Bose Ultra Open Earbuds EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Bose Ultra Open 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
- Adds about 5 to 6 dB of bass from 31 to 125 Hz.
- Lifts the mids around 1 to 2 kHz by about 2 dB.
- Lowers about 8 dB around 4 to 8 kHz.
- Raises the top treble at 16 kHz by about 11 dB.
Ultra Open Earbuds at a glance
Wireless open earbuds with Bose Immersive Audio, sold by Bose from 2024. Official specifications from Bose:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.3
- Bluetooth profiles
- A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, Bluetooth Low Energy
- Range
- Up to 9 m (30 ft)
Sources: Bose: Ultra Open Earbuds specifications.
Using the Ultra Open Earbuds with a Mac
Codec: AAC. Bose lists aptX Adaptive for the Ultra Open Earbuds on Android. 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 Ultra Open 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 Ultra Open Earbuds. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 5 to 6 dB of bass from 31 to 125 Hz.
- Lifts the mids around 1 to 2 kHz by about 2 dB.
- Lowers about 8 dB around 4 to 8 kHz.
- Raises the top treble at 16 kHz by about 11 dB.
How they sit in your ears 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 Ultra Open Earbuds connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Ultra Open Earbuds (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Ultra Open Earbuds and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.2 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 6.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 4064 Hz Gain -15.2 dB Q 0.90 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 3294 Hz Gain 4.8 dB Q 3.92 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 118 Hz Gain 3.7 dB Q 1.60 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2632 Hz Gain 7.1 dB Q 0.64 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 4.9 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 6065 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 5.90 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 226 Hz Gain 1.3 dB Q 3.95 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 175 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 4.58 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 4931 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 6.00
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 4.06 kHz | −15.2 dB | 0.90 |
| 3 | Bell | 3.29 kHz | +4.8 dB | 3.92 |
| 4 | Bell | 118 Hz | +3.7 dB | 1.60 |
| 5 | Bell | 2.63 kHz | +7.1 dB | 0.64 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +4.9 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 6.07 kHz | −3.0 dB | 5.90 |
| 8 | Bell | 226 Hz | +1.3 dB | 3.95 |
| 9 | Bell | 175 Hz | −1.2 dB | 4.58 |
| 10 | Bell | 4.93 kHz | +1.4 dB | 6.00 |
Preamp: −6.2 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 −10.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds use on a Mac?+
Bose lists aptX Adaptive for the Ultra Open Earbuds on Android. 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 Ultra Open Earbuds?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, adds about 5 dB of bass, cuts about 8 dB around 4 to 8 kHz, adds about 11 dB at 16 kHz, with a preamp of -6.2 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 Ultra Open 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 Ultra Open 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 Ultra Open 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 Ultra Open Earbuds is a trademark of Bose; TuningMac is not affiliated with Bose.