'For listening' - new headphone profiles in SoundID Reference

This guide explains why some headphone calibration profiles have a 'For listening' tag and the reasons why certain models are missing from the selection.

 

In this article:

New headphone profiles added - For listening

While previously SoundID Reference only featured on-ear and over-ear models, now the supported headphone models list also includes popular earbuds and in-ear models from brands like 1MORE, Apple, Beats, Bose, Oppo, Samsung, Sennheiser, Shure, and many more (full list below).

The new For listening profiles will be easily recognizable by this label: Screenshot_2021-11-03_at_19.23.35.png

These headphone profiles have already been available on our SoundID app for music listeners, and due to popular user demand, they are now available in SoundID Reference too! 

 

NOTE! SoundID Reference 5.2.0 update (or later) is required to access the new profiles - they will not be available in earlier versions of SoundID Reference. Download here.

Screenshot_2021-11-03_at_17.54.46.png

For listening - what does that mean?

For listening means that our audio engineers recommend using these calibration profiles for recreational listening rather than critically working with audio (e.g. mixing, mastering, sound design, and other music production activities).

There are multiple reasons for this recommendation (listed below). This means that the flat sound can’t be guaranteed throughout the entire frequency spectrum within the SoundID SR (Studio Reference) target of ±3 dB.

 

  • Earbuds and in-ear headphones - these headphone types sound subjective due to bass seal (individual fit in the ear), and different ear canal shapes, so there is a natural translation issue present. We can’t guarantee you will hear a flat sound.
  • Headphone build characteristics - some headphone model shapes, drivers, and certain hardware components can cause resonance in specific frequencies that can’t be fully calibrated digitally. Additionally, some models are unable to produce specific frequencies loud enough for the same reasons. This means that the flat sound can’t be achieved throughout the entire frequency spectrum.
  • Inconsistent headphone builds - some headphone models have significant frequency response differences between L/R channels, or between different units of the same model. In this case, an accurate average profile can’t be created to account for all these differences. Individual headphone calibration can solve this issue (available for over-ear and on-ear headphones only).

 

We suggest trying the new calibration profile for yourself to see if it works for you. Here are some tips to get you started:

  • Compare the new profiles to other headphone models on the list
  • Compare the new profiles to a calibrated speaker set
  • Adjust the profile using the Custom Target feature, to get the profile closer to flat, if you can pin down some discrepancies in the profile by comparing it to other calibrated headphone/speaker profiles

 

Wireless models still missing?

If you are familiar with the headphone profiles available in the SoundID app for music listeners, you will notice that a lot of models (like Apple AirPods, for example) are still missing in SoundID Reference. These are mostly wireless headphone models.

The reason for them being excluded (for now) is Bluetooth issues. SoundID Reference does not yet have a bulletproof mechanism for handling Bluetooth device issues like uncommon sample rate settings and other problems. This means that functionality issues with these models would be very likely.

Bluetooth device handling improvements are planned next year, and the missing models will be added once the problems are resolved! 

 

More supported models coming

The list of For listening profiles will grow with new additions over time, just like it is growing with the regular profile additions. Stay tuned and enjoy listening!

 

