Best Equalizer Settings For Headphones To Improve Music Experience


by Emma Williams | Published On

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Most professional songs are produced to sound good on all devices to any listener. However, music composers can’t balance a tune based on each person’s taste.
It is why some soundtracks might sound underwhelming to you if you have specific preferences regarding how music should sound.
Tweaking EQ settings are handy for balancing the headphone. However, other factors include headphones quality, type of file compression used, etc.
Suppose you need to learn about the best equalizer settings for balancing headphones. In that case, tweaking it without reading this tutorial is not recommended, as it might negatively affect your listening experience.

What Is An Equalizer?

An equalizer is used to adjust the frequency response of an audio system. It allows you to boost or cut the level of specific frequencies, giving them more control over the overall sound of the system. They are commonly used in floor-standing speakers, home theater, and professional PA systems. 

While they come in various configurations, most equalizers have at least three bands that can adjust: low, mid, and high. The user can achieve a wide range of sounds by boosting or cutting these different frequency ranges. 

Equalizers can make a system sound brighter or warmer, compensate for room acoustics, or personalize the sound to taste.

Why Is An Equalizer Important?

Equalizer (EQ) allows you to adjust the levels of different frequency bands that can boost the bass or treble or create a more balanced sound. 

It can also compensate for acoustic deficiencies in your listening environment. For example, if your room has a lot of hard surfaces, you should boost the lower frequencies to help offset the resulting Echo.

Whether you’re a casual listener or an audiophile, correct equalizer settings for balancing are essential to get the most out of your little earbuds or headphones.

How Does An Equalizer Work?

An equalizer EQ lets you balance specific frequencies to make the signal sound clearer, fuller, or thinner. Most of them have a series of knobs or sliders that allow you to boost or cut specific frequencies.

You can turn up the low-frequency knob to make the bass get louder. The treble will get louder if you turn up the high-frequency knob. EQ can be used on any audio signal, from music to spoken word. When used correctly, an equalizer can make a massive difference in the quality of the audio signal.

By isolating the frequencies of a track and then altering the signal’s color, the player can create a wide range of sounds. By making subtle adjustments to the EQ, a player can significantly change the sound of their music without losing the original character of the track.

What Are Frequency Ranges?

The most common music frequency range is between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. It is the range that humans can hear. Frequency ranges are essential because they help us to understand how sound waves work and how we can use them to balance the headphone.

The Basics: Understanding Common EQ Terms

When adjusting an equalizer on spotify for balancing headphones, you’ll often see unfamiliar technical terms. But don’t let that intimidate you – Here’s a breakdown of the most common audio terms that you’ll see when working with an equalizer:

The speed of a waveform, often referred to as its frequency, is determined by the number of complete cycles in one second. This cyclic pattern creates a ‘soundwave,’ energy vibration evolved from the source producing it. Frequencies play a significant role in audio engineering, music, and sound design. The number of soundwaves per second or frequency is defined and measured in hertz (Hz).

The audio frequency spectrum is an incredibly complex sound wave range that the human ear perceives. It is generally divided into three distinct parts, including the low-frequency (LF) range from 20 Hz to 200 Hz, the mid-frequency (MF) range from 200 Hz to 5 kHz, and the high-frequency (HF) range from 5 kHz to 20 kHz. Despite this division, frequencies in the audio spectrum overlap and interact with each other in a variety of ways.

The decibel (dB) is the unit used to measure the sound intensity or loudness of a sound. Regular headphones generally have less than 75dB of sound. On the other hand, when it comes to loud headphones, they could have a sound of anything above 75 dB. Regular usage of loud headphones is not recommended. One could use them for a short period of 10 to 15 minutes without damaging the eardrums.

Filters are used to boost, pass or attenuate specific ranges of frequencies, which helps trim down the higher and lower frequencies in the overall frequency spectrum. High-grade audio equipment depends on filters to properly process a broad spectrum of sound frequencies.

By carefully controlling these filters in an audio system, we can ensure that we only hear the specific frequencies that we want to – those that bring out detail in one range and cut back on other distracting aspects of the sound in another.

The best example could be the used case example of Bluetooth Helmet speakers. These speakers try to make sure that background sounds are filtered out. But when it comes to the sounds from the horns, it is not filtered. This filtration is again done by matching the frequencies. If any sound matches the frequency of a horn sound is not filtered out.

How To Use An Equalizer For Headphones?

When used correctly, an equalizer can improve the clarity of your music, make it sound fuller, and even make it sound better than it did when it was first recorded. However, misusing an equalizer can make your music sound worse.

First, you must decide what kind of sound you want. Are you looking for a more punchy sound? A warmer sound? More bass? Once you know what kind of sound you are going for, you can adjust the equalizer settings. Start with the lower frequencies and slowly work your way up. As you change the different frequencies, please pay attention to how it affects the overall sound of your music. For example, if specific frequencies make your music sound muddy or unclear, try backing off on those a bit.

When using an equalizer, less is often more. It can be tempting to crank up the bass or boost the treble, but doing so can ruin the balance of your music. On the other hand, pushing the levels too high can create distortion and make your music sound tinny and harsh. It would help if you were careful about using too much EQ on individual tracks. If one way sounds good with a lot of EQ, that doesn’t mean that all of your soundtracks will benefit from being similarly boosted. Use EQ sparingly and focus on creating an overall balanced sound.

