This gives you across-the-board, flat sound from browser-based audio platforms like Soundcloud and Youtube through to standalone applications such as Spotify, iTunes or your chosen DAW. Systemwide opens this up to cover all outgoing audio from your computer. Until now, the power of Reference 3 was only available when working in a DAW environment. Either option results in a custom, one-off profile which is said to improve accuracy by around 5%. If you don't own a pair of headphones that's compatible with the pre-defined profiles, it's possible to buy a calibrated pair direct from Sonarworks or have your own pair sent to their HQ in Latvia for calibration. Sonarworks analysed and created profiles for pretty much every discerning model of headphone you care to think of, and there are a couple of more niche options available, too. A number of different pairs of the same model of headphone are tested, generating an average profile for each. The core of Reference 3 is an averaged frequency response profile, created using their proprietary Headphone Acoustic Power measurement system. It should be noted that Reference 3 is also capable of creating speaker calibration profiles but this review will focus on the newly updated headphone calibration aspect of the software. Sonarworks noted this problem and created the Reference 3 software in response. Finding a completely flat pair is pretty much an impossibility. They could also be open or closed-back in style and are made from a number of different materials. They may dip or boost certain frequency bands. All headphones, just like all monitors, will colour sound in some way or another. While we associate sound biases with things like standing waves and phase, it's as prevalent in your headphones as it is in your bedroom or studio. Biased sound is a problem most producers want to avoid but it's almost impossible to erase completely.

Sonarworks reference 3 headphone