tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post2424730757200997672..comments2024-03-18T03:14:54.390-07:00Comments on Audio Musings by Sean Olive: Do Listeners Agree on What Makes a Headphone Sound Good?Dr. Sean Olivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17909033506833141612noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-38647848399889921152015-01-07T15:46:28.739-08:002015-01-07T15:46:28.739-08:00Hi Sean
I am still waiting for the first commerci...Hi Sean<br /><br />I am still waiting for the first commercial headphones that implement the preferred response coming from your research. Presumably it will be a Harman Group product. Is it the new AKG N90Q?tnargshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04937893575268508575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-19649969687779832262014-10-12T20:51:25.988-07:002014-10-12T20:51:25.988-07:00What makes headphones to sound good ? In my person...What makes headphones to sound good ? In my personal case I found it relatively easy to answer. When I decided to get as good headphones as possible I did not walk on the 'keep buying until you find what you like' road. I carefully thought about the audio characteristics of headphones I would like to have, in other words I constructed a pre-conceived notions of what my headphones have to sound like. Following this I simply read a lot of reviews to find out which headphones would generally fit my 'headphones profile' and then I tried them to find out which ones have the best sound signature and sound quality fit. [It helps greatly if one has an opportunity to hear and evaluate headphones before buying them]. Beyerdynamic T1 won the evaluation contest as the best over-all open headphones and I ended up buying them. For my second pair of headphones, in this case the closed ones and complementary to open T1, there was practically no contest because there are very few closed headphones of top quality on the market. I found Audio Technica W3000ANV to be the best closed headphones.<br />A very interesting and most influential factor in deciding what kind of sound my perfect headphones have to have were my religious and political beliefs.sszorinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16639667228789383852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-78694997738967190572014-10-07T09:00:02.650-07:002014-10-07T09:00:02.650-07:00Great Article, very informative and very unique! T...Great Article, very informative and very unique! Thanks Sean Jordan Bakerhttp://criterionaudio.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-54016497728430560872014-09-09T15:37:46.730-07:002014-09-09T15:37:46.730-07:00You tested listeners' prefered equalization fo...You tested listeners' prefered equalization for the Sennheiser HD 518.<br /><br />I think you should try to replicate this result with other headphones.<br /><br />And control for previous exposure to loudspeakers.<br /><br />But I cant really believe in blind tests of headphones. Loudspeakers maybe but not headphones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-4235981154397181452014-06-16T05:08:59.537-07:002014-06-16T05:08:59.537-07:00Sean,
Could you explain why these exact EQ types ...Sean,<br /><br />Could you explain why these exact EQ types were used for bass and high frequencies? Bass - a shelving eq to ~200Hz; High - a roll off from ~400Hz.<br />Why not use a Baxandall EQ (as suggested by Bob Katz for mastering applications)?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-79429975518001954992014-05-21T23:40:23.265-07:002014-05-21T23:40:23.265-07:00Thats lot of research & information! The kind ...Thats lot of research & information! The kind of headphone/speakers always affect the music's impact! its like first impression is the last! I found some great <a href="http://www.gpi-international.com" rel="nofollow"> Headphones Online</a>Jewelhttp://www.gpi-international.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-20812180014003563792014-05-19T23:59:10.011-07:002014-05-19T23:59:10.011-07:00These blogs are valuable because these are providi...These blogs are valuable because these are providing such informative information for all the people.