TemporaryProperty108 t1_jdlthzn wrote on March 25, 2023 at 10:25 AM

Reply to comment by ICoeuss in I turned my X2HRs to Sundaras by ICoeuss

I am not using any mics. I am using measurements and my ears. But the differences are so big that I can't imagine they can be up to 1db more or less here or there. Just as an obvious example the bass of an HD 600 sounds completely different than that of a Sundara when both are equed to flat. The HD 600 sounds like it is struggling and a large part of the resolution in the mids/treble is lost. Or I'm sure you'd agree as well, that an open and closed headphone sound different, even when they have the same FR. Or even more extreme, an IEM and an open headphone are going to sound completely different, even if you manage to match FR.

ICoeuss OP t1_jdlxyqp wrote on March 25, 2023 at 11:24 AM

Well, if you're not using any mics you're not really matching their FR. Your HRTF interacts with different headphones differently and there's unit variation. Measurement graphs online don't tell you how your ears hear a headphone.

TemporaryProperty108 t1_jdm1udc wrote on March 25, 2023 at 12:08 PM

I don't feel like you engaged any of my arguments. Do you think an open headphone and an IEM are going to sound the same if you managed to match FR?

ICoeuss OP t1_jdm3lzr wrote on March 25, 2023 at 12:26 PM

If the EQ profile to match them didn't introduce any audible distortion then they should sound almost identical. I would even argue you could make a headphone sound almost exactly like a speaker. I heard SMYTH Realiser A16 does just that very well.

Having said that, your perception of the sound might change when using an open-back headphone since you can hear ambient sounds in the room. However if you were in a completely silent room which is pretty much impossible to achieve, you should percieve them identically as well.

TemporaryProperty108 t1_jdmynvg wrote on March 25, 2023 at 4:31 PM

I feel like your understanding of how we perceive sound is wrong, but I have neither the knowledge nor time necessary to argue with you. All I can tell you is that a speaker and IEM with matched frequency response sound completely different. I'm sure you'd agree that I'd be able to accurately tell you for any item I have never heard if it is a speaker, headphone or IEM, no matter how you EQ it as well. I see sound in shapes and colours and it is just completely different things.