Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, 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 sub-bass down by about 3 to 5 dB below 50 Hz.
- Lifts the mids by about 1 to 2 dB between 300 Hz and 1.5 kHz.
- Lowers 2.5 to 5 kHz by about 2 to 3.5 dB, where the QC Earbuds II measure a little sharp.
- Adds treble from 10 kHz up, rising to about 4 dB.
QC Earbuds II at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling earbuds, sold by Bose from 2022 to 2025. Official specifications from Bose:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.3
- Bluetooth profiles
- A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, PBAP, SPP, Bluetooth Low Energy
- Range
- Up to 9 m (30 ft)
- Fit kit
- 3 pairs of ear tips (S, M, L) and 3 pairs of stability bands
- Voice assistants
- Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built in
- Materials
- Plastic (PC-ABS)
Using the QC Earbuds II with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The QC Earbuds II 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 II 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 II. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Turns the sub-bass down by about 3 to 5 dB below 50 Hz.
- Lifts the mids by about 1 to 2 dB between 300 Hz and 1.5 kHz.
- Lowers 2.5 to 5 kHz by about 2 to 3.5 dB, where the QC Earbuds II measure a little sharp.
- Adds treble from 10 kHz up, rising to about 4 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 II connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for QC Earbuds II (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your QC Earbuds II and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -4.2 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -3.6 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 4510 Hz Gain -4.2 dB Q 1.69 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1247 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 1.49 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 2336 Hz Gain -3.3 dB Q 2.57 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 455 Hz Gain 1.8 dB Q 1.33 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 4.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 76 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 0.73 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 24 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 2.90 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 33 Hz Gain -0.9 dB Q 2.19 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 186 Hz Gain -1.0 dB Q 4.12
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −3.6 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 4.51 kHz | −4.2 dB | 1.69 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.25 kHz | +3.0 dB | 1.49 |
| 4 | Bell | 2.34 kHz | −3.3 dB | 2.57 |
| 5 | Bell | 455 Hz | +1.8 dB | 1.33 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +4.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 76 Hz | +1.4 dB | 0.73 |
| 8 | Bell | 24 Hz | −2.0 dB | 2.90 |
| 9 | Bell | 33 Hz | −0.9 dB | 2.19 |
| 10 | Bell | 186 Hz | −1.0 dB | 4.12 |
Preamp: −4.2 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 −8.0 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 II use on a Mac?+
AAC. The QC Earbuds II 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 II?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, turns the sub-bass down by up to 5 dB, lowers 2.5 to 5 kHz by 2 to 3.5 dB and adds up to 4 dB of treble above 10 kHz, with a preamp of -4.2 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 II 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 II'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 II 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 II is a trademark of Bose; TuningMac is not affiliated with Bose.