Headphone EQ settings for Mac
Pick your model for its measured EQ correction, the specs that matter on a Mac (codec, multipoint, calls) and the exact values to paste into TuningMac's Advanced EQ. Corrections come from AutoEQ's recommended measurements; specs come from each maker.
Apple
Over-ear headphones
- Apple AirPods Max 2No measured correction published yet; the original AirPods Max correction is the closest starting point.AAC on MacNo measurement yetNoise cancelling
- Apple AirPods MaxTurns the bass and low mids down by about 2 to 3 dB, dips about 2.5 dB near 1 kHz and adds about 5 dB near 4 and 7 kHz.AAC on MacNoise cancelling
Earbuds
- Apple AirPods Pro 3No measured correction published yet; specs, Mac notes and how to tune them for now.AAC on MacNo measurement yetNoise cancelling
- Apple AirPods Pro 2Makes only small changes, within about 3 dB: a little more bass around 75 Hz, a dip near 430 Hz and about 3 dB more near 2.4 kHz.AAC on MacNoise cancelling
- Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)Adds about 2 dB of bass, cuts about 4 dB near 575 Hz and adds about 4 dB near 4.7 kHz and 6 dB near 9 kHz.AAC on MacNoise cancelling
- Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise CancellationTurns 60 to 400 Hz down by about 1.5 to 2.5 dB and lifts 3.5 to 5 kHz by about 6 dB.AAC on MacNoise cancelling
- Apple AirPods 4Turns 100 to 400 Hz down by about 2 to 3 dB and lifts 3 to 5 kHz by about 6 dB.AAC on Mac
- Apple AirPods (3rd generation)Adds up to 6 dB of deep bass, cuts about 3.5 dB near 1.8 kHz and lifts the treble above 10 kHz by about 5 dB.AAC on Mac
- Apple AirPods (2nd generation)Adds about 5 to 6 dB of bass, cuts about 3.5 dB near 2.2 kHz and 3 dB near 6 kHz, and cuts the treble above 8 kHz by 4 to 6 dB.AAC on Mac
- Apple AirPods (1st generation)Adds about 2 dB of bass, cuts about 3.5 dB near 530 Hz and lifts 4 to 9 kHz by about 3 to 4 dB.AAC on Mac
Sony
Over-ear headphones
- Sony WH-1000XM6Turns the bass down by about 3 to 4 dB, adds about 3 dB near 1.3 kHz, lifts 6 to 8 kHz by up to 4 dB and cuts the top treble above 10 kHz.AAC on Mac (LDAC on Android)Noise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony WH-1000XM5Turns the bass down by about 3 to 6 dB, lifts 1.3 to 2.5 kHz by 4 to 6 dB and adds up to 5 dB of treble above 10 kHz.AAC on Mac (LDAC on Android)Noise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony WH-1000XM4Turns the bass down by about 4 to 6 dB, lifts 2 to 2.5 kHz by 5 to 6 dB and leaves the top treble almost untouched.AAC on Mac (LDAC on Android)Noise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony WH-1000XM3Turns the bass down by about 4 to 7 dB, lifts 1.3 to 2 kHz and the area around 4 kHz by about 4 to 5 dB and leaves the top treble close to flat.AAC on Mac (LDAC on Android)Noise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony WH-1000XM2Dips about 3 dB near 180 Hz, adds about 5 dB near 850 Hz, cuts about 4 dB near 1.8 kHz and lifts the treble above 8 kHz by up to 4 dB.AAC on Mac (LDAC on Android)Noise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony WH-XB910NCuts the bass by about 7 to 9 dB, adds 4.5 to 6.5 dB from 500 to 750 Hz, lifts 3 to 4 kHz by 5.5 to 7 dB and cuts about 4.5 dB near 8 kHz.AAC on Mac (LDAC on Android)Noise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony ULT WEAR (WH-ULT900N)Cuts the bass by about 6 to 10 dB, lifts 1.5 to 5 kHz by 4 to 6.5 dB and adds about 4 dB near 8.7 kHz.AAC on Mac (LDAC on Android)Noise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony WH-CH720NTurns the bass down by up to 6 dB, lifts 1 to 1.5 kHz and 4.3 kHz by about 4 to 5 dB, cuts about 4.5 dB near 9.5 kHz and adds top treble above 14 kHz.AAC on MacNoise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony INZONE H9Adds sub-bass below 40 Hz, cuts about 5 dB around 150 Hz, lifts 800 Hz to 1.2 kHz and 4 kHz by 4 to 6 dB and cuts the treble above 8 kHz by 5 to 7 dB.AAC on MacNoise cancelling
On-ear headphones
Earbuds
- Sony WF-1000XM5Makes only small changes, within about 2.7 dB: a dip near 160 Hz, a little deep bass and about 2 dB more treble above 6 kHz.AAC on Mac (LDAC on Android)Noise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony WF-1000XM4Turns the bass and low mids down by about 2 to 4.5 dB and adds treble rising to about 7.5 dB around 10 kHz.AAC on Mac (LDAC on Android)Noise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony WF-1000XM3Adds deep bass below 60 Hz, dips about 2.5 dB near 160 Hz, adds about 2.5 dB near 4 and 7 kHz and cuts the treble above 10 kHz by up to 4.5 dB.AAC on MacNoise cancelling
- Sony LinkBuds FitMakes only small changes, within about 2.5 dB: a slight dip around 600 Hz, about 2.5 dB more near 4 kHz and a little more top treble.AAC on Mac (LDAC on Android)Noise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony LinkBuds SKeeps the bass close to flat, lifts 3 to 8 kHz by about 2 to 4 dB and trims the top treble above 14 kHz.AAC on Mac (LDAC on Android)Noise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony LinkBuds (WF-L900)Adds about 6 dB of bass, cuts 500 Hz to 2 kHz by 4 to 7 dB and adds about 5 dB near 3.7 and 7.7 kHz.AAC on MacMultipoint
- Sony WF-C700NKeeps the bass and mids within about 2 dB, adds about 2.5 dB around 5 to 6 kHz and lifts the top treble by 4 to 6.5 dB.AAC on MacNoise cancellingMultipoint
- Sony WF-C500Trims the deepest bass, cuts about 5 dB around 2.8 kHz and adds about 4.5 dB near 5 kHz.AAC on Mac
Don't see yours? TuningMac's Advanced EQ accepts any correction in AutoEQ or Equalizer APO format, so you can paste one for any headphones. EQ data from AutoEQ by Jaakko Pasanen (MIT licence). Apple, AirPods and Sony model names are trademarks of their owners; TuningMac is not affiliated with Apple or Sony. More about the equalizer