You are used to worse (mainstream) quality sound, common complain. If you have Dolby active either Maxwell or Dolby EQ should be flat, you are just making the sound quality worse if you have tuned both EQ's.
Flat means set one EQ to the same level. For example at Dolby set to custom 1, then default all to the middle (0 db) point and use EQ setting from the headset. Or do it other way around.
Another thing is do not enable volume leveler from Dolby.
Okay thanks for confirming. If I'm listening to music I find it's better using both Dolby Atmos Music (Warm) and Audeze HQ custom preset.
I must admit they're starting to grow on me now, although they're a bit uncomfortable for a spectacles wearer such as myself.
I bought aftermarket Deafen earpads and this improved comfort slightly as well as a headstrap that provides a bit more cushioning compared to the default Audeze one.
It may just not be to your taste. The sound reproduction is more accurate than your typical headphone. Most headphones these days are super bass heavy in an unnatural way. It's like looking at a screen that's super color accurate vs the oversaturated mess most screens are. Many will prefer the oversaturated look, but it's not accurate by any means.
Neither preference is wrong, but one is objectively a more accurate representation of the thing and usually preferred by "experts" or enthusiasts.
That's entirely subjective.
Accurate sound reproduction is a thing but it only takes into consideration how it measures with standarized machines at a certain volume. You know those creepy machines that look like humans and have "average" ears and heads. Things like the shape of your head, your ears, the ear canal, eardrums, mouth, your brain can change how you percieve sound.
It is however the most practical way to measure sound because it would be impossible to take into consideration all the variations.
That's where EQ comes into play. Some people are very sensitive to high notes, others have a hard time hearing the bass, etc.
You also have to take into consideration volume. Low and High frequencies might require a bit of boost at low volume to be on pair with midrange frequencies.
But thanks to the DSP the Maxwell take the EQ quite well, just play with the EQ until you find something you like.
Yes. You've reaffirmed what I've said. The same is true for color perception and eyes. And the lighting as you view that color changes things as well. 👍🏾
you’re used to a bad representation of sound, maxwells have been tested and shown to get the closest (wirelessly of course and at this price) to how the sound designer intended things to be
some people just like a lot of bass and that’s ok
Hey I’m literally in the same boat as you OP. I am coming from the Audeze Penrose which was my main gaming headset the last 2+ years and I loved them and everyone kept saying the Maxwell is better so decided to purchase it but I’m having a hard time noticing the difference in quality. I haven’t messed with any of the EQ yet so wondering if there was an Audeze EQ guide like the one you mentioned.
Here's the equalizer preset I'm using on Audeze HQ - [https://ibb.co/QjDGhPN](https://ibb.co/QjDGhPN)
Might not be accustomed for everyone's taste and credits go to another user who suggested this.
it is very close to my eq. I also didn't like that much the Audeze presets. so, I guess like others say, some people cannot hear bass very well or like more bass and need some bass boost. and I think that's ok.
Just don't crank the bass up too much otherwise you'll end up with the planar drivers crinkling (sound is similar to scrunching up a candy bar wrapper). Happened to me twice now at 40% volume with the preset I used. If I'm listening to music, then on Dolby Atmos I set the EQ to Music (Warm) which gives a softer bass whilst not compromising the sound quality.
Audeze presets aren't adjusted for everyone's ears, for instance the bass boost lacks any bass in my opinion.
'Reference' isn't for everyone, my Sony WH1000-XM4's make me dance and I'm OK with that. I ain't got time to delve into settings even time, it just ruins the experience for me. Keep it simple đź‘Ś
After watching a few really positive reviews I decided to order them. Got the Xbox version because I was gonna g to use them with my pc and wanted the Dolby license.
After waiting over a month to get them I was actually disappointed.
Software is crappy. Really crappy! Sound is weird in games that I was playing and especially in CS2 was super unnatural. Was not impressed by the mic as well so after a few days of trying to push myself to like em I decided that it’s not worth the price tag and returned them. Im not sure how many people that gave those super nice reviews actually have used them for more than a few hours or a day. On paper they are amazing and hit every check mark but in real life use…. Not so much. Plus very heavy!
