Bowers & Wilkins P7 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Bowers & Wilkins P7, 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
- Cuts about 3 dB around 125 Hz.
- Cuts about 4 dB around 1.8 kHz.
- Adds about 3 dB around 2.6 kHz and 5.8 kHz for upper-mid and treble detail.
P7 at a glance
Wired over-ear headphones with aluminium construction and memory-foam pads. Official specifications from Bowers & Wilkins:
- Driver
- 40 mm dynamic
- Frequency response
- 10 – 20,000 Hz
- Sensitivity
- 111 dB/V at 1 kHz
- Weight
- 290 g
Sources: Bowers & Wilkins: P7.
Using the P7 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The P7 support , 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 P7 in stereo music mode.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the P7. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts about 3 dB around 125 Hz.
- Cuts about 4 dB around 1.8 kHz.
- Adds about 3 dB around 2.6 kHz and 5.8 kHz for upper-mid and treble detail.
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 P7 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for P7 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your P7 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.0 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 143 Hz Gain -3.2 dB Q 1.88 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1808 Hz Gain -3.7 dB Q 1.81 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 5784 Hz Gain 3.1 dB Q 0.84 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2580 Hz Gain 3.2 dB Q 2.64 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 328 Hz Gain 2.2 dB Q 2.21 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 204 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 3.05 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 931 Hz Gain -0.8 dB Q 3.92 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 548 Hz Gain 0.6 dB Q 2.78
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −1.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 143 Hz | −3.2 dB | 1.88 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.81 kHz | −3.7 dB | 1.81 |
| 4 | Bell | 5.78 kHz | +3.1 dB | 0.84 |
| 5 | Bell | 2.58 kHz | +3.2 dB | 2.64 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 328 Hz | +2.2 dB | 2.21 |
| 8 | Bell | 204 Hz | −1.1 dB | 3.05 |
| 9 | Bell | 931 Hz | −0.8 dB | 3.92 |
| 10 | Bell | 548 Hz | +0.6 dB | 2.78 |
Preamp: −3.0 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 Bowers & Wilkins P7 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The P7 support , 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 Bowers & Wilkins P7?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts about 3 dB around 125 Hz, cuts about 4 dB around 1.8 kHz, adds about 3 dB around 2.6 kHz and 5.8 kHz, with a preamp of -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 Bowers & Wilkins P7 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.
Should I turn off the EQ in Bowers & Wilkins's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Bowers & Wilkins'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 P7 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 Bowers & Wilkins's published specifications. Bowers & Wilkins P7 is a trademark of Bowers & Wilkins; TuningMac is not affiliated with Bowers & Wilkins.