Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX, 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
- Cuts about 3 dB around 250–500 Hz.
- Cuts about 3 dB around 2.6 kHz.
- Adds about 5 dB around 5.1 kHz for detail.
- Adds about 4 dB around 7.6 kHz.
Beoplay EX at a glance
True wireless earbuds with ANC, IP57 rating and stem design, released in 2022. Official specifications from Bang & Olufsen:
- Driver
- 9.2 mm electro-dynamic
- ANC
- Adaptive noise cancellation with transparency
- Bluetooth
- 5.2
- Battery
- Up to 6 h (buds, ANC on) + 14 h (case)
- Weight
- 6.4 g per bud
Sources: Bang & Olufsen: Beoplay EX.
Using the Beoplay EX with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Beoplay EX support SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive, and a Mac picks AAC, the better of the two. It carries the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range at standard sample rates (44.1 or 48 kHz).
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 Beoplay EX in stereo music mode.
Multipoint. Connects to two devices at once via Bluetooth multipoint.
AAC on Mac The Beoplay EX supports aptX Adaptive for Android. macOS doesn't support aptX, so on a Mac the earbuds connect over AAC.
ANC not controllable TuningMac cannot change noise-control modes on Bang & Olufsen earbuds. Use the Bang & Olufsen app or the touch controls on the earbuds.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Bang & Olufsen's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or Bang & Olufsen's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on DHRME's measurements of the Beoplay EX. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts about 3 dB around 250–500 Hz.
- Cuts about 3 dB around 2.6 kHz.
- Adds about 5 dB around 5.1 kHz for detail.
- Adds about 4 dB around 7.6 kHz.
Fit, ear tips 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 Beoplay EX connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Beoplay EX (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Beoplay EX and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.6 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -0.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 142 Hz Gain 0.5 dB Q 0.48 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1397 Hz Gain -1.9 dB Q 2.18 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 5126 Hz Gain 5.3 dB Q 2.73 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2613 Hz Gain -3.4 dB Q 1.45 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -2.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 7568 Hz Gain 3.6 dB Q 2.24 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 575 Hz Gain -2.3 dB Q 1.18 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 263 Hz Gain -0.3 dB Q 2.66 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 3907 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 4.58
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −0.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 142 Hz | +0.5 dB | 0.48 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.4 kHz | −1.9 dB | 2.18 |
| 4 | Bell | 5.13 kHz | +5.3 dB | 2.73 |
| 5 | Bell | 2.61 kHz | −3.4 dB | 1.45 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −2.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 7.57 kHz | +3.6 dB | 2.24 |
| 8 | Bell | 575 Hz | −2.3 dB | 1.18 |
| 9 | Bell | 263 Hz | −0.3 dB | 2.66 |
| 10 | Bell | 3.91 kHz | +1.2 dB | 4.58 |
Preamp: −3.6 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 −2.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Beoplay EX support SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive, and a Mac picks AAC, the better of the two. It carries the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range at standard sample rates.
What are the best EQ settings for the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on DHRME's measurements, cuts about 3 dB around 250–500 Hz and 2.6 kHz, adds about 5 dB around 5 kHz, adds about 4 dB around 7.6 kHz, with a preamp of -3.6 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 Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX 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 Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Bang & Olufsen's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or Bang & Olufsen's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in Bang & Olufsen's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Bang & Olufsen's app is applied inside the earbuds, so it also affects your Mac and would add to this correction. TuningMac's EQ only changes sound from your Mac, so it won't affect your phone.
Tune your Beoplay EX 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 DHRME. Specifications from Bang & Olufsen's published specifications. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX is a trademark of Bang & Olufsen; TuningMac is not affiliated with Bang & Olufsen.