Question about Parametric EQ Gain vs Headroom setting

[Prashant_Sistla]

Hi All - I’ve seen portions of my question kind of mentioned in other threads but not 100%, so going to ask here :). I’ve been using Roon for years but generally I’m loathe to use EQ (to each their own). However, I’ve kind of softened that stance with my Audeze LCD-GXs.

I quite like the stock sound signature of these headphones but they could use a little more oomph on the bottom end. I created 2 new PEQ profiles to just up the bass to closer to Harman target (one is the Oratory 1990 and the other is one from headphones.com which is not as boosted, but kinda similar).

My question, though, is related to the controls in Roon. When you’re creating an PEQ profile, you’re able to drag the whole thing down below the 0dB mark. But then you also have the headroom management setting.

So I’m trying to understand what the difference is between the two and which I should adjust to avoid clipping. For example, here is the lesser of the two presets:

F: 30Hz
Gain: 1 dB
Q: 1
Type: peak/dip

F: 85Hz
Gain: 2 dB
Q: .7
Type: Low shelf

I’d have to drag the right side slider down ~3.5dB to visually bring the white curve to 0 or just below. So do I do that and keep headroom off? Or do I leave the right slider at 0dB and set a negative -3dB in headroom management?

Thanks!

[Wade_Oram]

It should make no difference which method you use.

Dragging the PEQ curve down possibly makes it easier to set the optimal value because you can see whether or not any part of the curve is above 0dB.

[Torben_Rick (Torben - A Dane living in Hamburg - Roon Lifer)]

This way?

Have a nice WE

Torben

[Prashant_Sistla]

Okay, so it sounds like both methods accomplish the same thing. I wasn’t sure if the slider in the PEQ menu would only impact the frequencies that the EQ settings were changing or the whole track (if that makes sense).

Thanks for the feedback!