Bose QuietComfort 3 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Bose QuietComfort 3, 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
- Turns the bass down by about 3 to 4 dB from 31 to 125 Hz.
- Lifts the mids around 1 to 2 kHz by about 2 dB.
- Adds about 8 dB around 4 to 8 kHz for detail.
- Turns the top treble down at 16 kHz by about 9 dB.
QC3 at a glance
On-ear headphones with noise cancelling, sold by Bose from 2006 to 2011. Official specifications from Bose:
- Connection
- Wired (3.5 mm)
- Battery life
- Up to 25 hours (rechargeable)
Sources: Bose: QuietComfort 3 specifications.
Using the QC3 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The QC3 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 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 QC3 in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Bose's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones 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 Headphone.com Legacy's measurements of the QC3. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Turns the bass down by about 3 to 4 dB from 31 to 125 Hz.
- Lifts the mids around 1 to 2 kHz by about 2 dB.
- Adds about 8 dB around 4 to 8 kHz for detail.
- Turns the top treble down at 16 kHz by about 9 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 QC3 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for QC3 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your QC3 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -7.1 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -1.9 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 187 Hz Gain -5.0 dB Q 0.58 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 6977 Hz Gain 6.7 dB Q 0.83 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 2289 Hz Gain 6.3 dB Q 2.29 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 4017 Hz Gain -5.0 dB Q 3.06 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -4.6 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 1252 Hz Gain -2.4 dB Q 2.41 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 1774 Hz Gain 1.7 dB Q 3.02 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 398 Hz Gain 0.7 dB Q 1.66 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 780 Hz Gain -1.0 dB Q 2.60
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −1.9 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 187 Hz | −5.0 dB | 0.58 |
| 3 | Bell | 6.98 kHz | +6.7 dB | 0.83 |
| 4 | Bell | 2.29 kHz | +6.3 dB | 2.29 |
| 5 | Bell | 4.02 kHz | −5.0 dB | 3.06 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −4.6 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 1.25 kHz | −2.4 dB | 2.41 |
| 8 | Bell | 1.77 kHz | +1.7 dB | 3.02 |
| 9 | Bell | 398 Hz | +0.7 dB | 1.66 |
| 10 | Bell | 780 Hz | −1.0 dB | 2.60 |
Preamp: −7.1 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 −7.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Bose QuietComfort 3 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The QC3 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 3?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Headphone.com Legacy's measurements, turns the bass down by about 3 dB, adds about 8 dB around 4 to 8 kHz, cuts about 9 dB at 16 kHz, with a preamp of -7.1 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 Bose QuietComfort 3 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 Bose QuietComfort 3's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Bose's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones 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 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 QC3 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 Headphone.com Legacy. Specifications from Bose's published specifications. Bose QuietComfort 3 is a trademark of Bose; TuningMac is not affiliated with Bose.