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- Jul 2, 2024
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You can call me lazy for not actually trying this target but after having tried it with EQ I can safely say it sucks for both headphones and IEMs. There is too much 3kHz ear gain. It doesn't sound wide enough. It decreases the width of the soundstage and just sounds worse. The reduced bass / treble is also dumb deviations from my target.
The PEQdB Target is an interesting thing. It apparently is the accumulation of 100's of people doing listening tests and adjusting the EQ to what sounds the most natural. It first uses audio gear measurement databases to EQ tons of headphones and IEMs to sound the same and then allows users to adjust the sound via listening tests until it sounds correct. The combined data of all users apparently gave them this result which has slightly more bass for IEMs than over ear headphones. Similar to Harman Target propaganda but the differences are so subtle that he merged the two targets into one which is what I've always said should be done. Bass tactility is irrelevant.
The PEQdB Target is basically my Endgame Target but slightly more reserved in its bass boost, 3kHz ear gain scoop, and treble boost. The differences are irrelevant and the PEQdB Target fits within my preference bounds, as it should.
Don't believe the hype, lol:
PEQdB Target is also not that much different when compared to many reviewer's targets in the community:
The funny thing is most mainstream studio headphones and IEMs match the PEQdB Target or at least very closely mirror it making all of these products great choices when it comes to tonal balance throughout the response. However, these headphones and IEMs all sound somewhat different due to tonality defects as seen throughout the response:
TinHiFi seems to have a lot of IEMs using this target or at least very closely follows it but then again so is everyone else so whatever:
Conclusion? PEQdB Target only further confirms what is already known in this community and any sensationalism about PEQdB is reserved to the ignorant especially since it's not optimum and sounds worse than my more V-Shaped target:
At the end of the day, you should buy headphones and IEMs that are tuned well and choose the ones that have the smoothest overall performance. Most audio gear has peaks and cuts in the highs and some have a wavey bass response, especially closed back over ear headphones. Pick the ones with the smoothest response:
Check the PEQdB Target out with a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50X and a Shure SM7B and call it a day, lol. Both are mediocre tunings and my targets are better.:
The target does look too perfect. Could all be fake to push a narrative similar to Harman research.
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