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WH-XM3 sound as wide as SHP9500?

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So I was recently interested in getting headphones with a big soundstage, as it'd be great to have music come from around you. I spent a lot of time researching virtual surround software, and am currently using HeSuVi which is giving me great results. However, as the XM3s are closed back, I expected the SHP9500s (I just got an hour ago), rated as one of the highest passive soundstage by rtings for under 200$, to be a noticeable difference.

There's a bit more openness as the ears get a breeze from open backs, but in terms of how far and how wide the "speakers around the room" experience is, it's almost negligible. When I eq both (with the test setting from Peace), and apply HeSuVi to both, the XM3s sound almost 90-95% of SHP9500. Am I doing something wrong? Or am I expecting too much from 75$? Appreciate any responses.
 
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maverickronin

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A couple things.

Using an HRTF virtualization DSP like HeSuVi will inherently narrow the differences between headphones.

What EQ targets are you using for your headphones?
 
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A couple things.

Using an HRTF virtualization DSP like HeSuVi will inherently narrow the differences between headphones.

What EQ targets are you using for your headphones?
I just run the "test" setting on Peace (which uses sine waves to detect hearing thresholds and make an eq based on that) and use that (with SPH I added some bass as well to compensate for the rolloff, didn't feel much of a difference soundstage wise with or without the rolloff though in case that was the culprit). I tried the Harman AutoEQ for both but wasn't a fan.
 

maverickronin

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I just run the "test" setting on Peace (which uses sine waves to detect hearing thresholds and make an eq based on that) and use that (with SPH I added some bass as well to compensate for the rolloff, didn't feel much of a difference soundstage wise with or without the rolloff though in case that was the culprit). I tried the Harman AutoEQ for both but wasn't a fan.

I've never tried that EQ method before so I'm not really what it would do to the soundstage. I use my own house curve which is kind of like diffuse field with a bass boots below 100Hz.
 
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I've never tried that EQ method before so I'm not really what it would do to the soundstage. I use my own house curve which is kind of like diffuse field with a bass boots below 100Hz.
The thing is, even without any EQ, there is still not much of a difference in wideness (only HeSuVi enabled). I guess that HeSuVi matched my HRTF well enough where having open vs closed drivers doesn't really have as big of an impact.

Can't complain, means the only real upgrade is a 800S but that will be far far away.
 

maverickronin

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The thing is, even without any EQ, there is still not much of a difference in wideness (only HeSuVi enabled). I guess that HeSuVi matched my HRTF well enough where having open vs closed drivers doesn't really have as big of an impact.

Can't complain, means the only real upgrade is a 800S but that will be far far away.

How different do they sound to you without HeSuVi?
 

maverickronin

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With 0 EQ the XM3s are more recessed with overpowering bass, and SPH more clear but almost no bass. Imaging/soundstage wise the unEQ'd SPHs are better, but not even close to SPH or XM3s with HeSuVi.

Sounds like HeSuVi plus that EQ method fits your HRTF pretty well then.
 
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