Make the headphones sing with Linux

Intro

Linux and audiophiles are two words you wouldn’t immediately pair just a few years back. But hear me out. While Mac might hand you a polished ecosystem on a shiny platter, and Windows engineers provide a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist, Linux allows you to do everything you want on any hardware you have.

We will install some sound stuff, then the EQ software, then import headphone presets and then enjoy the difference.

HowTo

Step 1: Know Thy Sound

I want bass like syrup, highs that tickle my spine, and mids that hold it all together. Let’s see how to get it.

Step 2: Upgrade to Pipewire

Linux has been shifting from PulseAudio to Pipewire. Let’s do the same. Remember it's optional. You can keep Pulseaudio and go to step 3.

Uninstall PulseAudio (if you’ve still got it):

sudo apt remove --purge pulseaudio

Install Pipewire:

sudo apt install -y pipewire pipewire-audio-client-libraries pulseaudio-utils

Bring in Wireplumber to manage Pipewire sessions:

sudo apt install -y wireplumber

Enable everything:

systemctl enable --user pipewire

systemctl enable --user wireplumber

Start everything:

systemctl start --user pipewire

systemctl start --user wireplumber

Double-check it’s active:

pactl info | grep Server

Look at that terminal output. Pipewire’s up and humming.

Step 3: Add EasyEffects (Your Personal EQ Playground)

You’ve got the infrastructure, but now you need to tweak your sound. EasyEffects is the one we’ll use.

Install EasyEffects:

sudo apt install easyeffects -y

Install plugins for audio spiciness:

sudo apt install lsp-plugins -y

Let’s dial in those crispy details next.

Step 4: AutoEQ Your Headphones (Precision Audio)

Here comes the good stuff. AutoEQ is the secret sauce for audiophiles - it’s a database that’s mapped EQ settings for thousands of headphones. It’s like giving your headphones a detailed map to perform their best.

Get EQ headphone preset

1. Head to AutoEQ
2. Search for your headphones model.
3. Download the preset file.

Setup Easyeffects:

1. Open EasyEffects
2. Go to “Effects”
3. Click on "AddEffects"
4. Add ”Equilizer“
5. Choose “APO" under "Import Presets.”
6. Select the AutoEQ file and apply it.
7. Click on "Presets"
8. Type a name in the text field
9. Click on the "+" sign
10. Your settings are saved
11. To load them, click on "Presets"
12. Click on "load" next to the preset you want to activate

Your headphones just leveled up.

Step 5: Choose Streaming Clients (Music That Deserves Your Setup)

With your ears in for a treat, the next step is the quality of what you’re feeding them. Some essentials:

Tidal:

sudo apt install tidal-hifi

Spotify and Qobuz are just a quick search in your Linux app store. Most distributions (Linux OS’s) have a wrapper or an Elastic version of the native app that works perfectly. On Ubuntu, the default is "snap."

In the comments, tell me what worked and didn’t work for you while applying this HowTo.

Enjoy.