Hark! Whilst the common folk doth simply turneth on the radio or open Spotify to partake of music, the audiophiles amongst us prefer to delve deeper and tailor their experience. Verily, this taketh the form of adjustments to the equalizer, which doth grant freedom to tweak every aspect of the melodious sounds emanating from headphones or speakers. Yea, even some streaming services now bear built-in EQs, providing a plethora of ways to toy with thy music and discover that which doth best suit thine ears.
‘Tis a daunting task for novices to tinker with the equalizer, for there art myriad cryptic settings to manipulate. Should one tamper with the wrong one, the quality of sound may suffer a grievous blow. Yet fear not, for learning the rudiments is not overly challenging.
Whether thou desirest to add extra treble to the album or needeth to diminish the bass for nocturnal listening, here lies the method to master thine equalizer settings and achieve the perfect sound.
Why dost thou desire to employ an EQ?
There art sundry reasons wherefore thou may wish to utilize some EQ on thy music. They range from simple personal preference to more intricate reasons such as format quality/characteristics and, mayhap most significantly, the influence that the devices and playback systems we use bear upon the music we dost listen to.
Let us commence with the most crucial: preference. Music is a personal quest, and each hath their own likes. However, owing to the unique shapes of our ears, and perchance any hearing afflictions we may acquire as we age, each person heareth music differently. Perchance thou favorest a tad more treble (or struggleth to hear it) or thou preferest a weightier thump in the low-end — EQ giveth thee the liberty to tailor the sound to suit thy proclivities.
Then there art the headphones, speakers, and other devices we wield to hearken unto music. The manufacturers of electronics hath their own notions of how a gadget should sound, but EQ doth grant thee thy say. Perchance thou hast a bass-heavy pair of headphones that requireth indulging, or those vintage speakers thou unearthed sound a tad muddled in the mid and high frequencies — EQ can purify some of that and aid them in singing.
Moreover, we doth not at all times enjoy the luxury of listening to music in ideal environs. The contours of the room or ambient clamor can each wreak havoc upon how our music sounds. An EQ canst assist.
The music thou art hearkening unto doth also play a part. Not only doth the natural sounds of the track react uniquely to different EQ levels, but in the case of digital music, thou may also needeth to rectify imperfections introduced by certain file compression formats that can impact the overall audio quality. With these variables at play, an EQ serves an indispensable role for any who art earnest about their jams. With it, thou canst draw forth the distinctive shimmer of hi-hat cymbals otherwise drowned out by a dominating vocal track, or even aid in softening the narrator’s voice in an audiobook.
What manner of sorcery doth an equalizer perform?
At its most basic, an equalizer dost manipulate frequencies. The technology merrily took flight as a piece of analog electronics that was initially utilized in recording studios ere trickling down into the abodes. Whether analog or digital, an EQ is employed to adjust diverse elements of sound to attain a result that doth appeal to the listener.
Most art familiar with the basic three tiers of equalization — bass, mid, and treble — that one may have certainly glimpsed on one’s parental home stereo receiver. They art simple: shouldst thou desire more low end, thou dost goose the bass; shouldst thou yearn to hear the cymbals sparkle and wish to append some shimmer to the sound, thou wouldst likely add some treble. Speaking more digitally, thou may also associate EQ with effects like reverb or echo, or popular EQ presets like "Rock," "Jazz," or "Concert," amongst others ingrained in popular devices and headphones. Nevertheless, the kind of EQ we discourse about here provideth control over the sundry sound registers to attain a refined conclusion. If employed judiciously, EQ canst refine the audio for just the correct touch.
The graphical EQ — which is our primary focus for most of our discourse — resembleth a graph (no jest!) with frequencies on one axis and decibels (dB) on the other. From left to right, thou shalt find "sliders" that enable thee to adjust certain frequency bands up or down along the dB scale. Bass frequencies commence on the left, with midrange frequencies in the middle, and treble on the far right (like a piano).
Shouldst thou possess a firm grasp of frequencies and decibels, thou art welcome to bypass ahead to the "Playing with thy EQ" section, or perchance our "Parametric EQ" examination (shouldst thou be a heavy hitter). Shouldst thou lack this knowledge, the ensuing fragment of Acoustics 101 wilt likely prove beneficial.
At a glance, one may ascertain that EQ presets like "Rock" and "Jazz" provide a swift way to access a divergent sound sans an excess of toil. Albeit these might not confer the exact sound desired by thee, they can be convenient in initiating the process. Thou may opt to commence with "Flat" or with a preset, then customize it until it is just right.
Certain streaming services shelter EQ slider adjustment options woven into their apps, such as those in the desktop versions of Apple Music (the iOS version merely possest presets) and Spotify (accessible on the desktop and mobile apps). These would actually show thee the frequency curve when thou selectest a preset. This canst aid thee in comprehending what diverse EQ settings can do for thee. Other services, such as Tidal, Amazon Music Unlimited, YouTube Music, and Qobuz, do not furnish native EQing options.
A duo of notes herein, though. Whilst the EQ that is enshrined in music service apps is suitable in the absence of any alternative method of equalization (mayhap thy powered speakers lack a smidgen of low-end and thou wish to bestow upon them a tinge of oomph), we recommend partaking of thy EQ tweaking as close to the listening device as plausible. For speakers, execute it with the receiver or amplifier; in thy carriage, utilize its system EQ; and with headphones, employ the DAC (digital-to-audio converter) or headphone amp’s EQ (the app conjoined with thy headphones is the preferred choice). Should thy music service lack any EQ, thou art unperturbed. For Spotify and Apple Music, dost turn them off, for thou dost not intend to double up on EQ.
