Sansa Clip + Audio Settings Using GR06

[sbog4215]

Hey Guys,

I'm using the Sansa Clip + with V Sonic GR06 earphones. I'm finding the default sound produced by Rockbox to be a bit muffled compared to the OF (using the Jazz EQ). None of the Rockbox EQ presets took my fancy so I've been tinkering with the bass and treble, and I feel like I'm making some progress, but the other sound settings are completely beyond my head. I would hate to miss out on using my earphones to their full potential. Yes, I'm a bit of an audio quality nut.

I listen heavily to hard trance music and uplifting trance. I know that sound quality is very person specific, but could anyone give me a helping hand by providing me with what they think might be suitable sound settings for the GR06s and this style of music?

Thanks very munch in advance =)

Stef

[saratoga]

Eq settings are specific to each person and pair of headphones so I don't think anyone will be able to answer this.

[MacDonals]

Saratoga is right, settings are very subjective to both the headphone and the listener.  I am starting to understand how to equalize to my ears, and I have a pair for Grado SR-80's that I EQ'd and they sound decent.  I'm almost there on my settings; I can't answer your question but I can give you an idea of how I equalized mine.  A lot of this info is in another post of mine.  For me it was easier to see the actual curve and test out my settings on a PC prior to putting those settings on my Rockbox

Setup:

• WinAmp 2.95 (still available here)
• Electric-Q VST Plugin.  Posihfopit editions
  

BE SURE TO DISABLE ALL SOUND CARD ENHANCEMENTS AND OTHER (WINAMP) EQUALIZERS


I loaded up my typical sample file, indicative of the music I listen to (heavy guitars, vocals and lots of loud / quiet variation), "Quake" by Balance & Composure.

I then went to headphone.com to find a good analysis of the Frequency Response of these headphones.  When you are equalizing for your headphones, you're doing just that equalizing.  Every set of headphones has some deficiencies and when you're trying to do is use the equalizer to compensate for those deficiencies.  I found a decent graph of the frequency response of Grado SR-80's.  You can clearly see that the low end of the spectrum is under-powered so my EQ will need to boost that. 


And here is that graph flipped, which is basically what I want my curve to look like.  I am not taking the exact decibel values into account, I just want a general facsimile of the curve.


As I said, I want to make my equalizer curve to look like the inverse of the frequency response graph.  I loaded up my track and started to tweak my settings in WinAmp, using my headphones.  Ended up with the following.  I grabbed the values from that chart and entered them into RockBox, paying special attention to the LowShelf and HighShelf.  Any minor tweaks took place in Sound Settings (bass-1, treble 2, Crossfeed on, etc.).  I also used 10-bands on this, and that's kind of a waste and a battery drain.  You should be able to make your curve using 5 bands.  I have 5 band equalizers for my other headphones, I just haven't gone back and re-worked this one.


I hope this helps some, I have found that since equalizing is so subjective there really is no definitive "answer" for how to equalize but with this method I managed to get all my headphones EQ'd to where I really like the sound.

[sbog4215]

Thanks for the response guys. I know that sound quality is very subjective. I guess I was just hoping for some advice on where the GR06s might be lacking, and how I might be able to compensate for that. And Mac, you've given me exactly that. I really appreciate the time you put into your post. Thanks =)

You can clearly see that the low end of the spectrum is under-powered so my EQ will need to boost that. 


And here is that graph flipped, which is basically what I want my curve to look like.  I am not taking the exact decibel values into account, I just want a general facsimile of the curve.

Mac, can you explain how/why you decided that you wanted your curve to look like the inverse? Wouldn't the inverse result in the low end going from being underpowered to overpowered? Or is the 'optimal curve' based on the style of music i.e. because I listen to music with a lot of bass, the low end should be emphasised (like the inverse) rather than lacking (like the original)? Unfortunately, headphone.com doesn't have the frequency curve for the VSonic GR06. I'll see if I can find one elsewhere.

PS It's a shame I didn't come across your original post back when I still had my S4s!!

[saratoga]

Mac, can you explain how/why you decided that you wanted your curve to look like the inverse? Wouldn't the inverse result in the low end going from being underpowered to overpowered?

No, it would be completely neutral.  E.g. -7dB +7dB = 0dB == flat.

That said, how those headphones will sound depends somewhat on your own hearing and the shape of your head.  Its not always a great idea to take values recorded with a microphone and assume your ears would be the same.  Often they will be fairly different.

Or is the 'optimal curve' based on the style of music i.e. because I listen to music with a lot of bass, the low end should be emphasised (like the inverse) rather than lacking (like the original)?

It shouldn't be.  If you're changing the EQ for the music you're essentially trying to remaster the music.  Usually the people who mastered it in the first place a good idea what they wanted it to sound like.  Usually you use an EQ to correct for flaws (or at least preferences) in a pair of headphones, and change the EQ when you get new headphones, not new music.

[MacDonals]

Thanks for the response guys. I know that sound quality is very subjective. I guess I was just hoping for some advice on where the GR06s might be lacking, and how I might be able to compensate for that. And Mac, you've given me exactly that. I really appreciate the time you put into your post. Thanks =)

You're welcome.  Again, I don't know if this is technically correct, but from the different bits of knowledge I've picked up here and there, I'm able to get sound from most headphones that agrees with me.

Regarding the EQ, saratoga said it all.  If someone made the most perfect headphones of all time the EQ curve would be exactly flat.

This is what we have eqs for.  To try to get our headphones as near to flat as possible.  THEN if you like a certain sound, like I like a warm bass sound and a boosted middle, I can tweak accordingly.