Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 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
- Turns the sub-bass down by about 3 to 6 dB below 50 Hz.
- Warms the low mids by about 2 dB between 150 and 500 Hz, and lifts 1 kHz by about 3 dB.
- Cuts about 6 dB around 2 to 2.5 kHz, where the QC Ultra Earbuds measure most forward.
- Lowers 6 to 10 kHz by about 3 to 4.5 dB, then adds about 2 dB at the very top.
QC Ultra Earbuds at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling earbuds, sold by Bose from 2023. Official specifications from Bose:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.3
- Bluetooth profiles
- A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, Bluetooth Low Energy
- Connectivity
- Snapdragon Sound
- Range
- Up to 9 m (30 ft)
- Fit kit
- 3 pairs of ear tips (S, M, L) and 3 pairs of stability bands
- Materials
- Plastic (PC-ABS), silicone, metal
Using the QC Ultra Earbuds with a Mac
Codec: AAC. Bose lists Snapdragon Sound for the QC Ultra Earbuds, Qualcomm's aptX Adaptive platform for Android phones. macOS doesn't support aptX, so on a Mac they play over AAC, which carries 20 Hz to 20 kHz audio at standard sample rates.
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 Ultra 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 DHRME's measurements of the QC Ultra Earbuds. 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 6 dB below 50 Hz.
- Warms the low mids by about 2 dB between 150 and 500 Hz, and lifts 1 kHz by about 3 dB.
- Cuts about 6 dB around 2 to 2.5 kHz, where the QC Ultra Earbuds measure most forward.
- Lowers 6 to 10 kHz by about 3 to 4.5 dB, then adds about 2 dB at the very top.
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 Ultra Earbuds connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for QC Ultra Earbuds (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your QC Ultra Earbuds and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -4.9 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -6.1 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 8756 Hz Gain -4.5 dB Q 1.39 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 2230 Hz Gain -10.8 dB Q 3.53 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 149 Hz Gain 2.9 dB Q 0.25 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1162 Hz Gain 4.8 dB Q 2.76 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 2.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 4419 Hz Gain 3.1 dB Q 2.34 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 5940 Hz Gain -3.9 dB Q 4.12 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 63 Hz Gain 1.1 dB Q 1.62 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 31 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 1.99
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −6.1 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 8.76 kHz | −4.5 dB | 1.39 |
| 3 | Bell | 2.23 kHz | −10.8 dB | 3.53 |
| 4 | Bell | 149 Hz | +2.9 dB | 0.25 |
| 5 | Bell | 1.16 kHz | +4.8 dB | 2.76 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +2.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 4.42 kHz | +3.1 dB | 2.34 |
| 8 | Bell | 5.94 kHz | −3.9 dB | 4.12 |
| 9 | Bell | 63 Hz | +1.1 dB | 1.62 |
| 10 | Bell | 31 Hz | −1.2 dB | 1.99 |
Preamp: −4.9 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 −5.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds use on a Mac?+
Bose lists Snapdragon Sound for the QC Ultra Earbuds, Qualcomm's aptX Adaptive platform for Android phones. macOS doesn't support aptX, so on a Mac they play over AAC, which carries 20 Hz to 20 kHz audio at standard sample rates.
What are the best EQ settings for the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on DHRME's measurements, turns the sub-bass down by up to 6 dB, adds about 2 dB from 150 to 500 Hz, cuts 2 to 2.5 kHz by about 6 dB and lowers 6 to 10 kHz, with a preamp of -4.9 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 QC Ultra 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 QC Ultra 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 Ultra 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 DHRME. Specifications from Bose's published specifications. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is a trademark of Bose; TuningMac is not affiliated with Bose.