Etymotic ER3SE EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Etymotic ER3SE, 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 around 7.5 kHz.
- Adds about 6 dB of bass shelf below 105 Hz.
- Cuts about 4 dB around 1.9 kHz.
- Adds about 4 dB of high shelf above 10 kHz.
ER3SE at a glance
Wired studio-edition in-ear monitor with balanced armature driver, released in 2018. Official specifications from Etymotic:
- Driver
- Single balanced armature
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz – 16 kHz
- Impedance
- 22 ohms
- Sensitivity
- 100 dB SPL/mW
- Connector
- MMCX (detachable cable)
Sources: Etymotic: ER3SE specifications.
Using the ER3SE with a Mac
Wired, so no Bluetooth codec. The ER3SE connect with a cable, so nothing is compressed on the way: plug them into the Mac's headphone jack, or a USB-C adapter or DAC.
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 ER3SE in stereo music mode.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on oratory1990's measurements of the ER3SE. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 7 dB around 7.5 kHz.
- Adds about 6 dB of bass shelf below 105 Hz.
- Cuts about 4 dB around 1.9 kHz.
- Adds about 4 dB of high shelf above 10 kHz.
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 ER3SE connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for ER3SE (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your ER3SE and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.5 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 6.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 7528 Hz Gain 7.4 dB Q 0.72 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1942 Hz Gain -4.2 dB Q 0.45 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 206 Hz Gain -1.6 dB Q 0.65 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 837 Hz Gain 1.9 dB Q 1.72 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 4.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 8498 Hz Gain -1.8 dB Q 2.74 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 1388 Hz Gain -0.3 dB Q 3.82 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 6000 Hz Gain 0.9 dB Q 6.00 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 4933 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 3.44
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +6.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 7.53 kHz | +7.4 dB | 0.72 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.94 kHz | −4.2 dB | 0.45 |
| 4 | Bell | 206 Hz | −1.6 dB | 0.65 |
| 5 | Bell | 837 Hz | +1.9 dB | 1.72 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +4.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 8.5 kHz | −1.8 dB | 2.74 |
| 8 | Bell | 1.39 kHz | −0.3 dB | 3.82 |
| 9 | Bell | 6 kHz | +0.9 dB | 6.00 |
| 10 | Bell | 4.93 kHz | −0.6 dB | 3.44 |
Preamp: −6.5 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
Do the Etymotic ER3SE need a Bluetooth codec on a Mac?+
None: the ER3SE are wired. Plug them into the Mac's headphone jack, or a USB-C adapter or DAC, and the sound reaches them without Bluetooth compression.
What are the best EQ settings for the Etymotic ER3SE?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, adds about 7 dB around 7.5 kHz, adds about 6 dB of bass, cuts about 4 dB around 1.9 kHz, with a preamp of -6.5 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 Etymotic ER3SE 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.
Should I turn off the EQ in Etymotic's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Etymotic'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 ER3SE 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 oratory1990. Specifications from Etymotic's published specifications. Etymotic ER3SE is a trademark of Etymotic; TuningMac is not affiliated with Etymotic.