Rockbox Equalizer Settings?

[Kefo2012]

Fellow users,
I apologize if this is in the wrong section, but I didn't think it'd fit in "Hardware". I've been tinkering around with the equalizer settings to try and get at least the same quality of sound that the toshiba gigabeat firmware offers (or better), but of course with no luck. I read the instructions about peaks and limits and shelves but I still couldn't master the many different fields that can be altered. I would be forever grateful if someone could provide me with a list of decent figures to set the "precut", "simple" and "advanced" settings to, I just don't know what decibels mean what and my experimentation has been fruitless. Center frequency, gain, "Q" and all these things just leave me baffled.

I know it's a lot to ask... but hopefully someone can copy out the numbers to their eq settings as a reply to this post? If it helps, I listen to everything from reggae to progressive rock, electronica to neo-classical. I just need a crisp sound with average bass, and lack the brains/determination to achieve it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for your time spent on reading this loong post.

Kefo2012

[saratoga]

EQ settings are dependent on what headphones you have.

[Kefo2012]

EQ settings are dependent on what headphones you have.

Okay well I have sony mdr-7506's, and they reproduce studio quality sound. They basically deliver the music as it was recorded... hope this helps.

[Llorean]

If they reproduce the music as it was recorded, you shouldn't be tweaking the equalizer...

[Kefo2012]

If they reproduce the music as it was recorded, you shouldn't be tweaking the equalizer...

Well you see, studio quality doesn't have much "body" to it, I want to feel the music and not just hear it. I'm not a basshead, but I just want the rich, audible textures to come through.  
The "flat" setting on the old firmware gave me decent sound, but when I used the user setting and upped the treble to +2 and the bass to +3, it sounded magnificent. I can't get back to that quality though (and I thought rockbox eq gave you ultimate control, allowing for maximum quality? that's one of the main reasons I switched over). I hope I'm not coming off as rude or anything, I would just like a decent eq setting! If not then at least something that will help me understand what all the different areas open for modification are... without me spending hours scratching my head.

[Llorean]

Why not just change the Rockbox Bass and Treble settings instead of using the EQ then.

If reading an article or two on how to set an equalizer doesn't help you, and none of the included presets fit your liking, you're probably going to be better off just using the normal tone controls.

[safetydan]

Also, there are a number of equalizer presets that ship with Rockbox. Have you tried one of those?

[Kefo2012]

Yeah I tried the treble/bass settings on rockbox, and they just don't seem to do justice. Also, the presets are okay, but certain frequencies just don't come through some of them. I know there is an equalizer setting that is somewhat universal, bringing out the max in most genres, but I guess I'll never find it.

I suppose it was a stupid question to begin with, asking for someone's eq settings... well thanks for the help anyways cats and kittens, but I guess I'm on my own here. I'll figure out this equalizer sooner or later, I hope  

Once again, thank you for your suggestions, I appreciate your time.

[Chronon]

The treble/bass settings don't work properly yet.  If you have any experience setting a graphic EQ on a stereo then you should have some notion of how to operate the equalizer.  The parametric equalizer in Rockbox gives you more flexibility because you are able to select the center frequency and width of each band as well as the gain to apply to it.  Graphic EQs that you find on many stereos have preset width and center frequencies for each band.  Rockbox allows you to also customize those values.

Gain --> Amplitude (how much boost or cut do you want)
Frequency --> The central frequency that you want to apply the gain to
Q --> A measure of the width of the frequency band -- high Q means a narrow band

You can probably get away with just adjusting the Gain for each band in the "graphical EQ" for now.  The simple EQ settings also give you a way to do this.

[markun]

I know there is an equalizer setting that is somewhat universal, bringing out the max in most genres, but I guess I'll never find it.

Where did you learn of this 'universal equalizer setting'? Also, if you know it exists why do you think you'll never find it?

[saratoga]

EQ settings are dependent on what headphones you have.

Okay well I have sony mdr-7506's, and they reproduce studio quality sound. They basically deliver the music as it was recorded... hope this helps.

Then you have no use for EQ.

I know there is an equalizer setting that is somewhat universal, bringing out the max in most genres, but I guess I'll never find it.

No there isn't.  Your music is already EQed by the recording studio, so all you're doing with EQ is correcting for the limitations of your hardware.

[Kefo2012]

Chronon: Hey thanks a lot, your advice definitely clears things up a bit. However, I never quite understood exactly what "cut" is, though I think boost is self-explanatory...

Markun: Well this "universal setting" is simply the way the equalizer is set, I remember my friend never had to change his equalizer settings on his stereo and we could listen to multitudes of genres of music on vinyl as well as cd. I don't believe I'll find it because my ear is untrained - I'll know it when I hear it, but to fiddle back and forth with settings that affect one another in attempt to find the perfect balance simply isn't my forte.

Can't stress enough how much I appreciate this

[Kefo2012]

EQ settings are dependent on what headphones you have.

Okay well I have sony mdr-7506's, and they reproduce studio quality sound. They basically deliver the music as it was recorded... hope this helps.

Then you have no use for EQ.

I know there is an equalizer setting that is somewhat universal, bringing out the max in most genres, but I guess I'll never find it.

No there isn't.  Your music is already EQed by the recording studio, so all you're doing with EQ is correcting for the limitations of your hardware.

I already explained that the studio quality doesn't have enough body to it.

As for that universal setting, it was just a label to describe an eq setting that benefits most music in general... a happy balance, a mushy middle... Sorry for not being technical enough with my terms.

[safetydan]

Cut is the opposite of boost. Generally with an equalizer you want to cut frequencies rather than boost them as boosting can easily lead to distortion.

[Mikerman]

Perhaps of some help, here is a thread at misticriver.net that attempted to gather (limited success) EQ presets.

http://misticriver.net/showthread.php?t=36635