Valco VMK25 (ANC on) EQ settings
Parametric EQ correction for the Valco VMK25 (ANC on), derived from measurements by Kuulokenurkka. It moves the measured frequency response toward a neutral target.
How the VMK25 (ANC on) sounds before EQ
Measured against a neutral target, the VMK25 (ANC on) comes out near-neutral. It already tracks the target closely, so the correction is polish rather than surgery.
The air region, openness at the very top, sits about 2.8 dB behind neutral, so the very top closes in (measurements this high up vary between test rigs, so treat the exact number loosely). The sub-bass region, rumble and the weight under kick drums, sits about 1.5 dB forward of neutral, so kick drums carry extra weight and rumble. The mids region, vocals and most instruments, sits about 1.4 dB behind neutral, so vocals sit behind the instruments.
Overall this is a mild case: no band strays more than 1.5 dB from the target, so EQ here is optional fine-tuning rather than a fix.
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 near-neutral 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 2.2 kHz lifts the clarity region by 9.8 dB with a medium-width band (Q 1.38).
- The filter at 63 Hz lifts the bass punch region by 6.2 dB with a broad band (Q 0.60).
- The filter at 5.25 kHz cuts the sibilance range by 4.9 dB with a narrow band (Q 6.00).
The preamp of -6.3 dB offsets the boosts so nothing clips at full volume.
Parametric EQ settings
Preamp: -6.3 dB (prevents clipping from the boosts below)
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low shelf | 105 Hz | -4.6 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Peaking | 2.2 kHz | +9.8 dB | 1.38 |
| 3 | Peaking | 2.75 kHz | -3.7 dB | 0.23 |
| 4 | Peaking | 63 Hz | +6.2 dB | 0.60 |
| 5 | Peaking | 101 Hz | -1.3 dB | 0.30 |
| 6 | High shelf | 1 kHz | +3.8 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Peaking | 5.25 kHz | -4.9 dB | 6.00 |
| 8 | Peaking | 4.47 kHz | +3.6 dB | 5.36 |
| 9 | Peaking | 1.34 kHz | -1.3 dB | 4.17 |
| 10 | Peaking | 1.73 kHz | +0.8 dB | 4.42 |
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 VMK25 (ANC on) 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.
Headphones that sound similar
Closest matches across all 4,332 measured models, by distance between their deviation curves. Useful if you like how the VMK25 (ANC on) is tuned and want alternatives.