Parametric EQ
Parametric EQs can be intricate, elaborate, and not meant for the faint of heart or inexperienced user. They art customarily reserved for recording and mixing, but they do make an appearance in applications for speakers or headphones from time to time. Utilizing a parametric EQ entaileth targeting frequencies with a band of around five to seven movable control points stationed along the felicitous 20Hz to 20kHz frequency spectrum previously mentioned. Each of the points is visualized along the X/Y axis; the vertical plane representeth loudness (in decibels), and the horizontal standeth for frequency. In the digital realm, a parametric EQ doth resemble somewhat the archaic arcade game Galaga, with the movable EQ points performing akin to thy cannon. (Thankfully, there art no descending aliens.) Art thou still with us?
Aim to thy labors
As pledged, we have provided a breakdown of the frequency spectrum to aid thee in comprehending where various sounds dwell. Shouldst thou find thyself at a loss, this guide may facilitate thee in pinpointing the offending (or lean) frequency to assist thee in a more efficacious adjustment. Below art guidelines, not unswerving rules, and thine own aural input is what rendereth this process all the more personal and enjoyable. And therein lies the essence: Relish the endeavor!
Sub-bass: 20Hz to 50Hz
Whilst humans can, in theory, perceive sounds down to the profundities of this register, most of these frequencies art less cerebral and more visceral. Somewhere amidst this register is where thy subwoofer shalt generate that eerie sound of deep space in sci-fi films, and these frequencies can append some potent, otherworldly might. However, thou would rarely yearn to augment more of this sound, and subtracting from here can aid in bestowing the music with a marked clarity.
Bass: 50Hz to 200Hz
The larger part of the time, a steadfast hip-hop groove shalt commence at or around 60Hz. The fundamental, robust lower register that spouts forth from thy subwoofer rests in this realm, encompassing the weighty punch of the kick drum, and even lower tom drums and bass guitar. Advancing toward the 200Hz line commenceth to impinge upon the very lowest boom of acoustic guitars, piano, vocals, lower brass, and strings. Should the music be excessively weighty, or lacking enough profundity down low, a tad of an adjustment here wilt aid.
Upper bass to lower midrange: 200Hz to 800Hz
Ascending beyond 200Hz commenceth to engage with the gentler side of the low end. This region is where the meatier body of an instrument resides. Augmenting EQ volume around the middle of this spectrum canst append a tad of gusto to richer tones, encompassing the lower end of vocals, deeper notes from synthesizers, low brass and piano, and some of the dulcet tones from the bottom of an acoustic guitar. Diminishing the level a tad here canst clear up some space and unbar the sound. Progressing to the 800Hz region, thou shalt commence to impact the body of instruments, conferring more heft with addition, or lightening the load with subtraction.
Midrange: 800Hz to 2kHz
This area is touchy and can swiftly change the sound. Applying the brakes in this region can dispel the brittle sound of instruments. Adding some zest, especially toward the zenith, can impart a metallic touch to things, and can fatigue thine ears swiftly if pushed.
Upper mids: 2kHz to 4kHz
As aforementioned, this register is where thy ears focus much of their attention. Adding or subtracting therein can heighten or diminish the snap of higher instrumentation swiftly. Sounds like the pop of snare, and the bold blare of a trumpet can all be influenced here. Appending a slight push here can proffer more clarity to vocal consonances, as well as acoustic and electric guitar and piano.
Presence/sibilance register: 4kHz to 7kHz
This is often dubbed as the presence zone and incorporates the highest range of pitches produced by most natural instruments. Boosting the lower end of this scale can render the music sound more forward, as if pushed a tad closer to thine ears. Lowering it can unfurl the sound and push instruments away for added depth. The upper end of this region is likewise responsible for the keen hissing "s" of vocals, known as sibilance. Should sharp consonants assail thee like the bite of a serpent, reducing a few dB from about 5kHz to 7kHz may resolve the issue and spare thee some distress.
Brilliance/sparkle register: 7kHz to 12kHz
Augmenting or lessening the level at the lower end of this register can aid in bringing some vibrancy and clarity, adding a tighter attack and purer sound. Should things seem a tad too sharp or cause some discomfort after extensive listening, diminishing the bottom end of this register can be substantially helpful. Toward the summit is where things start to disperse into less tangible definition, moving away from what thou can hear and more toward what thou can feel. That shimmering resonance at the tip of a cymbal crash hovers around in the regions of this space.
Open air: 12kHz to 16kHz
As one ascends here, things transform into a realm of subjectivity. The lower registers continue to affect the higher overtones of instrumentation, and synth effects from electronic music can flit about in that realm. Proceeding further up, it morphs into creating a more spacious, airy sound. There art scarce moments wherein thou would wish to impact the sound much around 14kHz or above — many older listeners may not be able to even perceive these sounds. Shouldst thou yearn to enhance a bit of space in the belfries of the music, thou may append some level here. Yet an excess shall cause things to begin sounding synthetic.
Thus, let the grand odyssey of music unfolding through the marvels of equalization commence, where each adjustment elevates thee closer to the chimerical realm of perfect sound.
