Why should you equalize headphones?

Due to technical and economic limitations, most headphone models have at least one significant tonal drawback, such as:

• Too much or too little bass or treble

• Bad soundstage and imaging

• Channel volume imbalances

• Frequency dips and peaks (i.e. too much or too little volume in certain areas of the sound spectrum)

The purpose of equalization is to correct the sound signature that is natively put out by headphones. Correction means emphasizing or de-emphasizing certain frequencies in the audio spectrum to even out inconsistencies, subdue piercing high tones, elevate weak bass, and so on.

As a rule of thumb, no equipment is perfect, and virtually any headphone – even those in ridiculous, audiophile-grade price ranges – will benefit from equalization to some extent. The cheaper the gear, the more audible the difference will be after you apply equalization.