Edifier Stax Spirit S3 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Edifier Stax Spirit S3, 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 7 dB to the sub-bass, from 31 to 62 Hz.
- Cuts about 4 dB from the upper mids, around 2 kHz.
- Adds about 3 dB to the treble, from 4 to 8 kHz.
- Cuts about 12 dB from the top treble, around 16 kHz.
Stax Spirit S3 at a glance
Wireless planar magnetic over-ear headphones with aptX Adaptive and a wired option. Official specifications from Edifier:
- Driver
- 89 × 70 mm planar magnetic
- Bluetooth
- 5.2
- Battery
- Around 80 h
- Weight
- Around 329 g
- Wired
- 3.5 mm aux cable included
Sources: Edifier: Stax Spirit S3.
Using the Stax Spirit S3 with a Mac
Codec: SBC, not aptX, aptX HD or aptX Adaptive. The Stax Spirit S3 support SBC, aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive. macOS doesn't support aptX, aptX HD or aptX Adaptive, and the headphones don't offer AAC, so on a Mac they play over SBC, the standard Bluetooth codec every pair supports.
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 Stax Spirit S3 in stereo music mode.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Filk's measurements of the Stax Spirit S3. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 7 dB to the sub-bass, from 31 to 62 Hz.
- Cuts about 4 dB from the upper mids, around 2 kHz.
- Adds about 3 dB to the treble, from 4 to 8 kHz.
- Cuts about 12 dB from the top treble, around 16 kHz.
Measured with the leather earpads. The fabric pads sound different.
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 Stax Spirit S3 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Stax Spirit S3 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Stax Spirit S3 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -5.5 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 6.1 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 3944 Hz Gain 4.6 dB Q 0.68 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 2367 Hz Gain -6.3 dB Q 1.17 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 135 Hz Gain -1.8 dB Q 0.24 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 432 Hz Gain 2.6 dB Q 1.42 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -7.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 9415 Hz Gain 2.7 dB Q 2.94 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 63 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 2.05 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 123 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 1.91 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 6759 Hz Gain 2.0 dB Q 5.95
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +6.1 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 3.94 kHz | +4.6 dB | 0.68 |
| 3 | Bell | 2.37 kHz | −6.3 dB | 1.17 |
| 4 | Bell | 135 Hz | −1.8 dB | 0.24 |
| 5 | Bell | 432 Hz | +2.6 dB | 1.42 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −7.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 9.41 kHz | +2.7 dB | 2.94 |
| 8 | Bell | 63 Hz | −1.2 dB | 2.05 |
| 9 | Bell | 123 Hz | +1.0 dB | 1.91 |
| 10 | Bell | 6.76 kHz | +2.0 dB | 5.95 |
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 −7.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Edifier Stax Spirit S3 use on a Mac?+
SBC. The Stax Spirit S3 support SBC, aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive, but macOS doesn't support aptX, aptX HD or aptX Adaptive and they don't offer AAC, so a Mac uses SBC, the standard Bluetooth codec.
What are the best EQ settings for the Edifier Stax Spirit S3?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Filk's measurements, adds about 7 dB from 31 to 62 Hz, cuts about 4 dB around 2 kHz, cuts about 12 dB around 16 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 Edifier Stax Spirit S3 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 Edifier's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Edifier'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 Stax Spirit S3 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 Filk. Specifications from Edifier's published specifications. Edifier Stax Spirit S3 is a trademark of Edifier; TuningMac is not affiliated with Edifier.