With a little practice, you can use an equalizer to significantly improve your music-listening experience. Also, you may believe that using a headphone splitter may distort your EQ settings; well, it is not the case. Using a headphone splitter may only reduce the volume of the sound, which is generally not noticeable. As a result, you can use a headphone splitter without any issues and can get the audio quality according to the EQ settings when using a headphone splitter.

7 Best Equalizer Settings For Your Headphones

Most people are content to leave their equalizers set to flat, but there are benefits to be gained from tweaking the settings. For example, you may want to boost the low frequencies to get the full effect if you’re listening to music with many basses. Or if you’re listening to music on headphones that don’t have a lot of low-end response, you may want to reduce the bass.

Generally, it’s best to start with the default settings and then make minor adjustments until you find a sound you like. Remember that there are various things to do while listening to music, and the same goes for keeping different equalizer setting for different environment types. You can always experiment with these settings, and there are no hard and fast rules regarding equalization.
Here are some basic settings for the most popular music genres:

For electronic music, if you want your music to sound punchy and energetic, you may boost the frequencies to around 100 Hz.

If you want your music to sound great, boost the frequencies to around 400 Hz. And if your music sounds bright and sparkling, consider raising the frequencies around 8 kHz.

EQ settings for electronic music

When you’re mixing music, there are a few general things to keep in mind about EQ. One is that you only want to boost or cut very low or very high frequencies if you’re trying to achieve a specific sound. In most cases, a boost up in the bass frequencies, the mid and higher mid frequencies, would do the job. It will boost human voices and the sound of most acoustic instruments without going overboard.

EQ settings for accoustic music

While Latin music covers many styles, some common elements are often found in this genre.
One of the most distinctive features of Latin music is its focus on bass and treble. It can be seen in the use of percussion instruments such as congas and bongos and the often-used catchy bass lines. You can refer to the below settings in the picture for Latin music:

EQ settings for latin music

If you love classical music and use classical music headphones, you know that the sound of a piano, violin, or acoustic guitar can be genuinely transporting. But did you know that how you listen to this music can make a big difference in how much you enjoy it? By making a few simple tweaks to your EQ settings, you can ensure that you’re getting the most out of every note.
For instance, if you constantly adjust the volume to find the perfect balance, try boosting the midrange frequencies. It will help to bring out the delicate sounds of the instruments without overwhelming the overall mix. It will help to bring out the higher-pitched sounds and give them more prominence in the mix. By experimenting with different EQ settings, you can ensure that you’re always getting the most out of your classical music listening experience.

EQ settings for classical and piano music

By understanding how bass frequencies work, you can ensure that your music has the punchy sound you crave. Bass frequencies are typically between 20 and 200 Hz, with the lower end of the spectrum providing the most powerful sound. When these frequencies are played at high volumes, they can create a feeling of physical vibration that is both exhilarating and addicting. So if you’re looking to add some extra oomph to your music collection, pay attention to the bass.

EQ settings for bass

Pop music is often defined by its catchy melodies and sing-along hooks. However, the key to creating a pop hit isn’t just about writing a great song. It’s also essential to get the right mix of sounds. When mixing pop music, engineers typically focus on boosting the mid-range frequencies. It helps to create a fuller, more polished sound.
However, it’s also essential to avoid over-processing the vocals. Too much compression or EQ can make the songs sound harsh and unnatural. Instead, pop producers rely on a light touch to keep the lyrics natural and clear. Following these simple tips, you can create a pop mix that will sound professional and radio-ready.

EQ settings for pop music

Rock is one of the world’s most popular music genres, and we can hear its influence in pop and hip-hop. At its core, it is all about creating a sense of energy and excitement through loud, distorted guitars and powerful drums.


Although it may seem like a new phenomenon, rock music has been around for over half a century. It started in the 1950s with artists like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry, who combined elements of blues and country to create a unique sound, unlike anything that had come before. Over the next few decades, rock music evolved and diversified, giving rise to subgenres like heavy metal, punk, and grunge.

EQ settings for rock music

For equalizer settings in the nighttime, you have a great setting that is inbuilt into the iPhone itself. 

  • Step 1 – Open “settings” on your iPhone.
  • Step 2 – Scroll down to “Music”.
  • Step 3 – Look For “EQ”
  • Step 4 – Now, you can select the “Late Night” option.

By selecting this, you can normalize all your sounds to quieter levels. At the same time, you could also use sleep headphones if you like to listen to music while sleeping.

It would have been best if there had been one equalizer setting that could have worked for all the activities like movies, music, dance, or gaming, but sadly that is not the case. This is mainly because every activity has different sound frequencies involved, and at the same time, your personal preference will take over the standard settings.

As a result, you will have to alter the equalizer settings when engrossed in different activities. You can either manually alter the settings every time or save the setting once in the device and apply these instantly just by using the versions you have already saved.

Conclusion

There are a lot of factors that go into getting the perfect sound. The size and shape of your room, the type of speakers you’re using, and even the temperature can affect your music’s sound. And that’s not even considering the different ways people hear things. That’s why it’s so rare to get the perfect listening experience right out of the box. Even after making changes to your EQ, there’s a good chance that you’ll be making more changes once you move to a different environment. But that’s part of the fun of chasing the perfect sound. It’s always just out of reach, but the journey is its reward.

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