In this review Dan Cooper takes a close look at Sonarworks Headphone Calibration plug in that runs within their Reference 3 software.

The sole purpose of this software is to provide us with a natural yet flat frequency response in headphone monitoring.  I like the way Sonarworks have including the headphone calibration plug in along side their Speaker Calibration within their Reference 3 software.

If you already use their brilliant Speaker Calibration plug in then you'll find yourself switching between the speaker calibration (for monitor workflows) and the headphone calibration (for headphone use) with the difference in frequency response being all but unnoticeable between the two.

In the past I have found mixing on headphones a struggle especially when working with monitors as this often mislead some important mix decisions.  I've always found it difficult to trust one set of monitors over a set of headphones.  Sonarworks Headphone Calibration software has not only upgraded my already brilliant KRK KNS8400 headphones but also given me back a workflow that for many years I wasn't comfortable using.

Supported Headphones With Average Calibration File

• AKG K141 MKII

• AKG K240 Studio

• AKG K271 MKII

• AKG K701

• AKG K702

• AKG K712

• Audio-Technica M20x

• Audio-Technica M40x

• Audio-Technica M50x

• Beyerdynamic DT770 80 Ohm

• Beyerdynamic DT770 250 Ohm

• Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro

• Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro

• Focal Spirit Pro

• KRK KNS8400

• Sennheiser HD25-II

• Sennheiser HD280

• Sennheiser HD598

• Sennheiser HD600

• Sennheiser HD650

• Sennheiser HD800

• Shure SRH840

• Sony MDR7506

• Superlux HD681

If your headphones are not on the list then you can purchase headphones from the Sonarworks store that comes with an individual calibration file.