/iegems-target-eq

In-Ear Gems Frequency Response Target

Frequency response plays a significant role in the sound quality and characteristics of in-ear monitors (IEMs), including stereo imaging (a.k.a., soundstage width, depth, and layering). This repository contains my preference frequency response target. It was developed to achieve the following criteria:

  • Spacious stereo imaging: sound is pushed back to form a bubble or a dome around the head rather than a flat plane inside the head, between two ears.
  • Layering: sound is layered from closer to further away rather than making every elements of the mix fuzzy and distant.
  • Comfort: smooth sound signature that allows listening for hours without fatigue, useful for sleeping or working.
  • Realistic rendering of low-frequency acoustic instruments.

In-Ear Gems Target

target

The curve has been developed based on elements from different IEMs that provides different aspects of the described criteria:

  • 64 Audio U12t: natural, comfortable rendering of midrange, 3D soundstage illusion
  • 64 Audio TIA Trio: 3D soundstage illusion, exaggerated depth
  • Final Audio E5000: realistic low-frequency instruments, layering, smooth and comfortable sound
  • Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020: layering, 3D soundstage illusion, smooth and comfortable sound
  • Dunu SA6: smooth and comfortable sound, handling of sibilance

Comparisons: vsU12t vsTrio vsSA6 vsE5000

EQ Profiles

The EQ profiles/IEGems_V1/ folder contains parametric EQ profiles generated by AutoEQ to EQ some well-known IEMs to match the IEGems target. The measurements used for generating these profiles are from Crinacle via the graph comparison tool. The generated profiles are tested and hand-tuned before finalising.

You can import the .txt file into most PEQ apps. I personally use Poweramp EQ app on Android. Wavelet app should also be able to load these profiles.

Refer to usage instructions of AutoEQ for more details.

Noted that you might need to increase volume after EQ, as I set negative preamp very high just in case you want to do more EQ after applying my profiles

How IEMs respond to EQ profiles

Upgrade (noticeable improvement in soundstage and comfort)

  • Blessing 2
  • Aria
  • A4000
  • FH3
  • FD5: The stage seems to get closer, but more layered. Apparent with "And the waltz goes on".

Sidegrade

  • Titan S: sound becomes fuller but also a bit boomy and the stage becomes a little deeper but not as 3D as expected.