Bose QuietComfort Earbuds EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, 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 2 dB.
- Trims the mids around 1 to 2 kHz by about 1 dB.
- Turns the top treble down at 16 kHz by about 5 dB.
QC Earbuds at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling earbuds, sold by Bose from 2020 to 2022. Official specifications from Bose:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.1
- Bluetooth profiles
- A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, Bluetooth Low Energy
- Range
- Up to 9 m (30 ft)
Using the QC Earbuds with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The QC Earbuds 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 QC Earbuds 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 Rtings' measurements of the QC Earbuds. 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 2 dB.
- Trims the mids around 1 to 2 kHz by about 1 dB.
- Turns the top treble down at 16 kHz by about 5 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 QC Earbuds connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for QC Earbuds (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your QC Earbuds and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.9 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 1.1 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 3291 Hz Gain -3.3 dB Q 1.22 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 4743 Hz Gain 5.8 dB Q 3.29 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 199 Hz Gain 1.9 dB Q 1.83 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2036 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 2.98 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 108 Hz Gain -0.7 dB Q 2.90 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 62 Hz Gain 0.8 dB Q 2.40 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 38 Hz Gain -0.5 dB Q 1.98 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 799 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 4.54
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 3.29 kHz | −3.3 dB | 1.22 |
| 3 | Bell | 4.74 kHz | +5.8 dB | 3.29 |
| 4 | Bell | 199 Hz | +1.9 dB | 1.83 |
| 5 | Bell | 2.04 kHz | −1.1 dB | 2.98 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −3.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 108 Hz | −0.7 dB | 2.90 |
| 8 | Bell | 62 Hz | +0.8 dB | 2.40 |
| 9 | Bell | 38 Hz | −0.5 dB | 1.98 |
| 10 | Bell | 799 Hz | +1.0 dB | 4.54 |
Preamp: −3.9 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 −2.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds use on a Mac?+
AAC. The QC Earbuds 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 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts about 5 dB at 16 kHz, with a preamp of -3.9 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 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 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 Earbuds'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 QC Earbuds 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 Bose's published specifications. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds is a trademark of Bose; TuningMac is not affiliated with Bose.