I will check it out, thanks. I wasn't claiming that you consider it as the bible, mine was just a consideraton. I agree on your definition.

But recently I did a test with all my HPs. For each one, I compared (obv with matched pre-gain volumes) the Oratory preset with another Oratory preset but with some modificaton based on my tastes and with a third preset, built looking to compensated FR graphs and simply correcting manually all spikes and dips. The results shows that Oratory preset were never pleasing and accurate as mine. Did the test also with a friend that is a sound engineer and House music producer (more trained ears than mine) and while he retains that Oratory presets are more balanced than stock sound, he also finds that my personal presets sound more linear and accurate. With oratory presets I usually perceive too much bass, voices are laid back and highs are a little bit "muted".

Happy to have your feedback. You're right, with that 3k boost it sounds less recessed, which is a thing I noticed but I thought that it was inevitable, having to contain the higher frequency mess. So thank you, my X2HR now sounds a little bit more correct :)

Then I want to precise that our units could be different due to unit variations, so it's all relative.

Also, I think there is nothing phenomenal about Fidelio, technically speaking. Pretty horrible tuning above 1.7k, average detail, it does not do well in busy parts. For the same price there is the HD560s or the DT880 that are more accurate and technically competent, except for soundstage that is the only thing where X2HR really stands out.

If you read my other comment below, I said that I personally find my own preset more accurate than Oratory's one. Harman is only a target that consider what casual listeners like. It's not an absolute reference target, so Oratory presets are usually better than stock sound but it's not the Bible.

Damn that's a lot of stuff hahaha, what software do you use? My EQ profile is very simple in comparison.

125 Hz, -1 dB, 1.5 Q 275 Hz, -2 dB, 2 Q 800 Hz, -1 dB, 2.5 Q 1780 Hz, -3 dB, 3 Q 2250 Hz, -2 dB, 1 Q 4000 Hz, -4 dB, 6 Q 5100 Hz, -7 dB, 5 Q 7000 Hz, -5 dB, 2 Q 8250 Hz, - 0.5 dB, 6 Q (this last band is not so important)

I know it's a bit strange because there are no boosted frequencies, but here is my take: you won't need them. This headphone is already bassy, so you won't need to add any bass (maybe sub bass but idc). Mids and highs are the confused area, a lot of stupid spikes going on here. Tried oratory EQ preset but I've never found oratory presets to be the best option for my taste, and with this HP in particular, I was not very satisfied. Then tried to work by myself on A LOT of different presets, and found that adding something to this HP is not a good option at all. It only needs to be tamed.

Let me know what are your impressions. Just remember that I'm treble sensitive mostly up to 4-6 kHz and I usually like to listen with high volume (around 80 dB) .

The post I was waiting for. Thanks for sharing your experience man. Mine is similar, because it's about a year and a half that I own a pair of X2HR and some other headphones below 200 bucks, but it's only a week since I've finally found an EQ profile capable of making them sound warm and non fatiguing, without killing treble and details. I can share with you my EQ profile, it would be interesting to hear your take on it since I'm very proud of it hahaah.

Well thanks😁

When you receive Hexa please make a comparison for me, as I have Hexa but I'm always been intrigued by Olina.

560s "too mid forward"? Are you referring to the 4 to 6 kHz peak? Just EQ

Tried two pairs of 990 (250 and 80 ohms) and both had distortion issue on low end and warbling sound with voices. Their quality sucks.

Interesting. I only own over and on ear headphones so I can't fully understand, but are in ear comparable to over ear regard sound quality? (obv if they are on the same budget)

I suggest you to use oratory presets only as a general guideline. I find that those presets sounds harsh too. Try to learn how to EQ by yourself, I learned with some hours of training.

An easy way: you can start from the oratory presets and modify up or down the bands that have the low shelf or the high shelf, following your preferences (do it while you listen to a song that you know well).

You can also look at the frequency response graph of your headphone and identify all the peaks and the dips. Then simply eq them.