Apple AirPods (3rd generation) EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Apple AirPods (3rd generation), the specs that matter, and what changes when you use them with a Mac. Copy the settings and apply them in one click.
The short answer
- Adds deep bass below 60 Hz, up to about 6 dB around 40 Hz.
- Cuts about 3.5 dB around 1.8 kHz.
- Adds about 2 dB near 4 kHz.
- Lifts the treble from 10 kHz up by about 5 dB for more air.
AirPods (3rd gen) at a glance
Wireless earbuds with an open fit and Spatial Audio, released in 2021. Official specifications from Apple:
- Chip
- Apple H1
- Bluetooth version
- 5.0
- Model numbers
- A2565, A2564 (MagSafe case A2566, Lightning case A2897)
- Driver
- Custom high-excursion Apple driver, custom high dynamic range amplifier
- Audio features
- Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Adaptive EQ
- Microphones
- Two beamforming microphones and one inward-facing microphone
- Sensors
- Skin-detect sensor, motion and speech accelerometers, force sensor
- Battery life
- Up to 6 hours (5 with Spatial Audio); up to 30 hours with the case
- Charging
- MagSafe Charging Case (MagSafe, Qi or Lightning) or Lightning Charging Case; 5 minutes gives about 1 hour
- Weight
- 4.28 g per earbud; case 37.91 g
- Water resistance
- IPX4 (earbuds and case)
Sources: Apple: AirPods (3rd generation) tech specs, Apple: Identify your AirPods, Apple: Control Spatial Audio and head tracking, Apple: Switch your AirPods to another device.
Using the AirPods (3rd gen) with a Mac
Codec: AAC. AirPods connect to a Mac with Apple's AAC Bluetooth codec, just as they do with an iPhone, carrying the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range. Apple notes that Bluetooth connections aren't lossless.
Calls sound worse than music. As soon as an app uses the earbuds' microphone (Zoom, FaceTime, a dictation shortcut), Bluetooth switches to hands-free mode, which has much lower audio quality. Pick your Mac's built-in microphone as the input to keep the AirPods (3rd gen) in stereo music mode.
Automatic switching. On macOS Sequoia and later, the AirPods move between your Mac and your other Apple devices on the same Apple Account by themselves; on macOS Sonoma, you click Connect in a notification.
Spatial Audio changes the sound. On Macs with Apple silicon, Spatial Audio (Fixed or Head Tracked, from the AirPods icon in the menu bar) processes the sound and shifts its balance. The measurement is of normal stereo, so set Spatial Audio to Off while you judge this correction.
Adaptive EQ is built in. Apple's Adaptive EQ runs inside the earbuds all the time and can't be turned off. The measurement already includes it, and TuningMac's correction is applied on top.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the AirPods (3rd gen). It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds deep bass below 60 Hz, up to about 6 dB around 40 Hz.
- Cuts about 3.5 dB around 1.8 kHz.
- Adds about 2 dB near 4 kHz.
- Lifts the treble from 10 kHz up by about 5 dB for more air.
These AirPods don't seal your ear, so how much bass you hear depends a lot on how they sit. If the correction's bass sounds too strong or too weak, adjust the low filters by ear.
How they sit in your ears and your own ears all change what you hear, and neutral isn't everyone's favourite sound. Use this as a starting point, then adjust by ear.
Apply it in TuningMac (parametric EQ)
TuningMac's Advanced EQ imports this format directly. Copy the settings, then:
- Open TuningMac ▸ Settings ▸ Advanced EQ with your AirPods (3rd gen) connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for AirPods (3rd gen) (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your AirPods (3rd gen) and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.4 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 6.9 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1838 Hz Gain -3.9 dB Q 2.08 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 3879 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 2.13 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 64 Hz Gain -5.0 dB Q 0.96 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 43 Hz Gain 2.7 dB Q 3.38 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 5.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 9961 Hz Gain 2.4 dB Q 1.61 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 6052 Hz Gain -2.7 dB Q 3.91 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 724 Hz Gain 1.9 dB Q 2.80 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 420 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 1.89
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +6.9 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 1.84 kHz | −3.9 dB | 2.08 |
| 3 | Bell | 3.88 kHz | +2.5 dB | 2.13 |
| 4 | Bell | 64 Hz | −5.0 dB | 0.96 |
| 5 | Bell | 43 Hz | +2.7 dB | 3.38 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +5.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 9.96 kHz | +2.4 dB | 1.61 |
| 8 | Bell | 6.05 kHz | −2.7 dB | 3.91 |
| 9 | Bell | 724 Hz | +1.9 dB | 2.80 |
| 10 | Bell | 420 Hz | −0.6 dB | 1.89 |
Preamp: −6.4 dB. It lowers the overall level so the boosts don't clip.
Prefer simple sliders? The 10-band version
No Advanced EQ needed: AutoEQ also gives values for a standard 10-band equalizer, the same bands as TuningMac's main EQ. In the menu bar popover choose Custom, set each slider, and set the preamp to about −12.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Apple AirPods (3rd generation) use on a Mac?+
AirPods connect to a Mac with Apple's AAC Bluetooth codec, just as they do with an iPhone, carrying the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range. Apple notes that Bluetooth connections aren't lossless.
What are the best EQ settings for the Apple AirPods (3rd generation)?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, 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, with a preamp of -6.4 dB. The exact values are on this page, ready to copy. Treat it as a neutral starting point and adjust to taste.
Why do my Apple AirPods (3rd generation) sound bad on calls on a Mac?+
When an app uses the earbuds' microphone, Bluetooth switches from stereo music mode to a hands-free call mode with much lower audio quality. To keep music quality during calls, choose your Mac's built-in microphone as the input instead. TuningMac's Input list does this in one click, and its Device Info shows which mode you're in.
Does macOS have an equalizer for the AirPods (3rd gen)?+
Not a system-wide one. The Music app has its own EQ, but it only changes songs played in Music. TuningMac's EQ works on everything your Mac plays, and it loads this correction whenever your AirPods (3rd gen) connect.
Tune your AirPods (3rd gen) on your Mac
Parametric and 10-band EQ, noise control and battery in the menu bar.
EQ data from AutoEQ by Jaakko Pasanen (MIT licence), measurement by Rtings. Specifications from Apple's published specifications. Apple AirPods (3rd generation) is a trademark of Apple; TuningMac is not affiliated with Apple.