Bose SoundLink On-Ear EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Bose SoundLink On-Ear, 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 2 to 2 dB from 31 to 125 Hz.
- Lifts the mids around 1 to 2 kHz by about 2 dB.
- Turns the top treble down at 16 kHz by about 12 dB.
SoundLink On-Ear at a glance
Wireless on-ear headphones, sold by Bose from 2014 to 2018. Official specifications from Bose:
- Bluetooth version
- 2.1
- Bluetooth profiles
- A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
- Range
- Up to 9 m (30 ft)
Sources: Bose: SoundLink on-ear wireless headphones specifications.
Using the SoundLink On-Ear with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The SoundLink On-Ear 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 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 SoundLink On-Ear 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 Rtings' measurements of the SoundLink On-Ear. 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 2 to 2 dB from 31 to 125 Hz.
- Lifts the mids around 1 to 2 kHz by about 2 dB.
- Turns the top treble down at 16 kHz by about 12 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 SoundLink On-Ear connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for SoundLink On-Ear (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your SoundLink On-Ear and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.3 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -1.9 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1687 Hz Gain 3.3 dB Q 0.68 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 194 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 0.71 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 625 Hz Gain 1.7 dB Q 1.32 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2888 Hz Gain -2.7 dB Q 3.45 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -7.9 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5469 Hz Gain 2.0 dB Q 3.55 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 7255 Hz Gain -1.6 dB Q 3.81 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 6190 Hz Gain 1.3 dB Q 5.99 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 72 Hz Gain 0.1 dB Q 1.23
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −1.9 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 1.69 kHz | +3.3 dB | 0.68 |
| 3 | Bell | 194 Hz | −3.0 dB | 0.71 |
| 4 | Bell | 625 Hz | +1.7 dB | 1.32 |
| 5 | Bell | 2.89 kHz | −2.7 dB | 3.45 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −7.9 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 5.47 kHz | +2.0 dB | 3.55 |
| 8 | Bell | 7.25 kHz | −1.6 dB | 3.81 |
| 9 | Bell | 6.19 kHz | +1.3 dB | 5.99 |
| 10 | Bell | 72 Hz | +0.1 dB | 1.23 |
Preamp: −3.3 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 −3.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Bose SoundLink On-Ear use on a Mac?+
AAC. The SoundLink On-Ear 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 SoundLink On-Ear?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, turns the bass down by about 2 dB, cuts about 12 dB at 16 kHz, with a preamp of -3.3 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 SoundLink On-Ear 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 SoundLink On-Ear'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 SoundLink On-Ear 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 SoundLink On-Ear is a trademark of Bose; TuningMac is not affiliated with Bose.