HiFiMAN HE-4 EQ settings
Parametric EQ correction for the HiFiMAN HE-4, derived from measurements by Innerfidelity. It moves the measured frequency response toward a neutral target.
How the HE-4 sounds before EQ
Measured against a neutral target, the HE-4 comes out bright. Treble sits ahead of the bass, which reads as detail at first and fatigue over time.
The air region, openness at the very top, sits about 10.8 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 treble region, cymbals, sibilance and sparkle, sits about 6.5 dB forward of neutral, so cymbals and s-sounds can sting. The sub-bass region, rumble and the weight under kick drums, sits about 4.8 dB behind neutral, so kick drums lose their weight. The mids region, vocals and most instruments, sits about 3.1 dB behind neutral, so vocals sit behind the instruments.
The largest deviation runs to about 6.5 dB, which is impossible to miss. This model benefits clearly from correction.
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 bright 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 1.95 kHz lifts the vocal presence region by 8.8 dB with a medium-width band (Q 1.40).
- The filter at 1 kHz cuts the air band by 6.6 dB with a shelf.
- The filter at 9.6 kHz cuts the treble by 5.5 dB with a broad band (Q 0.18).
The preamp of -6.2 dB offsets the boosts so nothing clips at full volume.
Parametric EQ settings
Preamp: -6.2 dB (prevents clipping from the boosts below)
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low shelf | 105 Hz | +5.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Peaking | 1.95 kHz | +8.8 dB | 1.40 |
| 3 | Peaking | 9.6 kHz | -5.5 dB | 0.18 |
| 4 | Peaking | 224 Hz | -2.0 dB | 1.80 |
| 5 | Peaking | 761 Hz | +2.8 dB | 3.64 |
| 6 | High shelf | 1 kHz | -6.6 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Peaking | 75 Hz | -0.6 dB | 1.66 |
| 8 | Peaking | 7.94 kHz | +2.5 dB | 3.90 |
| 9 | Peaking | 5.36 kHz | +2.8 dB | 6.00 |
| 10 | Peaking | 3.51 kHz | -1.7 dB | 4.51 |
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 HE-4 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.
HE-4 vs other HiFiMAN 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.
| Model | Signature | Bass vs neutral | Treble vs neutral |
|---|---|---|---|
| HE-4 (this page) | bright | -3.0 dB | +4.5 dB |
| Shangri-La | bright | -3.5 dB | +3.2 dB |
| HE-5LE | bright | -2.3 dB | +3.0 dB |
Headphones that sound similar
Closest matches across all 4,332 measured models, by distance between their deviation curves. Useful if you like how the HE-4 is tuned and want alternatives.