Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i, 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 12 dB of sub-bass, where the H9i measures very bass-heavy.
- Adds about 4 dB around 500 Hz.
- Cuts about 6 dB around 2 kHz.
- Adds about 7 dB around 5 kHz for clarity.
- Adds about 4 dB above 10 kHz.
Beoplay H9i at a glance
Wireless over-ear headphones with ANC and touch controls, released in 2018. Official specifications from Bang & Olufsen:
- Driver
- 40 mm electro-dynamic
- ANC
- Hybrid active noise cancellation
- Bluetooth
- 4.2
- Battery
- Up to 14 h (ANC on)
- Weight
- 285 g
Sources: Bang & Olufsen: Beoplay H9i.
Using the Beoplay H9i with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Beoplay H9i support SBC, AAC and aptX, 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 headphones' 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 H9i in stereo music mode.
ANC not controllable TuningMac cannot change noise-control modes on Bang & Olufsen headphones. Use the Bang & Olufsen app or the touch panel on the right ear cup.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Bang & Olufsen's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones 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 oratory1990's measurements of the Beoplay H9i. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts about 12 dB of sub-bass, where the H9i measures very bass-heavy.
- Adds about 4 dB around 500 Hz.
- Cuts about 6 dB around 2 kHz.
- Adds about 7 dB around 5 kHz for clarity.
- Adds about 4 dB above 10 kHz.
Fit, ear pads 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 H9i connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Beoplay H9i (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Beoplay H9i and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.7 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -8.3 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 69 Hz Gain -5.1 dB Q 0.51 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1416 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 2.55 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 5015 Hz Gain 6.7 dB Q 2.89 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1963 Hz Gain -5.0 dB Q 3.39 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 3.7 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3493 Hz Gain -3.2 dB Q 5.00 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 575 Hz Gain 3.7 dB Q 0.37 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 8072 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 4.28 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 198 Hz Gain -0.7 dB Q 1.26
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −8.3 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 69 Hz | −5.1 dB | 0.51 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.42 kHz | −1.2 dB | 2.55 |
| 4 | Bell | 5.01 kHz | +6.7 dB | 2.89 |
| 5 | Bell | 1.96 kHz | −5.0 dB | 3.39 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +3.7 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 3.49 kHz | −3.2 dB | 5.00 |
| 8 | Bell | 575 Hz | +3.7 dB | 0.37 |
| 9 | Bell | 8.07 kHz | −1.2 dB | 4.28 |
| 10 | Bell | 198 Hz | −0.7 dB | 1.26 |
Preamp: −6.7 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 −5.0 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 H9i use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Beoplay H9i support SBC, AAC and aptX, 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 H9i?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, cuts about 12 dB of sub-bass, adds about 4 dB around 500 Hz, cuts about 6 dB around 2 kHz, adds about 7 dB around 5 kHz, with a preamp of -6.7 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 H9i sound bad on calls on a Mac?+
When an app uses the headphones' 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 H9i'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 headphones 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 headphones, 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 H9i 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 oratory1990. Specifications from Bang & Olufsen's published specifications. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i is a trademark of Bang & Olufsen; TuningMac is not affiliated with Bang & Olufsen.