<br /><br /><a href="http://besttvheadphones.com/category/wireless-tv-headphones-reviews//" rel="nofollow">headphones for tv</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-72827114004173260872014-05-18T22:38:59.685-07:002014-05-18T22:38:59.685-07:00This info you provided in the blog that was really...This info you provided in the blog that was really unique I love it!!! <a href="http://besttvheadphones.com/category/wireless-tv-headphones-reviews/" rel="nofollow">headphones for tv</a> <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-27258763152998674212014-04-03T02:21:23.714-07:002014-04-03T02:21:23.714-07:00Very helpful post - as usual. Thanks so much! I ho...Very helpful post - as usual. Thanks so much! I hope this one goes viral. Market research indicates sound quality is a driving factor in headphone purchases with brand and fashion also being important factors among younger consumers.Headphonezone.in offers <a href="http://www.headphonezone.in/headphones/" rel="nofollow">best headphones</a> for superior listening experience. It has different range of color that suits your mood. iLeaf Ritz Banquetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02684411940277929548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-2407451832957288752014-03-10T08:33:03.568-07:002014-03-10T08:33:03.568-07:00In this study, the replicator phone was a Sennheis...In this study, the replicator phone was a Sennheiser HD518. We chose it because it has good repeatable fit among listeners and it is relatively smooth and easy to equalize. Stax does have lower distortion but I can't say whether it's fitment is better or worse.Dr. Sean Olivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17909033506833141612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-22314601097874040532014-03-10T08:28:53.919-07:002014-03-10T08:28:53.919-07:00John: Thanks for the kind words.John: Thanks for the kind words.Dr. Sean Olivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17909033506833141612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-32551754664340269572014-02-13T07:53:48.247-08:002014-02-13T07:53:48.247-08:00This is the type of work that only a large and div...This is the type of work that only a large and diverse audio company could support, and then only with a gifted and experienced scientist at the helm. And then allowing that scientist (or engineer, if you prefer) to publish findings that seem obvious to a few and probably heretical to others is extremely rare. Typically there are too many administrative and legal barriers between the data and the outside world. Sean, in particular, and HK in being supportive, have done the audio world, consumer and otherwise, a great service over the years and especially in terms of the results reported here. Oh, and please keep up the blog as well. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17837280505514971667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-13555589455365936082014-02-02T08:26:50.628-08:002014-02-02T08:26:50.628-08:00Which is the replicator headphone? Senn 515 or oth...Which is the replicator headphone? Senn 515 or other?<br />If it's 515, why did you choose such a poorly performing set(distortion, air pressure leakage) to emulate top quality sets? Shouldn't you use something like Stax?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-5484917042503410412014-01-28T11:29:03.000-08:002014-01-28T11:29:03.000-08:00Thanks Tyll. I have a great iPad app I'd like ...Thanks Tyll. I have a great iPad app I'd like to show you soon.Dr. Sean Olivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17909033506833141612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-19480775940180603452014-01-28T11:28:28.032-08:002014-01-28T11:28:28.032-08:00Thanks Kevin. I'm lucky that Harman allows me ...Thanks Kevin. I'm lucky that Harman allows me to publish research as most audio companies don't. That's why I've been here 21 years in march.Dr. Sean Olivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17909033506833141612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-44379133877863622014-01-23T08:41:35.161-08:002014-01-23T08:41:35.161-08:00Keep marching forward. Great work Sean! Behind yo...Keep marching forward. Great work Sean! Behind you all the way!Tyll Hertsenshttp://www.innerfidelity.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-33529822727853322622014-01-09T10:22:49.494-08:002014-01-09T10:22:49.494-08:00Thanks for publishing this, Sean! I really apprec...Thanks for publishing this, Sean! I really appreciate that Harman sees this kind of public publishing as a worthy activity, in addition to the research itself. Really top notch!Kevin Connornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-38771115703121756252014-01-06T08:15:38.689-08:002014-01-06T08:15:38.689-08:00I just looked through the slide deck. Even after ...I just looked through the slide deck. Even after all this time of following (and enjoying the results of) your work, I'm still impressed at how much money and scientific rigor Harman devotes to making sure I'll actually like the product you produce. Amazing!Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04166297801339611934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7172143857693272648.post-60379009330403036432014-01-06T03:58:32.356-08:002014-01-06T03:58:32.356-08:00Great presentation. Thank you & happy new year...Great presentation. Thank you & happy new year!Vukihttp://drzlab.comnoreply@blogger.com