Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7, 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 5 dB of sub-bass and about 4 dB around 125–250 Hz.
- Adds about 4 dB around 500–1000 Hz.
- Adds about 6 dB around 5.9 kHz for detail.
- Cuts about 9 dB above 10 kHz to tame sharp treble.
Pi7 at a glance
True wireless earbuds with ANC and dual-driver design, released in 2021. Official specifications from Bowers & Wilkins:
- Driver
- 9.2 mm dynamic + balanced armature (two-way)
- ANC
- Adaptive noise cancelling
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- Battery
- Up to 4 h (buds) + 16 h (case)
- Weight
- 7 g per bud
Sources: Bowers & Wilkins: Pi7.
Using the Pi7 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Pi7 support SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive, 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 Pi7 in stereo music mode.
AAC on Mac The Pi7 supports aptX Adaptive for Android. macOS doesn't support aptX, so on a Mac the earbuds connect over AAC.
ANC not controllable TuningMac cannot change noise-control modes on Bowers & Wilkins earbuds. Use the Bowers & Wilkins app on a phone or the touch controls on the earbuds.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Bowers & Wilkins's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or Bowers & Wilkins'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 Pi7. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts about 5 dB of sub-bass and about 4 dB around 125–250 Hz.
- Adds about 4 dB around 500–1000 Hz.
- Adds about 6 dB around 5.9 kHz for detail.
- Cuts about 9 dB above 10 kHz to tame sharp treble.
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 Pi7 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Pi7 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Pi7 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.6 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -4.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 204 Hz Gain -5.2 dB Q 0.86 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 5864 Hz Gain 6.3 dB Q 3.11 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 776 Hz Gain 3.7 dB Q 1.77 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2067 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 2.18 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -8.6 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 63 Hz Gain 0.8 dB Q 1.99 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 6948 Hz Gain 2.7 dB Q 4.56 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 3968 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 4.06 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 5067 Hz Gain 1.8 dB Q 5.23
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −4.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 204 Hz | −5.2 dB | 0.86 |
| 3 | Bell | 5.86 kHz | +6.3 dB | 3.11 |
| 4 | Bell | 776 Hz | +3.7 dB | 1.77 |
| 5 | Bell | 2.07 kHz | +2.5 dB | 2.18 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −8.6 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 63 Hz | +0.8 dB | 1.99 |
| 8 | Bell | 6.95 kHz | +2.7 dB | 4.56 |
| 9 | Bell | 3.97 kHz | −2.0 dB | 4.06 |
| 10 | Bell | 5.07 kHz | +1.8 dB | 5.23 |
Preamp: −6.6 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 −2.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Pi7 support SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive, 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 Pi7?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts about 5 dB of bass below 250 Hz, adds about 6 dB around 5.9 kHz, cuts about 9 dB of treble above 10 kHz, with a preamp of -6.6 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 Pi7 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 Bowers & Wilkins Pi7's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Bowers & Wilkins's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or Bowers & Wilkins's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
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 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 Pi7 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 Pi7 is a trademark of Bowers & Wilkins; TuningMac is not affiliated with Bowers & Wilkins.