Beats Studio3 Wireless EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Beats Studio3 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
- Adds about 7 dB of sub-bass at 31 Hz.
- Cuts 62 Hz by about 3 dB and 250 Hz by about 5 dB.
- Adds about 2 to 3 dB around 2 to 4 kHz for presence.
- Dips 16 kHz by about 5 dB.
Studio3 Wireless at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling headphones with Apple W1 chip, released in 2017. Official specifications from Beats:
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- Bluetooth version
- 4.0
- Chip
- Apple W1
- Battery life
- Up to 40 hours (ANC off), 22 hours (ANC on)
- Weight
- 260 g
Sources: Beats: Studio3 Wireless specifications.
Using the Studio3 Wireless with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Studio3 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 Studio3 Wireless 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 Studio3 Wireless. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 7 dB of sub-bass at 31 Hz.
- Cuts 62 Hz by about 3 dB and 250 Hz by about 5 dB.
- Adds about 2 to 3 dB around 2 to 4 kHz for presence.
- Dips 16 kHz by about 5 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 Studio3 Wireless connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Studio3 Wireless (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Studio3 Wireless and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.9 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 7.7 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 327 Hz Gain -5.9 dB Q 1.56 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 5209 Hz Gain 6.7 dB Q 2.64 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 68 Hz Gain -8.1 dB Q 0.78 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1978 Hz Gain 4.3 dB Q 2.19 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3257 Hz Gain -1.9 dB Q 4.42 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 666 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 2.52 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 6665 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 3.92 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 428 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 4.35
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +7.7 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 327 Hz | −5.9 dB | 1.56 |
| 3 | Bell | 5.21 kHz | +6.7 dB | 2.64 |
| 4 | Bell | 68 Hz | −8.1 dB | 0.78 |
| 5 | Bell | 1.98 kHz | +4.3 dB | 2.19 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 3.26 kHz | −1.9 dB | 4.42 |
| 8 | Bell | 666 Hz | +1.5 dB | 2.52 |
| 9 | Bell | 6.67 kHz | +1.5 dB | 3.92 |
| 10 | Bell | 428 Hz | −1.1 dB | 4.35 |
Preamp: −6.9 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 −6.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Beats Studio3 Wireless use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Studio3 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 Studio3 Wireless?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, adds about 7 dB of sub-bass, cuts 250 Hz by about 5 dB, adds about 3 dB around 4 kHz, with a preamp of -6.9 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 Studio3 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.
Can I control the Beats Studio3 Wireless'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 Studio3 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 oratory1990. Specifications from Beats's published specifications. Beats Studio3 Wireless is a trademark of Beats; TuningMac is not affiliated with Beats.