Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, 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
- Turns the bass and low mids down slightly, by about 1.5 to 2.5 dB from 60 to 400 Hz.
- Dips about 2.5 dB around 1.25 kHz.
- Lifts 3.5 to 5 kHz by about 6 dB, which brings voices and detail forward.
- Leaves the treble above 8 kHz close to flat.
AirPods 4 (ANC) at a glance
Wireless earbuds with an open fit and active noise cancellation, released in 2024. Official specifications from Apple:
- Chip
- Apple H2
- Bluetooth version
- 5.3
- Model numbers
- A3056, A3055, A3057 (case A3059)
- Noise control
- Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness
- Driver
- Custom high-excursion Apple driver, custom high dynamic range amplifier
- Audio features
- Voice Isolation, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Adaptive EQ
- Microphones
- Two beamforming microphones outside, one inward-facing microphone
- Battery life
- Up to 4 hours with noise cancellation on, 5 hours off; 20 or 30 hours with the case
- Charging
- Case charges by USB-C, Qi or an Apple Watch charger; 5 minutes gives about 1 hour
- Weight
- 4.3 g per earbud; case 34.7 g
- Water resistance
- IP54 (earbuds and case)
Sources: Apple: AirPods 4 with ANC tech specs, Apple: Identify your AirPods, Apple: Switch between listening modes, Apple: Adjust listening mode settings, Apple: Control Spatial Audio and head tracking.
Using the AirPods 4 (ANC) 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 4 (ANC) 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.
Conversation Awareness works on a Mac too. Turn it on in System Settings, under your AirPods. It lowers your audio when you start talking.
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.
Noise control. macOS already switches them from the AirPods menu bar icon and System Settings, and TuningMac uses that same system control to put Off, Transparency, Adaptive and Noise Cancellation in its own menu, next to your EQ and volume. How it works
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the AirPods 4 (ANC). It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Turns the bass and low mids down slightly, by about 1.5 to 2.5 dB from 60 to 400 Hz.
- Dips about 2.5 dB around 1.25 kHz.
- Lifts 3.5 to 5 kHz by about 6 dB, which brings voices and detail forward.
- Leaves the treble above 8 kHz close to flat.
Measured with noise cancellation on. In Transparency or with noise control off the balance shifts a little, so adjust by ear. 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 4 (ANC) connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for AirPods 4 (ANC) (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your AirPods 4 (ANC) and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.2 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 12.7 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 49 Hz Gain -13.2 dB Q 0.44 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 3573 Hz Gain 6.0 dB Q 1.40 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1318 Hz Gain -2.8 dB Q 1.16 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 5138 Hz Gain 3.2 dB Q 2.82 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 166 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 3.49 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 100 Hz Gain -0.7 dB Q 2.50 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 438 Hz Gain -0.8 dB Q 2.38 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 654 Hz Gain 0.6 dB Q 2.93
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +12.7 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 49 Hz | −13.2 dB | 0.44 |
| 3 | Bell | 3.57 kHz | +6.0 dB | 1.40 |
| 4 | Bell | 1.32 kHz | −2.8 dB | 1.16 |
| 5 | Bell | 5.14 kHz | +3.2 dB | 2.82 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 166 Hz | +1.2 dB | 3.49 |
| 8 | Bell | 100 Hz | −0.7 dB | 2.50 |
| 9 | Bell | 438 Hz | −0.8 dB | 2.38 |
| 10 | Bell | 654 Hz | +0.6 dB | 2.93 |
Preamp: −6.2 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 −7.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Apple AirPods 4 (ANC) 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 4 (ANC)?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, turns 60 to 400 Hz down by about 1.5 to 2.5 dB and lifts 3.5 to 5 kHz by about 6 dB, with a preamp of -6.2 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 4 (ANC) 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.
Can I control the Apple AirPods 4 (ANC)'s noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Yes. macOS already switches them from the AirPods menu bar icon and System Settings, and TuningMac uses that same system control to put Off, Transparency, Adaptive and Noise Cancellation in its own menu, next to your EQ and volume.
Does macOS have an equalizer for the AirPods 4 (ANC)?+
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 4 (ANC) connect.
Tune your AirPods 4 (ANC) 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 4 with Active Noise Cancellation is a trademark of Apple; TuningMac is not affiliated with Apple.