations pretty well.

 

[usern]

Now, for the HD560S all one needs is a little shelf in the lows (to taste) and lower the 4-7kHz band a few dB and you are set.
Just 2 bands for 'correction'.

Before familiarising myself with HARMAN target EQs I used to EQ by ear and the results were way worse after starting to use Oratory EQ as a baseline. With the 560S my own EQ was worse than Oratory. Unless you are super experienced with EQ-ing and have your own measurement capability I think Oratory EQs as a baseline are better suggestions than what you said in the quote - coming up with few filters on your own.

 

[solderdude]

I think Oratory EQs as a baseline are better suggestions than what you said in the quote - coming up with few filters on your own.

Yep, you can best use Oratory or someone else's EQ as a baseline and EQ to taste from there.

And agreed one should know what they are doing, understand measurements and their limitations, know how to create the right filters (and check them using an ADC).
Just saying that HD560S really only needs (the correct) bass shelf and the correct 4-7kHz correction to be good enough as a baseline.
All those little filters one usually sees all have an impact on the sound but may not get the sound closer to what it should be.

I am not saying pre-chewed EQ by this or that person using this or that target and this or that fixture is 'wrong'.
I am saying that none of them are likely to create the 'correct' tonal balance on one's head.
Some recommendations may sound better than others which can be so for a variety of reasons.

Just saying someone's EQ may not be the best for someone else. Regardless who or how it was created.

 

[Robbo99999]

Yep, you can best use Oratory or someone else's EQ as a baseline and EQ to taste from there.

And agreed one should know what they are doing, understand measurements and their limitations, know how to create the right filters (and check them using an ADC).
Just saying that HD560S really only needs (the correct) bass shelf and the correct 4-7kHz correction to be good enough as a baseline.
All those little filters one usually sees all have an impact on the sound but may not get the sound closer to what it should be.

I am not saying pre-chewed EQ by this or that person using this or that target and this or that fixture is 'wrong'.
I am saying that none of them are likely to create the 'correct' tonal balance on one's head.
Some recommendations may sound better than others which can be so for a variety of reasons.

Just saying someone's EQ may not be the best for someone else. Regardless who or how it was created.

It's good that the HD560s doesn't need much EQ. Even the EQ of mine that someone linked earlier on this page doesn't change it all that much. Relatively rare that a headphone doesn't need much EQ.

 

[Curupira]

Before familiarising myself with HARMAN target EQs I used to EQ by ear and the results were way worse after starting to use Oratory EQ as a baseline.

The problem of EQing/tuning by ear is that it's an acquired and steep skill, just like tuning an instrument. If you don't know what you're doing and don't have any anchor point (like a known FR on a known fixture like the GRAAS 43AG; or like the feedback from a tuner device), you'll be going for what appears natural to your acoustic memory, and that is problematic: people with "perfect pitch" take years to develop that skill.

So, when EQing coming from Oratory, what you are actually doing is coming from a known standpoint and going to a small deviance based own your own liking and HRTF. If you don't have a lot of experience around tuning headphones, this will lead to much better results than trying to guess what pitch that "guitar string" were when you first grabbed it.

 

[Tito]

Yep, you can best use Oratory or someone else's EQ as a baseline and EQ to taste from there.

And agreed one should know what they are doing, understand measurements and their limitations, know how to create the right filters (and check them using an ADC).
Just saying that HD560S really only needs (the correct) bass shelf and the correct 4-7kHz correction to be good enough as a baseline.
All those little filters one usually sees all have an impact on the sound but may not get the sound closer to what it should be.

I am not saying pre-chewed EQ by this or that person using this or that target and this or that fixture is 'wrong'.
I am saying that none of them are likely to create the 'correct' tonal balance on one's head.
Some recommendations may sound better than others which can be so for a variety of reasons.

Just saying someone's EQ may not be the best for someone else. Regardless who or how it was created.

i use oratory setting for 560s and i am lucky that it matches my hrttf perfectly. very good phones. good that the clamp force dropped after few months.

ps solderdude, if i may ask, will you be reviewing the adam audio h200 and .. t.bone phones aka the "the european superlux" as we call them in my neck of the woods.

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the t.bone HD 815

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[André RT]

Hi... iam using this eq curve and it sounds amazing... The HD560s no more sound neutral as in flat-neutral.

Band1: 20 Hz / +5dB / Q1.0
Band2: 40 Hz / +1.7dB / Q1.0
Band3: 2580 Hz / +2dB / Q1.5
Band4: 5710 Hz / -2.6dB / Q8.0
Band5: 8400 Hz / -2.3dB / Q8.5
("extra band")
Band6: 10300 Hz / +4.5dB / Q4.5

This based on the Roon EQ initially sugested by Amirm
I am using Voicemeter Banana and have those settings on the channel of the DX1 DAC.
On top of that curve there is +0.7 bass added to all sources on the main mixer.
If i want more compressed sound, I lower the DAC output and turn up the source.