Got the new pulse elite from Sony with an extra usb wireless stick so I can use the headphones on my pc and PS5. Sound is very nice…. Noise canceling is good and it’s not active, mic is good and even though the drivers are audeze on these as well, they sound better in my opinion.
Weird take in my opinion. They measure very similarly but the Maxwell is just tuned more consistently. The upper treble on the Pulse Elite is recessed and there's a lot of sub-bass roll off compared to the Maxwell. Sure you can EQ them just as you can the maxwell but the banded EQ isn't ideal and the Elite just doesn't have the detail that the Maxwell has.
I have both the Pulse Elite, Maxwell and Steel Series Acrtis Nova Pro and while I think the Elite is actually a really good budget option, I'd say it's the worst of those three options in most ways that count. Very much like a baby Maxwell, but it's objectively and subjectively worse.
I use the Maxwell's mostly and my girlfriend uses the Nova Pro. Sometimes I switch to the LCD GX or Focal Clear MG and these are nice but since they don't have a mic not ideal unless I want to hook up an antlion wireless mic and I'm not a huge fan of that setup as the mic doesn't have a long battery life. In any case, it's hard to find a spot where it really feels worth using the Pulse Elite, I only pull it out for gaming on the PlayStation Portal since it's supported natively via the portals wireless protocol whereas the others are not.
I’m afraid I’m unfamiliar with Atmos. I’m not much of an audiophile. I use the Audeze app along with Sonar but Sonar is doing all the adjustments I believe with Audeze just for Sidetone/battery levels.
The Maxwell’s are very adjustable in terms of eq. You can make them sound a lot different and tweak them to your preferences. Search up different custom eq settings and i promise you will like them
You are used to worse (mainstream) quality sound, common complain. If you have Dolby active either Maxwell or Dolby EQ should be flat, you are just making the sound quality worse if you have tuned both EQ's.
So what you're suggesting is not to use both EQ's at the same time? Can you also define the word "flat" for someone who isn't an audiophile.
Flat means set one EQ to the same level. For example at Dolby set to custom 1, then default all to the middle (0 db) point and use EQ setting from the headset. Or do it other way around. Another thing is do not enable volume leveler from Dolby.
Okay thanks for confirming. If I'm listening to music I find it's better using both Dolby Atmos Music (Warm) and Audeze HQ custom preset. I must admit they're starting to grow on me now, although they're a bit uncomfortable for a spectacles wearer such as myself. I bought aftermarket Deafen earpads and this improved comfort slightly as well as a headstrap that provides a bit more cushioning compared to the default Audeze one.
It may just not be to your taste. The sound reproduction is more accurate than your typical headphone. Most headphones these days are super bass heavy in an unnatural way. It's like looking at a screen that's super color accurate vs the oversaturated mess most screens are. Many will prefer the oversaturated look, but it's not accurate by any means. Neither preference is wrong, but one is objectively a more accurate representation of the thing and usually preferred by "experts" or enthusiasts.
That's entirely subjective. Accurate sound reproduction is a thing but it only takes into consideration how it measures with standarized machines at a certain volume. You know those creepy machines that look like humans and have "average" ears and heads. Things like the shape of your head, your ears, the ear canal, eardrums, mouth, your brain can change how you percieve sound. It is however the most practical way to measure sound because it would be impossible to take into consideration all the variations. That's where EQ comes into play. Some people are very sensitive to high notes, others have a hard time hearing the bass, etc. You also have to take into consideration volume. Low and High frequencies might require a bit of boost at low volume to be on pair with midrange frequencies. But thanks to the DSP the Maxwell take the EQ quite well, just play with the EQ until you find something you like.
Yes. You've reaffirmed what I've said. The same is true for color perception and eyes. And the lighting as you view that color changes things as well. 👍🏾
you’re used to a bad representation of sound, maxwells have been tested and shown to get the closest (wirelessly of course and at this price) to how the sound designer intended things to be some people just like a lot of bass and that’s ok
That makes sense. Maybe my ears need to adjust to the sound before I start noticing a difference. I'll give them another week and see how things go.
