Beats Solo 4 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Beats Solo 4, 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 about 1 to 2 dB across the bass and mids.
- Dips 4 kHz by about 4 dB.
- Adds about 4 dB at 16 kHz.
Solo 4 at a glance
Wireless on-ear headphones with USB-C and 3.5 mm, released in 2024. Official specifications from Beats:
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- Bluetooth version
- 5.3
- Chip
- Apple W1 (compatibility), custom Beats chip
- Battery life
- Up to 50 hours
- Weight
- 217 g
Sources: Beats: Solo 4 specifications.
Using the Solo 4 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Solo 4 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 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 Solo 4 in stereo music mode.
Multipoint. Switches between Apple devices via iCloud; on a Mac, AAC is used.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the Solo 4. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 1 to 2 dB across the bass and mids.
- Dips 4 kHz by about 4 dB.
- Adds about 4 dB at 16 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 Solo 4 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Solo 4 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Solo 4 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -2.7 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 920 Hz Gain 3.4 dB Q 0.19 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 3842 Hz Gain -5.2 dB Q 1.98 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1054 Hz Gain -4.7 dB Q 0.97 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 7703 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 0.67 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 2.7 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 75 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 2.28 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 9444 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 2.03 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 137 Hz Gain 0.7 dB Q 2.00 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 51 Hz Gain 1.3 dB Q 4.12
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 920 Hz | +3.4 dB | 0.19 |
| 3 | Bell | 3.84 kHz | −5.2 dB | 1.98 |
| 4 | Bell | 1.05 kHz | −4.7 dB | 0.97 |
| 5 | Bell | 7.7 kHz | −2.0 dB | 0.67 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +2.7 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 75 Hz | −1.4 dB | 2.28 |
| 8 | Bell | 9.44 kHz | −1.1 dB | 2.03 |
| 9 | Bell | 137 Hz | +0.7 dB | 2.00 |
| 10 | Bell | 51 Hz | +1.3 dB | 4.12 |
Preamp: −2.7 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 −4.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Beats Solo 4 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Solo 4 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 Solo 4?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, adds about 2 dB through the mids, dips 4 kHz by about 4 dB, adds about 4 dB at 16 kHz, with a preamp of -2.7 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 Beats Solo 4 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.
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 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 Solo 4 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 Solo 4 is a trademark of Beats; TuningMac is not affiliated with Beats.