Bose QuietComfort 20 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Bose QuietComfort 20, 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
- Adjusts the bass at 31 to 125 Hz by up to about 4 dB.
- Leaves the mids close to flat around 500 Hz to 2 kHz.
- Adds about 3 dB around 4 to 8 kHz for detail.
- Raises the top treble at 16 kHz by about 12 dB.
QC20 at a glance
In-ear headphones with noise cancelling, sold by Bose from 2013. Official specifications from Bose:
- Connection
- Wired (3.5 mm) with inline remote and microphone
- Battery life
- Up to 16 hours (USB charging)
Sources: Bose: QuietComfort 20 specifications.
Using the QC20 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The QC20 support , 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 QC20 in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Bose's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or Bose's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Innerfidelity's measurements of the QC20. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adjusts the bass at 31 to 125 Hz by up to about 4 dB.
- Leaves the mids close to flat around 500 Hz to 2 kHz.
- Adds about 3 dB around 4 to 8 kHz for detail.
- Raises the top treble at 16 kHz by about 12 dB.
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 QC20 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for QC20 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your QC20 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.5 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 13.7 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 41 Hz Gain -10.8 dB Q 0.35 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 5861 Hz Gain 5.1 dB Q 2.61 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1565 Hz Gain -4.2 dB Q 4.57 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 919 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 2.65 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 6.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 9805 Hz Gain 3.3 dB Q 2.73 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 7118 Hz Gain -3.1 dB Q 4.93 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 4242 Hz Gain -2.4 dB Q 6.00 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 55 Hz Gain 0.3 dB Q 2.57
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +13.7 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 41 Hz | −10.8 dB | 0.35 |
| 3 | Bell | 5.86 kHz | +5.1 dB | 2.61 |
| 4 | Bell | 1.56 kHz | −4.2 dB | 4.57 |
| 5 | Bell | 919 Hz | +1.4 dB | 2.65 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +6.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 9.8 kHz | +3.3 dB | 2.73 |
| 8 | Bell | 7.12 kHz | −3.1 dB | 4.93 |
| 9 | Bell | 4.24 kHz | −2.4 dB | 6.00 |
| 10 | Bell | 55 Hz | +0.3 dB | 2.57 |
Preamp: −6.5 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 −12.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Bose QuietComfort 20 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The QC20 support , 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 Bose QuietComfort 20?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Innerfidelity's measurements, adds about 2 dB of bass, adds about 3 dB around 4 to 8 kHz, adds about 12 dB at 16 kHz, with a preamp of -6.5 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 Bose QuietComfort 20 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 Bose QuietComfort 20's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Bose's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or Bose's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in Bose's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Bose'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 QC20 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 Innerfidelity. Specifications from Bose's published specifications. Bose QuietComfort 20 is a trademark of Bose; TuningMac is not affiliated with Bose.