Crossfeed for headphones and earphones to better emulate natural stereo experience through speakers

Abstract

While many people listen to music on headphones and earphones, it may not be the best way to translate music from the studio, or even just any space with well-placed speakers. On headphones and earphones, bass response can be massively different and stereo image can be unnaturally wide.

More from the GoodHertz website on crossfeed:

The main “problem” with headphones is that most music is still created (recorded, mixed, mastered) on speakers, with tools that were primarily designed for loudspeaker playback. Compared to speakers, music often sounds overly “wide” when listened to on headphones, as if there were a section missing from the center of the stereo image. Headphones also offer poor externalization (i.e. mono sounds typically appear to originate from inside the listener’s head as opposed to externally). Similarly, headphones often have irregular, exaggerated, or unnatural frequency response curves, either because they were designed that way or because they lack the natural bass reinforcement that would occur in a real room with speakers.

Many producers and mix engineers use CanOpener when mixing and listening on headphones. Unlike Waves NX which emulates a 3D space, which may cause irregularities in frequency and other undesired coloration and artifacts, GoodHertz CanOpener only emulates the listening experience through stereo speakers. I also personally use CanOpener in my mixes, and sometimes when listening to music on headphones but, it being a VST plugin, setting it up is not painless for casual listening. Having crossfeed between the left and right channels may reduce listening fatigue, enhance soundstage, translate a better stereo image, and have better or more natural frequency distribution.

Specification

Add a crossfeed feature on all apps on all platforms, to be placed ideally with or close to the equalizer section of the Audio settings on the mobile app, and in the quality selection on desktop/web. It may be first introduced as a simple on and off switch with a static and hidden setting of 60º, the most common speaker angle and placement in many studios and listening rooms. Further development may then add adjustable crossfeed settings for ‘speaker’ angle in degrees and amount in percent.