Why Do My Headphones Sound Different On Other Systems?

[BDW42]

Im pretty new to recording and I recently just purchased my first pair of headphones for mixing. I was wondering why my headphones sound fine when i plug into my stereo, but when I plug into my MP3 player, they sound different? the bass sounds a little higher.

thanks!

 

[diggy_dude]

Do you mean the bass sounds louder? A lot of portable devices have exaggerated bass response. Marketing to the boneheaded masses.

 

[moresound]

Do you mean the bass sounds louder? A lot of portable devices have exaggerated bass response. Marketing to the boneheaded masses.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA .... must spread rep around before giving diggy dude more rep ..

 

[diggy_dude]

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA .... must spread rep around before giving diggy dude more rep ..

Just tell me how to hook up my comp sidechain and we'll call it even.

 

[moresound]

Just tell me how to hook up my comp sidechain and we'll call it even.

Why are you being facetious or you need help?

 

[John Willett]

Im pretty new to recording and I recently just purchased my first pair of headphones for mixing. I was wondering why my headphones sound fine when i plug into my stereo, but when I plug into my MP3 player, they sound different? the bass sounds a little higher.

This will be for several reasons:-

• The quality of the headphone amplifier.
• Whether the headphone amp. is mains powered or on a battery portable.
• The Impedance of the headphones.
• The sensitivity of the headphones.
• MP3 is a horrible format (it sounds so bad I can't listen to it at all) so the sound will be changed depending on how it's grunged into MP3.
• Etc.............

I hope this helps.

 

[legionserial]

Im pretty new to recording and I recently just purchased my first pair of headphones for mixing. I was wondering why my headphones sound fine when i plug into my stereo, but when I plug into my MP3 player, they sound different? the bass sounds a little higher.

thanks!

If you had 2 different stereos they'd probably sound different through the headphones too. Different systems have different nuances.

I think the main point in this case though, is that mp3 players often have comparitavely crappy sound processing. They're made for the average joe on the move, and the average joe on the move isn't an audiophile. He just wants some tunes to rock out to (or mince about to) on the train.

 

[buzzard bass]

Agree about the mp3 format, I can't listen to it either.

 

[diggy_dude]

Why are you being facetious or you need help?

I was referring to my thread in the Rack forum, but you replied already. Thanks!

 

[diggy_dude]

He just wants some tunes to rock out to (or mince about to) on the train.

Is the average Joe fond of swishy gaits?

 

[legionserial]

The average Joe tends to listen to some faggy-assed music.

 

[BDW42]

This will be for several reasons:-

• The quality of the headphone amplifier.
• Whether the headphone amp. is mains powered or on a battery portable.
• The Impedance of the headphones.
• The sensitivity of the headphones.
• MP3 is a horrible format (it sounds so bad I can't listen to it at all) so the sound will be changed depending on how it's grunged into MP3.
• Etc.............

I hope this helps.

thanks, john! I'm curious about impedance... how would that directly affect the bass response?

excuse my newbieness! thanks!

 

[jotangent]

The average Joe tends to listen to some faggy-assed music.

I should take offence to that, lol

 

[jotangent]

thanks, john! I'm curious about impedance... how would that directly affect the bass response?

excuse my newbieness! thanks!

Like any speaker, if the imedance is higher than the amp is optimaly desighned for you will loose definition and power. If the difference is large then so will the drop in definition

 

[chris in indy]

The average Joe tends to listen to some faggy-assed music.

easy there buckwheat ....................... define "average" and "faggy-assed" ................... please.

 

[John Willett]

thanks, john! I'm curious about impedance... how would that directly affect the bass response?

excuse my newbieness! thanks!

Normally it shouldn't.

But it depends on the quality of the headphone amplifier and its ability to drive the headphones.

You didn't give any real information, so my list was just the sort of things that could affect what you are hearing.

 

[Seidy]

Almost every mp3 player has those nasty eq presets like rock, classical, pop and so on. Make sure it is set to flat or off.

 

[Chibi Nappa]

Almost every mp3 player has those nasty eq presets like rock, classical, pop and so on. Make sure it is set to flat or off.

I would be shocked if it were anything other than this.

 

[kcearl]

i have had loads of mp3 player..ipods mostly (broke them all)...as its mostly the way I listen to music in all its faggy assed glory...but the best ive found is a little usb sony walkman (NWZ-B142F(JE))...excellent sound on it...way better than any other Ive used, even the ear buds are better than most..I bought two in case i broke one and its part of my mixes listening chain now

if folks listen to their music on mp3 players then youd better make sure your mixes sound good on them too


oh actually i meant i cant listen to mp3's, theyre awful, I carry a Dual deck, a NAD amp, a pair of Wharfdales, and a bag of long players, when Im sitting on a train/riding my bike/snowboarding/at the gym....... lol


to the OP turn off any enhancements, Xtra bass, EQs etc....should do the same with all your stereo equipment in the house or car etc

 

[John Willett]

oh actually i meant i cant listen to mp3's, theyre awful, I carry a Dual deck, a NAD amp, a pair of Wharfdales, and a bag of long players, when Im sitting on a train/riding my bike/snowboarding/at the gym....... lol

But you can put them on your MP3 player as uncompressed wav or FLAC, etc....