This 30-second change means I’ll never have to listen to flat audio on headphones and speakers again

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ZDNET Highlights

• The equalizer lets you fine-tune specific frequencies to balance the sound.
• They help fix problems with your speakers or room acoustics.
• You can easily enhance clear vocals while reducing noise.

I remember it like it was yesterday: I spent the entire album sitting in my car, blasting Van Halen’s 5150, and messing with the 10-band EQ I had set up to get the best sound.

You don’t see a lot of physical equalizers these days, which is sad because they were always pretty cool. Instead, most things are now software-driven. And that’s okay. It may not be “audiophile-level fine”, but at least it’s something.

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For those who didn’t spend their youth trying to twist every knob and button on a stereo rack to get the best sound from their speakers, you may be wondering, “What is this EQ he speaks of?”

Let me explain.

What is the frequency…

One way to measure sound is in the form of periodic vibrations, which are measured haters (Hz), which is the property of sound that determines pitch. Humans have a limited range of frequencies that they can hear, specifically, from 20 to 20,000 Hz. Those frequencies are divided into octaves which are:

• 16 – 32 Hz – The lowest tones that humans can hear.
• 32 – 512 – Frequencies of timbre (lower and upper bass notes)
• 512 – 2,048 – the range where the human voice is located
• 2,048 – 8,192 – the range where labial and fricative sounds occur
• 8,192 – 16,384 – range of talents, bells, cymbals and sibilance
• 16,384 – 32,786 – indistinct sounds passing the upper limit of human hearing

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How is this implemented in a better understandable way? To divide the frequency into simplest terms, you have:

• Loz – first two entries in the above list
• Mids – third and fourth entries in the above list
• High – last three entries in the above list

An equalizer allows you to raise or lower the levels of specific frequencies, and different EQs offer different amounts of adjustment. For example, you might get some cheap earbuds with an included app that offers a custom EQ option, but the EQ is limited to three bands.

Typically, three-band EQs allow adjustment of lows, mids, and highs. The problem with three-band EQ is that you have zero precise control. In other words, if you increase the “noise” in a three-band EQ, you are increasing everything from 16 – 512 Hz. What problem is that?

Let’s say you want more kick drum in the mix. If you boost the lows in a three-band EQ, you are not only boosting the lowest frequencies, but also the high end of the low range, so the sound can be a bit muddled.

Change that three-band EQ to a five-band EQ and you’ll get a little more control. A typical five-band EQ can let you boost specific frequencies, such as 60 Hz, 230 Hz, 910 Hz, 3,600 Hz, and 14,000 Hz. Now you can increase the 60Hz and get a little more kick drum in your mix. Also, you can lower the 910Hz to reduce that tinny sound (too much mid-range makes it sound too loud).

Ten-band EQ can be divided into:

• 31.25 Hz
• 62.5Hz
• 125Hz
• 250 hz
• 500 hz
• 1kHz
• 2kHz
• 4kHz
• 8kHz
• 16kHz

Note: kHz is kilohertz

now we’re talking.

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I have used 32-band equalizers, and you can imagine how much time I have spent improving them. In larger EQs, the sound is usually divided into low, low/mid, high/mid and high. Every EQ is different, but they all do the same thing… raise or lower specific frequencies to change the overall sound produced by an instrument.

Why use EQ?

Let’s say you just bought a pair of earbuds, and out of the box, they seem cheap. Typically, cheap headphones and earbuds share a similar sonic palette – slight bass, overamped mids and dull highs. You’ve heard them before; everyone has.

This is where EQ can come in handy. Many Bluetooth earbuds suggest downloading and installing a corresponding app, which often includes an EQ. Install the app, connect it to your earbuds and make the following adjustments:

• increase the following
• reduce middle
• raise the heights

Make it a nice sloping curve till the middle and a rising curve till the height. Now play your favorite song and see how those cheap earbuds sound. Vast improvement, right?

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You may also find that the app has a few presets to choose from, often organized by music genre. As you might expect, adjusting certain frequencies improves the sound of different musical genres. For example, if metal is your jam, you’ll want to boost the lows and highs, but be careful not to overpower the mids/lows; Otherwise, the sound will be muddy.

If you listen to a lot of podcasts, you’ll want to boost the middle, because the human voice is front and center. Classical music benefits from a fairly flat EQ when listened to through headphones or earbuds, but it can really come alive with some extra bass and highs when listened to through speakers.

EQ is a personal matter

The thing about EQ is that it’s very personal. You can talk to 100 sound nerds or audiophiles and hear 100 different opinions. The most important thing is for you to find the EQ curve that best suits your needs.

And because everyone’s hearing is a little different (for example, I’ve lost about 50% of my hearing in my right ear, so I have trouble hearing highs unless they’re a little louder than usual). I know exactly how to set the EQ to suit my taste.

It’s not just about your hearing either. You also need to take into account your equipment, the room you’re listening in, ambient noise, etc. It all depends on how you adjust the equalization to get the most out of what you’re hearing.

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And if you have an attached subwoofer, you’re talking about another layer of consideration (do you allow the crossover to send only the lowest frequencies to the sub, or do you give it a bit more?).

After using EQ for a long time, you’ll develop a similar understanding and can quickly adjust the EQ sliders (physical or digital) to get the best possible sound.

Any chance I get to improve the sound I hear, I’ll take it. If it means using EQ, I’ll do it… and happily do so. The only word of warning I would give you is that EQ is a deep rabbit hole to dive into. Plus, it’s a very rewarding pursuit of perfection.