What differentiates myHRTF from similar solutions on the market?
From a sound point of view: with myHRTF Personalized Filters you experience a wide and deep soundstage in front with proper distance to the sound sources, indistinguishable from real speakers. In multi-channel applications, you will hear the sound source behind, at the side or even above, just as intended and without front-back / up-down confusion and tonal colorations typically associated with other solutions.
From a technical point of view: myHRTF Personalized Filters takes into account various important aspects of your individual anatomy (your HRTF) and uses this information to simulate perfect speakers in flawless room acoustics.
Using myHRTF Personalized Filters you don't need to translate from headphone sound to speaker sound. It is speaker sound.
Which HRTF database is used?
myHRTF Personalized Filters use computed HRTF based on a novel method developed by myHRTF. They are free from tonal colorations typically associated with measured HRTF using head and torso simulators.
Which rooms were used for impulse response measurements?
myHRTF Personalized Filters are based on computed room acoustics that is free from unfavorable reflections and artefacts such as resonances and flutter echoes typically associated with real rooms.
Why do the virtual speakers sound less bright compared to the uprocessed headphone sound?
When we listen to speakers in a room, most of the sound we receive comes from reflections. These reflections contain significantly less energy in the treble range due to speaker directivity and attenuation of sound waves increasing with frequency. This directivity is wanted and corresponds to the natural directivity of musical instruments and the human voice.
Is there difference between over-ear headphones and IEM in terms of sound quality?
myHRTF Personalized Filters are available for both over-ear headphones and IEM, and both will give speaker-like sound with unprecedented fidelity. However, over-ear headphones tend to have a slight advantage since they include the individual resonances of the ear canal and the concha (bowl-shaped part of your outer ear).
Why isn't there a selection of different loudspeakers and rooms?
The objective of myHRTF Personalized Filters is the simulation of flawless speakers in flawless room acoustics in line with international standards. Real speakers and rooms tend to show flaws such as uneven directivity and artefacts such as resonances and flutter echos.
How much latency do the filters have?
myHRTF Personalized Filters for TV and Gaming have less than 1 ms latency, myHRTF Personalized Filters for music have approx. 100 ms latency since they make use of sophisticated digial filter design that requires latency.
Which sampling rates are supported?
myHRTF Personalized Filters come with all standard sampling rates as specified here.
Why is it required to set a preamp gain of -10 dB?
Most headphones require a significant level boost especially in the subwoofer frequency range. In order to allow for this boost, all other frequencies need to be reduced in level to avoid clipping and the volume appears to be lower. To avoid uncomfortably high and potentially harmful volume changes when switching filters on and off, all signals are attenuated by 10 dB.
Why is the required preamp gain of -10 dB not integrated into the filters?
The integration of the required preamp gain of -10 dB into myHRTF Personalized Filters would lead to uncomfortably high and potentially harmful volume changes when switching filters on and off, .
Is it required to use a headphone amplifier?
A dedicated headphone amplifier is not essential but strongly recommended in order to hear the full potential of myHRTF Personalized Filters. Highly capable products are available on the market from 130 €/$.