What alternative?

[Briocat]

I have a pair of Sennheiser HD560S headphones that I listen to using the Wavelet app with the following settings: AutoEQ (almost always); Virtualizer: 50%; Bass Tuner: to increase the bass level, the only flaw I recognize with these headphones. Question: would it be a good choice to buy the HD550 just for the purpose of improving the bass performance, while wanting to keep the mid and high frequency performance unchanged? Or should I make a different choice?

 

[ZolaIII]

Buy a paid version of Wavelet and use ELC or simply adjust GEQ (in free version) if that satisfy you. If not play with Auto-EQ adjusting amount of bass and exporting EQ to be used with Wavelet.
AutoEq

AutoEq

Automatic headphone equalization

autoeq.app

AutoEq
Have fun and welcome to ASR.

 

[Briocat]

Buy a paid version of Wavelet and use ELC or simply adjust GEQ (in free version) if that satisfy you. If not play with Auto-EQ adjusting amount of bass and exporting EQ to be used with Wavelet.
AutoEq

AutoEq

Automatic headphone equalization

autoeq.app

AutoEq
Have fun and welcome to ASR.

You write: "f not play with Auto-EQ adjusting amount of bass and exporting EQ to be used with Wavelet."
Thanks, but unfortunately I don't know what to do.

 

[ZolaIII]

Auto-EQ is a Web app. You pick your headphones, then target and after that scroll down and adjust what you want in this case bass boost. In bottom you will be asked to pick EQ app (for which it bakes EQ) after you do you can try directly how it sounds to you and when you are satisfied download it to the phone and use it with Wavelet. There is a wiki (for the app) to read if it's still not clear to you. I hope that helps.

 

[Briocat]

Thanks. I'll try.

 

[ZolaIII]

One of the pro futures is equal loudness compensation (ELC) which is to SPL how we hear. Don't really know how good this implementation work nor on what it is based (educated guess is ISO 226 2003 at at least it should be).
After you bake and download EQ with Auto EQ app you import it in Wavelet.

It's a simple small text file like this.

You can even additionally edit it later on with text editor it's in simple frequency, gain; 256 point GEQ format (plane text) if you wish or bake another one in web app.

 

[Briocat]

I already have paid Wavelet, using the settings already mentioned. I've never used the "equal loudness" adjustment because I don't fully understand its purpose.
Thanks for the further explanation.
In any case, I'd like to know if there are headphones that have the same qualities as my HD560S, plus better bass performance, without resorting to external adjustments.

 

[ZolaIII]

Sure there are and by design closed back one's but to tell you the trought HD560S will do just fine with EQ to let's say mid 70's SPL program. Now explain me what kind of bass you are supposedly in persuit.

 

[Briocat]

This is my favorite bass tuner setting. I'd love headphones with this kind of bass.

 

[ZolaIII]

Is there any particular reason (like quiet listening) you are leaning to bass canons becose that's what you basically showd me? The post gain should be set to offset max gain added by EQ to negative value. What DAC do you use to drive them? Don't know how crossover is implemented. Equal loudness is to very loud calibration point of 88 dB (Wite focused noise +20 dB peek normal) where you can hear all of it and compensation is bass area (and a little bit of treble on rather quiet volume 60 dB or less). Bass knee to it is at 115 Hz and traditional low self (PEQ) filter will do just fine for adjusting it (Q 0.71). Harman target is already pre adjusted regarding ELC for about 70 dB program loudness. Really no need to cross 80 dB program (well if and when you party OK but even then try to stay there for short period of time). Best practic is vhen you are starting dial volume a little bit down for step or two of what you find ideal. Then by listening trough time (every half an hour or so) gradually increase it by one step at the time (let's say step is 1.5 dB) for prolonged listening session with maximum pleasure. After you already did it cuple of times it's time to make short brake, eventually eat something and start again from the start. Now please try as described with Harman target EQ and equal loudness enabled with Wavelet and tell me impressions in cuple of days.
Of course bass from any headphones will differ from one coming from room reinforced boundaries (subwoofer's in room). In order to compensate there adding room model or reverb helps.

 

[Briocat]

I appreciate your advice, but unfortunately I don't have the technical knowledge to apply it. All I can do are the adjustments I explained with Wavelet, which I use to achieve satisfactory listening results.
I'm still waiting for someone to recommend headphones with better bass, midrange, and highs, essentially similar to my HD560S, even if they're closed-back.

 

[AryaStealth]

Try the closed back Austrian Audio Hi-X60, you may like them if you don't listen very loud, both bass and treble are boosted, so the perceived sound is very open.
HD 550 has much more comfortable headband and less treble than 560s so you may hear more bass, but they don't have built-in bass shelf.

 

[Bernd]

This is my favorite bass tuner setting. I'd love headphones with this kind of bass.

5db....man, that is quite a lot. But of course I do not have your ears and it is first and foremost a matter of taste!

 

[ciccio1378]

I correct myself:....with more bass and mid and high frequencies similar to the HD560S

 

[ZolaIII]

Try Denon AH-D5200 if you can. Without EQ they have a bit to much slam and well who knows if you get them I can pass you & costume one I use. Some blokes like to compare them to HD600 for beyond bass and regarding sound stage (I don't).
Simply enable equal loudness slider right beneath auto EQ and graphic EQ in Wavelet.
My intention whose to at least get to a bottom of what you want in bass region before trying to purchase anything, best regards.

 

[Briocat]

I haven't had the chance to try the Denon you recommend, but even if it were good, it's too expensive for my budget.
I've been doing more research online these days, and while no one has recommended it, I think the HD550 is the one best suited to my needs: a little more treble and a little more bass than my HD560S. I'd like to stick to my usual listening habits.

 

[ZolaIII]

Well plenty of bass cannons out there I didn't get AH-D5200 for the bass but rather trable response to my liking and study design. In budge category AKG K371, if you want more plenty of V shaped in different categories (DJ, BT lifestyle, noise concealing lot of flavours). But you need to start from what you want to what's available to you to actually try out as fit is a factor. Don't know what's happening with old Bayer stocks and pricing right now because I don't pay lot of attention nowadays. You might find there something suitable.

 

[adelaidestevens]

It really comes down to what you need them for. I use the 560s strictly for gaming - the wide soundstage and slightly elevated treble give it an almost 3D-like effect. The 550 I save for movies and music since they’re less glaring in the high mids/lower treble, making them much more pleasant for long listening. And then there’s the 650, my go-to for music and youtube. While its soundstage isn’t as wide, it excels at making everything sound ‘right’ and smoothing out bad mixes, pretty much a remedy for poor recordings

 

[Briocat]

I recently tried the Sennheiser 550, but aside from the more prominent low frequencies, they didn't seem like a major improvement. So, I'll rephrase my initial question: which headphones, regardless of their system—dynamic or planar—are a substantial improvement over the HD560S, while maintaining the same sound quality. Maximum price: €400.

 

[Aryzon]

I recently tried the Sennheiser 550, but aside from the more prominent low frequencies, they didn't seem like a major improvement. So, I'll rephrase my initial question: which headphones, regardless of their system—dynamic or planar—are a substantial improvement over the HD560S, while maintaining the same sound quality. Maximum price: €400.

Edition XV. Effectively flawless headphone minus it's weight. Add a 10db bass shelf and you are good to go.