Bowers & Wilkins PX5 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Bowers & Wilkins PX5, 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 around 125 Hz where the PX5 is bass-heavy.
- Adds about 6 dB around 1 kHz for midrange presence.
- Adds about 5 dB around 4 kHz for clarity.
- Adds about 5 dB above 10 kHz for air.
PX5 at a glance
Wireless on-ear headphones with adaptive noise cancelling, released in 2019. Official specifications from Bowers & Wilkins:
- Driver
- 35.6 mm dynamic
- ANC
- Adaptive noise cancelling
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- Battery
- Up to 25 h; 15-min charge ≈ 5 h
- Weight
- 241 g
Sources: Bowers & Wilkins: PX5.
Using the PX5 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The PX5 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 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 PX5 in stereo music mode.
AAC on Mac The PX5 supports aptX Adaptive for Android. macOS doesn't support aptX, so on a Mac the headphones connect over AAC.
ANC not controllable TuningMac cannot change noise-control modes on Bowers & Wilkins headphones. Use the Bowers & Wilkins app on a phone or the button on the headphones.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Bowers & Wilkins's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones 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 PX5. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts about 5 dB around 125 Hz where the PX5 is bass-heavy.
- Adds about 6 dB around 1 kHz for midrange presence.
- Adds about 5 dB around 4 kHz for clarity.
- Adds about 5 dB above 10 kHz for air.
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 PX5 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for PX5 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your PX5 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -5.5 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 10.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 61 Hz Gain -10.8 dB Q 0.29 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1150 Hz Gain 9.1 dB Q 0.60 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 3832 Hz Gain -6.6 dB Q 0.26 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 4192 Hz Gain 10.3 dB Q 1.90 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 5.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 9096 Hz Gain -2.2 dB Q 2.07 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 354 Hz Gain 1.9 dB Q 3.19 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 522 Hz Gain -0.9 dB Q 2.46 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 216 Hz Gain -0.9 dB Q 2.54
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +10.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 61 Hz | −10.8 dB | 0.29 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.15 kHz | +9.1 dB | 0.60 |
| 4 | Bell | 3.83 kHz | −6.6 dB | 0.26 |
| 5 | Bell | 4.19 kHz | +10.3 dB | 1.90 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +5.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 9.1 kHz | −2.2 dB | 2.07 |
| 8 | Bell | 354 Hz | +1.9 dB | 3.19 |
| 9 | Bell | 522 Hz | −0.9 dB | 2.46 |
| 10 | Bell | 216 Hz | −0.9 dB | 2.54 |
Preamp: −5.5 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 −6.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Bowers & Wilkins PX5 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The PX5 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 PX5?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts about 5 dB around 125 Hz, adds about 6 dB around 1 kHz, adds about 5 dB around 4 kHz and above 10 kHz, with a preamp of -5.5 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 PX5 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 Bowers & Wilkins PX5'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 headphones 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 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 PX5 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 PX5 is a trademark of Bowers & Wilkins; TuningMac is not affiliated with Bowers & Wilkins.