What I don't get...

[Buffalobiian]

It seems to me that between real speakers (stuff sounds as intended) and headphones with the obviously reduced bass output, a preset equalizer trying to compensate for that might be useful.

At least that's what I've been using a preset equalizer setting for ages on my mini hifi stereo system to which my computer is connected. Since I use 99% of time headphones, not speakers. Though I have somewhat decent German headphones, not some made in China bubbles, so I might be slightly off topic considering Bill's original question (if he meant portable mp3 players and such).

I meant any media player, such as portable ones (ipods), and software ones (WMP).

@real speakers: equalisers are supposed to be used when real speakers are in use as well to compensate for room acoustics, standing waves and such in this case. That would be via special tuning, and not selecting a preset.

As for turning up the bass when wearing headphones to compensate, that would be similar to the example above about compensating for the inconsistent frequency response of your equipment. Only difference is that "lacking bass" is such a general feature of open circumaural headsets that a "bass boost" preset will probably do the job nicely.

edit: oh, DS mentioned this.

The reason why the studio doesn't do this themselves, is because not everyone has speakers with drivers that can produce the extra range reasonably distortion free, in fact, most people don't. Also like I said, what gains are preferable is entirely subjective.

So studios don't generally equalise the record?

Also decent phones and even some of the in-ear earbuds definitly benefit from a "bass-boost" setting.

Wouldn't you expect better cans to produce more accurately and therefore reduce any beneficial effect presets would have?

I used to do the treble boost like Ryll on radios to hear voices better.. I guess that's one usefulness I can agree with.

[Kraco]

Wouldn't you expect better cans to produce more accurately and therefore reduce any beneficial effect presets would have?

Since it's a physical limitation of small items trying to reproduce low sounds, I'd say higher quality equipment has better chances of benefitting from any equalization, like DS also kind of said when he mentioned poor equipment can't handle it. The worst cheap earbuds can't produce anything one would call, with any honesty, bass sounds. They won't much benefit from sound shaping either.

You will never get amazing bass from small things unless somebody invents something Nobel worthy...

[Animeniax]

Since it's a physical limitation of small items trying to reproduce low sounds, I'd say higher quality equipment has better chances of benefitting from any equalization, like DS also kind of said when he mentioned poor equipment can't handle it. The worst cheap earbuds can't produce anything one would call, with any honesty, bass sounds. They won't much benefit from sound shaping either.

You will never get amazing bass from small things unless somebody invents something Nobel worthy...

Check out some of the higher end Shure and Ultimate Ears ear buds, they reproduce bass and everything else at a very high level, but you get what you pay for. I had a pair of $180 UEs and they failed after 1.5 years. Since Logitech bought the company, there's only a 1 year warranty on them.

[darkshadow]

Wouldn't you expect better cans to produce more accurately and therefore reduce any beneficial effect presets would have?

Basically what Kraco said ^

So studios don't generally equalise the record?

Nope, they actually record it with certain settings from the get go and after that they tweak it here and there, but more often then not, they just raise the dB of everything (making it louder).

[Animeniax]

Is there a term whereby a person fulfills more racial stereotypes to spite people who judge him based on his race?

Alternatively, is there such a thing as "racial guilt" whereby someone is ashamed of stereotypes of their race so they purposefully behave in ways to contradict those stereotypes (like when I over-tip to compensate for the stereotype that Asians do not tip)?

[XanBcoo]

Alternatively, is there such a thing as "racial guilt" whereby someone is ashamed of stereotypes of their race so they purposefully behave in ways to contradict those stereotypes (like when I over-tip to compensate for the stereotype that Asians do not tip)?

I know people who do something similar to this. One of my closest friends has specifically told me that he knows that there are a lot of negative stereotypes about black men and that he consciously tries to do his best to comport himself respectfully around everyone so that he can properly represent himself.

I don't know that there's a term for it.

[Animeniax]

I know people who do something similar to this. One of my closest friends has specifically told me that he knows that there are a lot of negative stereotypes about black men and that he consciously tries to do his best to comport himself respectfully around everyone so that he can properly represent himself.

I don't know that there's a term for it.

I've heard it called "racial guilt", but a google search yielded poor results and had few suggestions. I'm also interested in the reverse trend where people act "more their race" in defiance of those who judge them by racial stereotypes that don't normally apply to them. Considering I'm a sociology major, I imagine I can ask one of my teachas, my professas, my RAs, or my deans."