Beats Studio Buds+ EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Beats Studio Buds+, 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 2 dB around 250 Hz.
- Dips 1 to 2 kHz by about 2 dB.
- Adds about 2 dB around 4 kHz.
- Adds about 7 dB at 16 kHz.
Studio Buds+ at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling earbuds, released in 2023. Official specifications from Beats:
- Driver size
- 9.5 mm
- Bluetooth version
- 5.3
- Battery life
- Up to 9 hours (earbuds), 36 hours (with case)
- Weight
- 5 g per earbud
Sources: Beats: Studio Buds+ specifications.
Using the Studio Buds+ with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Studio Buds+ 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 Studio Buds+ in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Beats's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds 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 freeryder05's measurements of the Studio Buds+. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 2 dB around 250 Hz.
- Dips 1 to 2 kHz by about 2 dB.
- Adds about 2 dB around 4 kHz.
- Adds about 7 dB at 16 kHz.
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 Studio Buds+ connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Studio Buds+ (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Studio Buds+ and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.5 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1051 Hz Gain -3.9 dB Q 0.38 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 359 Hz Gain 3.5 dB Q 0.48 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 9298 Hz Gain -6.8 dB Q 2.73 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 5928 Hz Gain 3.1 dB Q 0.65 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 3.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 77 Hz Gain 0.8 dB Q 2.58 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 33 Hz Gain -0.4 dB Q 1.64 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 4771 Hz Gain -1.7 dB Q 5.92 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 3745 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 5.03
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −1.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 1.05 kHz | −3.9 dB | 0.38 |
| 3 | Bell | 359 Hz | +3.5 dB | 0.48 |
| 4 | Bell | 9.3 kHz | −6.8 dB | 2.73 |
| 5 | Bell | 5.93 kHz | +3.1 dB | 0.65 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +3.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 77 Hz | +0.8 dB | 2.58 |
| 8 | Bell | 33 Hz | −0.4 dB | 1.64 |
| 9 | Bell | 4.77 kHz | −1.7 dB | 5.92 |
| 10 | Bell | 3.75 kHz | +1.4 dB | 5.03 |
Preamp: −3.5 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 Studio Buds+ use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Studio Buds+ 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 Studio Buds+?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on freeryder05's measurements, adds about 2 dB around 250 Hz, dips 1–2 kHz by about 2 dB, adds about 7 dB at 16 kHz, with a preamp of -3.5 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 Studio Buds+ 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.
Can I control the Beats Studio Buds+'s noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Beats's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds 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 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 Studio Buds+ 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 freeryder05. Specifications from Beats's published specifications. Beats Studio Buds+ is a trademark of Beats; TuningMac is not affiliated with Beats.