Beats Solo Pro EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Beats Solo Pro, 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 slightly at 31 to 62 Hz by about 2 dB.
- Adds about 1 to 2 dB around 250 to 500 Hz.
- Adds about 2 dB at 2 kHz.
- Dips 4 kHz by about 3 dB and 16 kHz by about 4 dB.
Solo Pro at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling on-ear headphones with Apple H1 chip, released in 2019. Official specifications from Beats:
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- Bluetooth version
- 4.0 with Apple H1 chip
- Chip
- Apple H1
- Battery life
- Up to 40 hours (ANC off), 22 hours (ANC on)
- Weight
- 267 g
Sources: Beats: Solo Pro specifications.
Using the Solo Pro with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Solo Pro 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 Pro in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Beats's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Beats'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 Solo Pro. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts the bass slightly at 31 to 62 Hz by about 2 dB.
- Adds about 1 to 2 dB around 250 to 500 Hz.
- Adds about 2 dB at 2 kHz.
- Dips 4 kHz by about 3 dB and 16 kHz by about 4 dB.
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 Pro connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Solo Pro (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Solo Pro and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -2.1 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 332 Hz Gain 1.9 dB Q 0.50 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 3735 Hz Gain -4.7 dB Q 0.44 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 2106 Hz Gain 5.4 dB Q 1.58 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 5816 Hz Gain 5.0 dB Q 3.86 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 58 Hz Gain -0.4 dB Q 1.36 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 31 Hz Gain 0.4 dB Q 1.68 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 163 Hz Gain 0.7 dB Q 3.66 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 233 Hz Gain -0.4 dB Q 2.45
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 332 Hz | +1.9 dB | 0.50 |
| 3 | Bell | 3.73 kHz | −4.7 dB | 0.44 |
| 4 | Bell | 2.11 kHz | +5.4 dB | 1.58 |
| 5 | Bell | 5.82 kHz | +5.0 dB | 3.86 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −1.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 58 Hz | −0.4 dB | 1.36 |
| 8 | Bell | 31 Hz | +0.4 dB | 1.68 |
| 9 | Bell | 163 Hz | +0.7 dB | 3.66 |
| 10 | Bell | 233 Hz | −0.4 dB | 2.45 |
Preamp: −2.1 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 Beats Solo Pro use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Solo Pro 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 Pro?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, cuts bass by about 2 dB, adds about 2 dB at 2 kHz, dips 4 kHz by about 3 dB, with a preamp of -2.1 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 Pro 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 Beats Solo Pro's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Beats's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Beats's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
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 Pro 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 Beats's published specifications. Beats Solo Pro is a trademark of Beats; TuningMac is not affiliated with Beats.