As music lovers, we all have something in common, no matter where we are on our audio journeys – we continuously benefit from other people’s music knowledge.
The music/audio community is a melting pot that proliferates oceans of free wisdom. Whether from friends or strangers, it comes in many forms:
- A review of a new album
- An artist or album pick that introduces a new genre
- A setting or connection tip that unlocks an audio device’s full potential
- A lively audio conversation in an online forum
- A shared deal link that helps us secure a coveted piece of gear
- And countless other examples of routine generosity that expand our music enjoyment
Free expertise flows endlessly through our interactions, and we, in turn, reciprocate by sharing what we know. There’s not a single person reading this who hasn’t experienced similar generosity. It’s truly an inspiring aspect of our hobby that often goes underappreciated.
The spirit of audio altruism, knowledge sharing, and dogged pursuit of sonic perfection that defines the HiFi community lies at the heart of our newest Roon feature – OPRA (Open Profiles for Revealing Audio). It’s designed to transform your headphone listening experience in Roon – and beyond.
What is OPRA?
OPRA is a resource that feeds the communal reciprocation loop I describe above. It fosters a welcoming environment for sharing specialized audio knowledge while helping deliver it to as many people as possible.
On GitHub, OPRA is an open-source repository that gives audio experts and sound enthusiasts a trusted, collaborative platform to create and share precisely crafted headphone EQ curves. It’s an audio initiative to facilitate sharing high-quality audio tunings that anyone can use, and it marks the first comprehensive effort to establish a conscientious source of EQ profiles that can be easily integrated into software.
Implemented in Roon and ARC, OPRA is an incredibly easy-to-use yet potent new addition to the MUSE audio suite that instantly optimizes audio quality for a wide range of headphone models.
If you’ve heard about the magic of equalization and want to experiment but need help getting started, OPRA is the helping hand you’ve been looking for. It eliminates the tricky learning curve and reveals a new world of possibilities.
OPRA takes the learning curve out of EQ curves
To better understand OPRA’s benefits, let’s briefly explore the current free-range EQ wilderness.
Headphone EQ curves are sets of adjustments that fine-tune specific frequency ranges to match established targets like the Harman Response Curve. Audio pros and enthusiasts create these using dedicated equipment, microphones, and recording software, then share them across headphone forums, GitHub, or specialized sites like AutoEQ.
However, there’s always been a significant hurdle: taking advantage of this shared sonic wizardry is still challenging for those who could benefit from it most. Locating and manually copying individual headphone EQ profiles from various internet sources and uploading them into Roon is understandably beyond the comfort zone or familiarity of listeners who simply want better sound. Even many knowledgeable EQ users don’t bother with the effort.
We’ve seen countless Roon Community posts from headphone users and aspiring audiophiles asking for equalization advice and expanded EQ presets like those provided by Audeze. Should these listeners be left out in the cold, heartless wilds of untreated sound or forced to blindly forage for presets? Should headphone fine-tuning only be available to a select few? We don’t think so – that’s not very Roon-like.
OPRA not only solves this it also meshes perfectly with our philosophy. Roon has always tried to simplify configuration so you can focus on what’s really important – enjoying music. By making OPRA open source and available to anyone we can potentially extend easy optimization to all listeners – whether they use Roon or not.
Roon’s OPRA integration provides a first glimpse of what that looks like. Having to search for and manually enter EQ curve parameters is now a thing of the past. OPRA comes loaded with EQ presets for hundreds of popular headphone models, many offer multiple equalization options. With OPRA, optimized headphone tuning is just a few easy clicks away.
It couldn’t be simpler to use!
OPRA provides premium Head-Fi for all
After updating Roon and ARC, you’ll find the new Headphone EQ filter preinstalled in MUSE. Here’s how to use it:
1. Enter the Headphone EQ filter and search by model name or manufacturer. You can also browse using the manufacturer logo grid.
2. Click a model number to see and select EQ preset offerings.
3. Your chosen preset appears in the parametric EQ grid display, providing a visual reference of the applied tuning.
4. Many popular models offer several options, letting you find the perfect sound for your taste.
To remove the preset, press CLEAR above the parametric EQ display. In Roon, you can use the breadcrumbs above the headphone model name to backtrack to the model list for the brand you selected or return to the complete list of manufacturers. In ARC, select CHANGE PRESET to see the model list for your chosen brand or return to All manufacturers.
To save a selected profile, click the arrow in the lower right-hand corner of the EQ display, name it, and hit save. The preset will be stored in your Parametric EQ settings, where you can customize it further or use it as a foundation for experimentation.
For those who prefer creating their own headphone adjustments using parametric EQ or hunting for EQ profiles on forums, nothing has changed – you’re welcome to continue doing so. But now, thanks to OPRA, it’s not necessary, and enjoying high-quality headphone audio is easier for everyone.
Conclusion
The audio journey has always embraced sharing knowledge and lifting each other up. OPRA embodies this spirit by bringing together the technical expertise of the audio community and fulfilling a simple desire we all share – to hear our music at its absolute best.
Whether you’re an EQ shogun or just getting started with headphone optimization, OPRA makes better sound accessible to everyone. It’s a testament to what’s possible when we combine the generosity of audio enthusiasts with software that makes their knowledge easily accessible. And this is just the beginning – as our community grows and contributes, OPRA will continue to transform your audio experience, bringing even more possibilities for sonic improvement to music lovers everywhere.
So go ahead – explore, experiment, and immerse yourself in the perfected listening experience that OPRA brings to your favorite headphones. As always, we thank you for being part of the Roon community!
Ready to see if OPRA can breathe new life into your headphones? Experience OPRA and all of Roon’s exclusive features today with a free 14-day trial!