Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

---

EQ tier lists sound useful—but they’re built on a misunderstanding. Here’s why headphone rankings for EQ don’t work, and what listeners should focus on instead.

00:00 - Intro
00:25 - Misconceptions about EQ
08:08 - Problems with EQ profiles and autoEQ tools
10:17 - Designs to consider for EQ purposes
16:50 - S Tier headphones for EQ

Support us by buying headphones at headphones.com
Headphone Power Calculator: headphones.com/pages/headphones-power-calculator
Check out our Headphone Ranking Lists: headphones.com/pages/ranking-lists
Check out our forum: forum.headphones.com
Read more headphone, IEM, amp, and DAC Reviews: Headphones.com/TheAudioFiles
Our Editorial Policy: Headphones.com/TheAudioFiles/About
Join our Discord server: go.headphones.com/discord
How to read the new measurements:
youtube.com/watch?v=QWS-hIzI1KU
The 10 stages of headphone measurements
youtu.be/LrIoNMeo_GI
Sound quality in headphones explained: youtu.be/Km2DNLbB-6o?si=DkKz5tAnv42Tg9FF