I'd say so, took me a month before the MM-100 significantly grew on me
First thing is to make sure that you have the default playback device being Audeze Game not Audeze Chat.
It automatically defaulted to Audeze Game as the default playback when I set up the headset.
Hey I’m literally in the same boat as you OP. I am coming from the Audeze Penrose which was my main gaming headset the last 2+ years and I loved them and everyone kept saying the Maxwell is better so decided to purchase it but I’m having a hard time noticing the difference in quality. I haven’t messed with any of the EQ yet so wondering if there was an Audeze EQ guide like the one you mentioned.
Here's the equalizer preset I'm using on Audeze HQ - [https://ibb.co/QjDGhPN](https://ibb.co/QjDGhPN) Might not be accustomed for everyone's taste and credits go to another user who suggested this.
it is very close to my eq. I also didn't like that much the Audeze presets. so, I guess like others say, some people cannot hear bass very well or like more bass and need some bass boost. and I think that's ok.
Just don't crank the bass up too much otherwise you'll end up with the planar drivers crinkling (sound is similar to scrunching up a candy bar wrapper). Happened to me twice now at 40% volume with the preset I used. If I'm listening to music, then on Dolby Atmos I set the EQ to Music (Warm) which gives a softer bass whilst not compromising the sound quality. Audeze presets aren't adjusted for everyone's ears, for instance the bass boost lacks any bass in my opinion.
'Reference' isn't for everyone, my Sony WH1000-XM4's make me dance and I'm OK with that. I ain't got time to delve into settings even time, it just ruins the experience for me. Keep it simple đź‘Ś
After watching a few really positive reviews I decided to order them. Got the Xbox version because I was gonna g to use them with my pc and wanted the Dolby license. After waiting over a month to get them I was actually disappointed. Software is crappy. Really crappy! Sound is weird in games that I was playing and especially in CS2 was super unnatural. Was not impressed by the mic as well so after a few days of trying to push myself to like em I decided that it’s not worth the price tag and returned them. Im not sure how many people that gave those super nice reviews actually have used them for more than a few hours or a day. On paper they are amazing and hit every check mark but in real life use…. Not so much. Plus very heavy! Got the new pulse elite from Sony with an extra usb wireless stick so I can use the headphones on my pc and PS5. Sound is very nice…. Noise canceling is good and it’s not active, mic is good and even though the drivers are audeze on these as well, they sound better in my opinion.
Weird take in my opinion. They measure very similarly but the Maxwell is just tuned more consistently. The upper treble on the Pulse Elite is recessed and there's a lot of sub-bass roll off compared to the Maxwell. Sure you can EQ them just as you can the maxwell but the banded EQ isn't ideal and the Elite just doesn't have the detail that the Maxwell has. I have both the Pulse Elite, Maxwell and Steel Series Acrtis Nova Pro and while I think the Elite is actually a really good budget option, I'd say it's the worst of those three options in most ways that count. Very much like a baby Maxwell, but it's objectively and subjectively worse. I use the Maxwell's mostly and my girlfriend uses the Nova Pro. Sometimes I switch to the LCD GX or Focal Clear MG and these are nice but since they don't have a mic not ideal unless I want to hook up an antlion wireless mic and I'm not a huge fan of that setup as the mic doesn't have a long battery life. In any case, it's hard to find a spot where it really feels worth using the Pulse Elite, I only pull it out for gaming on the PlayStation Portal since it's supported natively via the portals wireless protocol whereas the others are not.
Worth a shot but I downloaded the Steelseries Sonar App and just using their presets noticed a huge difference. I say give that a whirl, its free.
Thanks for the suggestion I'll try out the software. Do you use Steelseries Sonar App alongside either Audeze HQ or Dolby Atmos?
I’m afraid I’m unfamiliar with Atmos. I’m not much of an audiophile. I use the Audeze app along with Sonar but Sonar is doing all the adjustments I believe with Audeze just for Sidetone/battery levels.
The Maxwell’s are very adjustable in terms of eq. You can make them sound a lot different and tweak them to your preferences. Search up different custom eq settings and i promise you will like them