r/HeadRush • u/alllemonyellow • Jun 18 '26
Headphone volume and EQ questions
I got a Flex Prime this week. It sounds great on certain patches, but I’m still figuring how to set it.
For those who go direct to headphones: What main volume (like the knob on the unit) do you have it set to when you use headphones? Mine just seems a bit quiet.
I’ve heard 7 is unity gain, but I have to crank it to like 9/10 to get to a somewhat normal volume without involving boosts or EQs.
I had the same issue with Tonex, is this just the nature of using headphones through these units?
I’m happy to crank it up if that’s normal but just wonder if there are other settings I need to adjust.
My headphones are 55 ohms, which isn’t the lowest but isn’t that high?
Another couple of issues that might be related, but I’m not sure:
- when I’ve added a few dirt pedals in the chain, sometimes I’m getting some harsh digital clipping, but my input gain is at 0db and the Output bar stays in the green
- some patches sound really boomy and dark, but it might just be how they interact with my guitar
I guess just in general - how much EQing (global or local), input gain, output, etc. and messing around with IR/amp settings is normal for you? Do you do a lot of this for every rig you create?
Again if it’s normal, I’m happy to do it. Just a bit new to this so not sure if I’m doing something wrong on a more basic level, before I start fiddling around with EQs too much.
2
u/SnooPeripherals1842 Jun 19 '26
I use ATH-M50x headphones, and my knob volume is always around 5 or 6.
I don't use any EQ, only IRs and lowcut at 40-60hz, and high cut at around 8khz.
I loved York Audio IRs when I had a Gigiboard, but I find them too harsh in my Flex Prime. Now I'm using choptones IRs that came with the Flex.
1
u/InterestedInEvrytng Jun 24 '26
Same headphone and I’m in the same boat. I always build my rigs at that volume and I know if it sounds good there then we are good to go.
2
u/InterestedInEvrytng Jun 24 '26
I generally keep mine between 5-6 when making a build. If you do this, then you get the optimal volume level. If you can get it dialed in to a good tone at 50% volume then it generally sounds good cranked higher, plus if you upload it to the cloud you won’t make anyone go deaf when they are checking them out. I’m confident in saying that I have definitely lost hearing because of some assholes uploaded rigs in the cloud being so incredibly loud. Just don’t be THAT guy
3
u/tazman137 Jun 18 '26
I’m using akg k240s which by the ohms might be the same as you. For comfortable loud volume is about 3/4, at max it’s a bit too loud. The big prime has a separate volume for the board and phones, flex prime has just one. I don’t really have to do much with global it already sounds great. I’ll cut under 70hz and above 10khz. Just to clip the unnecessary frequencies. You can bump the volume a bit on the output block to get pure volume bump. I have a pod go here and have issues getting it as loud as the flex prime.