Full list of new headphone profiles supported with the 5.2.0 update release

  • 1MORE - Dual Driver (E1017)
  • 1MORE - Quad Driver (E1010)
  • 1MORE - Spearhead VRX (H1006)
  • 1MORE - Triple Driver (E1001)
  • AKG - K361-BT
  • AKG - K371-BT
  • AKG - N60 NC
  • AKG - N60 NC
  • AKG - N60 NC Wireless
  • Anker - Soundcore Life Q20
  • Apple - EarPods
  • Apple - In-Ear Headphones
  • Asus - ZenFone in-ears
  • Audio-Technica - ATH-WS1100iS
  • Avantree - Aria Me
  • Avantree - Aria Me
  • B&O Play - Beoplay H3 (2nd generation)
  • Beats - Powerbeats3
  • Beats - X
  • Beyerdynamic - Aventho Wired
  • Beyerdynamic - Aventho Wireless
  • Beyerdynamic - DT 1350
  • Beyerdynamic - T 5 p (2nd generation)
  • Bose - 700
  • Bose - QuietComfort 20
  • Bose - QuietComfort 20
  • Bose - QuietControl 30
  • Bowers & Wilkins - PX7
  • Bowers & Wilkins - PX7
  • Cleer - Enduro 100
  • Corsair - Virtuoso RGB Wireless
  • Corsair - Virtuoso RGB Wireless
  • Corsair - Void Pro
  • Cowin - E7
  • Edifier - H180
  • Edifier - H180
  • Fender - CXA1
  • FiiO - F9
  • Fun Generation - HP 5
  • Gateway - G-Buds stock black
  • HiFiMAN - HE 400S
  • HiFiMAN - HE 560
  • HTC - U11/U11+
  • Huawei - Active Noise Canceling Earphones 3
  • Huawei - Bass Earphones
  • Huawei - Classic (CM33)
  • Huawei - Engine (AM12)
  • Huawei - FreeBuds 3
  • HyperX - Cloud Earbuds
  • i.am+ - Buttons
  • Jabra - Move
  • Jaybird - X3
  • JBL - C45BT
  • JBL - E25BT
  • JBL - T110
  • JBL - T450BT
  • Kennerton - Magni
  • Klipsch - Image S4 (II)
  • Klipsch - R6
  • Klipsch - T5M
  • Koss - KPH7G
  • Koss - KSC75
  • Koss - Pro-4AA
  • KZ - AS10
  • KZ - ES4
  • KZ - ZS10
  • KZ - ZS10 Pro
  • KZ - ZS3
  • KZ - ZS6
  • KZ - ZSN
  • KZ - ZST
  • LG - EMB-LGE53
  • LG - QuadBeat 3
  • Logitech - G430
  • Logitech - G633 (Battlefield 1)
  • Logitech - G933
  • Logitech - G933
  • Marshall - Mode
  • Master & Dynamic - MH40 Wireless
  • MEE audio - M6 PRO
  • Monster - iBeats by Dr. Dre
  • Motorola - G7 Plus in-ear
  • Mpow - 59
  • OneOdio - DJ
  • Oppo - MH145
  • Oppo - MH150
  • Panasonic - RP-HJE125 Ergo Fit
  • Philips - TAPH805
  • Philips - TAPH805
  • Philips - TAPH805
  • Philips - TAPH805
  • Plantronics - BackBeat GO 810
  • Plantronics - BackBeat GO 810
  • Plantronics - BackBeat GO 810
  • Plantronics - BackBeat GO 810
  • qdc - 8SS
  • qdc - Anole V3-S
  • qdc - Gemini
  • qdc - Gemini
  • qdc - Neptune
  • RHA - MA390 Universal
  • RHA - S500 Universal
  • RHA - T20
  • Roland - RH-5
  • Samsung - A5
  • Samsung - Earphones Tuned by AKG (EO-IG955)
  • Samsung - Galaxy S6, S7
  • Schok - freedomHD
  • Sennheiser - Momentum Wireless [M2 AEBT]
  • Sennheiser - Momentum Wireless [M2 AEBT]
  • Sennheiser - CX 300-II
  • Sennheiser - HD 100
  • Sennheiser - HD 450BT
  • Sennheiser - HD 450BT
  • Sennheiser - HD 518
  • Sennheiser - IE 300
  • Sennheiser - IE 80 S
  • Sennheiser - Momentum In-Ear
  • Sennheiser - RS 175
  • Shure - Aonic 3
  • Shure - SE215
  • Shure - SE535
  • Shure - SE846
  • Shure - SRH750DJ
  • Skullcandy - INK'D
  • Skullcandy - Smokin’ Buds 2
  • Sony - MDR-EX15AP
  • Sony - MDR-EX15LP
  • Sony - MDR-EX450AP
  • Sony - MDR-V55
  • Sony - MDR-XB50AP
  • SoundMAGIC - E10
  • Steelseries - Arctis 3
  • Steelseries - Siberia v3 Prism
  • TiN Audio - T2
  • TiN Audio - T2 Pro
  • TiN Audio - T3
  • Urbanears - Plattan 2
  • Urbanears - Plattan 2 Bluetooth
  • Urbanears - Plattan ADV Wireless
  • Vivo - XE680
  • Vivo - XE710
  • V-Moda - M-200
  • V-Moda - XS
  • Xiaomi - Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro HD
  • Xiaomi - Mi Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones

Was this article helpful?

0 out of 0 found this helpful

Have more questions? Submit a request

0 comments

Please sign in to leave a comment.