Beats Solo3 Wireless EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Beats Solo3 Wireless, 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
- Dips 125 to 250 Hz by about 3 dB.
- Adds about 4 dB around 500 Hz to 1 kHz.
- Dips 8 kHz by about 3 dB.
Solo3 Wireless at a glance
Wireless on-ear headphones with Apple W1 chip, released in 2016. Official specifications from Beats:
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- Bluetooth version
- 4.0 with Apple W1 chip
- Chip
- Apple W1
- Battery life
- Up to 40 hours
- Weight
- 215 g
Sources: Beats: Solo3 Wireless specifications.
Using the Solo3 Wireless with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Solo3 Wireless 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 Solo3 Wireless in stereo music mode.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the Solo3 Wireless. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Dips 125 to 250 Hz by about 3 dB.
- Adds about 4 dB around 500 Hz to 1 kHz.
- Dips 8 kHz by about 3 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 Solo3 Wireless connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Solo3 Wireless (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Solo3 Wireless and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -5.7 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 0.3 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 729 Hz Gain 6.7 dB Q 0.99 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 180 Hz Gain -4.1 dB Q 0.35 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 10000 Hz Gain -2.9 dB Q 0.62 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 401 Hz Gain 2.3 dB Q 1.49 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3166 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 2.75 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 4221 Hz Gain 2.7 dB Q 5.99 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 2064 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 3.31 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 8543 Hz Gain -0.9 dB Q 3.16
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +0.3 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 729 Hz | +6.7 dB | 0.99 |
| 3 | Bell | 180 Hz | −4.1 dB | 0.35 |
| 4 | Bell | 10 kHz | −2.9 dB | 0.62 |
| 5 | Bell | 401 Hz | +2.3 dB | 1.49 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 3.17 kHz | −2.5 dB | 2.75 |
| 8 | Bell | 4.22 kHz | +2.7 dB | 5.99 |
| 9 | Bell | 2.06 kHz | +1.0 dB | 3.31 |
| 10 | Bell | 8.54 kHz | −0.9 dB | 3.16 |
Preamp: −5.7 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 Beats Solo3 Wireless use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Solo3 Wireless 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 Solo3 Wireless?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, dips 125–250 Hz by about 3 dB, adds about 4 dB around 500 Hz to 1 kHz, dips 8 kHz by about 3 dB, with a preamp of -5.7 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 Solo3 Wireless 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 Solo3 Wireless 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 Solo3 Wireless is a trademark of Beats; TuningMac is not affiliated with Beats.