Beats Flex EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Beats Flex, 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 the bass from 31 to 125 Hz by 3 to 6 dB.
- Adds about 7 dB around 4 kHz for detail.
- Rolls the top treble at 16 kHz down by about 11 dB.
Flex at a glance
Wireless neckband earbuds with Apple W1 chip, released in 2020. Official specifications from Beats:
- Driver size
- 12 mm
- Bluetooth version
- 4.1 with Apple W1 chip
- Chip
- Apple W1
- Battery life
- Up to 12 hours
- Weight
- 18.6 g
Sources: Beats: Flex specifications.
Using the Flex with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Flex support SBC and AAC, 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 Flex in stereo music mode.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the Flex. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts the bass from 31 to 125 Hz by 3 to 6 dB.
- Adds about 7 dB around 4 kHz for detail.
- Rolls the top treble at 16 kHz down by about 11 dB.
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 Flex connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Flex (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Flex and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.3 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -5.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 3827 Hz Gain 5.8 dB Q 1.86 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 168 Hz Gain -2.4 dB Q 1.04 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1260 Hz Gain -3.7 dB Q 2.62 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 5114 Hz Gain 3.5 dB Q 3.66 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -5.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 746 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 1.80 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 988 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 4.10 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 7408 Hz Gain 1.9 dB Q 5.43 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 287 Hz Gain -0.5 dB Q 3.23
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −5.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 3.83 kHz | +5.8 dB | 1.86 |
| 3 | Bell | 168 Hz | −2.4 dB | 1.04 |
| 4 | Bell | 1.26 kHz | −3.7 dB | 2.62 |
| 5 | Bell | 5.11 kHz | +3.5 dB | 3.66 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −5.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 746 Hz | +1.2 dB | 1.80 |
| 8 | Bell | 988 Hz | −1.2 dB | 4.10 |
| 9 | Bell | 7.41 kHz | +1.9 dB | 5.43 |
| 10 | Bell | 287 Hz | −0.5 dB | 3.23 |
Preamp: −6.3 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 Beats Flex use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Flex support SBC and AAC, 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 Beats Flex?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts bass by about 4 dB, adds about 7 dB around 4 kHz, heavy treble roll-off at 16 kHz, with a preamp of -6.3 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 Beats Flex 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.
Should I turn off the EQ in Beats's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Beats'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 Flex 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 Beats's published specifications. Beats Flex is a trademark of Beats; TuningMac is not affiliated with Beats.