Audio-Technica ATH-CKX5iS EQ settings

Parametric EQ correction for the Audio-Technica ATH-CKX5iS, derived from measurements by Innerfidelity. It moves the measured frequency response toward a neutral target.

How the ATH-CKX5iS sounds before EQ

Measured against a neutral target, the ATH-CKX5iS comes out V-shaped. Boosted bass and treble with recessed mids: exciting at first, tiring and vocal-shy over time.

The air region, openness at the very top, sits about 2.7 dB forward of neutral, so the very top sounds airy and open (measurements this high up vary between test rigs, so treat the exact number loosely). The presence region, vocal clarity and attack, sits about 2.6 dB forward of neutral, so consonants and attack can turn sharp. The bass region, punch and bass lines, sits about 2.0 dB forward of neutral, so bass lines carry extra weight. The sub-bass region, rumble and the weight under kick drums, sits about 1.7 dB forward of neutral, so kick drums carry extra weight and rumble.

The deviations are moderate, topping out around 2.6 dB, which is clearly audible in a direct comparison. EQ makes a worthwhile difference.

These figures are read from the correction itself: whatever the EQ lifts, the headphone lacked, and whatever it cuts, the headphone had too much of. The target is the community's neutral reference, and how far above 10 kHz you can trust any measurement varies by rig. More V-shaped models.

The correction curve

The solid line is the full measured correction (all 10 filters). The dashed line is what Atrium applies: the same shape at 65 percent strength, capped at 6 dB per band, so the headphone keeps its own character instead of being forced flat.

What the EQ fixes

The biggest moves in this correction, and what they do:

• The filter at 5.36 kHz cuts the sibilance range by 5.4 dB with a narrow band (Q 4.28).
• The filter at 3.09 kHz cuts the clarity region by 4.4 dB with a narrow band (Q 3.77).
• The filter at 693 Hz lifts the middle of the mids by 3.1 dB with a broad band (Q 0.46).

The preamp of -2.6 dB offsets the boosts so nothing clips at full volume.

Parametric EQ settings

This is the full measured correction in AutoEq format. It pastes straight into Equalizer APO or Peace on Windows, and into most parametric EQ apps.

How to use these settings

Manually: enter the preamp and each filter into any parametric EQ. On Windows that is usually Equalizer APO with the Peace interface. On a Mac, eqMac or SoundSource. Set the type, frequency, gain and Q exactly as listed.

With Atrium: pick your ATH-CKX5iS in the app and it applies a tuned version of this correction: 65 percent strength with a 6 dB per-band cap, which fixes the rough spots without erasing what the headphone does well. Atrium also measures how you hear with a short listening test and layers your personal hearing profile on top. Two people with the same headphones do not hear the same sound. Headphone corrections are part of Signature Edition; the app itself is free.

ATH-CKX5iS vs other Audio-Technica models

Bass and treble are each model's average distance from the neutral target in that range. Positive means more than neutral, negative means less.

Headphones that sound similar

Closest matches across all 4,332 measured models, by distance between their deviation curves. Useful if you like how the ATH-CKX5iS is tuned and want alternatives.

More Audio-Technica EQ settings