Etymotic ER4SR EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Etymotic ER4SR, 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 6 dB of bass shelf below 105 Hz.
- Adds about 6 dB around 7.4 kHz.
- Cuts about 4 dB around 2.5 kHz.
- Adds about 3 dB of high shelf above 10 kHz.
ER4SR at a glance
Wired studio-reference in-ear monitor with balanced armature driver, released in 2016. Official specifications from Etymotic:
- Driver
- Single balanced armature
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz – 16 kHz
- Impedance
- 45 ohms
- Sensitivity
- 98 dB SPL/mW
- Connector
- MMCX (detachable cable)
Sources: Etymotic: ER4SR specifications.
Using the ER4SR with a Mac
Wired, so no Bluetooth codec. The ER4SR 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 ER4SR in stereo music mode.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on oratory1990's measurements of the ER4SR. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 6 dB of bass shelf below 105 Hz.
- Adds about 6 dB around 7.4 kHz.
- Cuts about 4 dB around 2.5 kHz.
- Adds about 3 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 ER4SR connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for ER4SR (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your ER4SR and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.0 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 6.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 2470 Hz Gain -3.7 dB Q 0.94 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 7389 Hz Gain 6.4 dB Q 1.15 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 77 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 2.20 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1450 Hz Gain -1.8 dB Q 2.27 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 269 Hz Gain -0.5 dB Q 1.17 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 745 Hz Gain 0.5 dB Q 2.09 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 7552 Hz Gain -0.8 dB Q 4.20 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 9634 Hz Gain -1.0 dB Q 5.99
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 2.47 kHz | −3.7 dB | 0.94 |
| 3 | Bell | 7.39 kHz | +6.4 dB | 1.15 |
| 4 | Bell | 77 Hz | +1.2 dB | 2.20 |
| 5 | Bell | 1.45 kHz | −1.8 dB | 2.27 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 269 Hz | −0.5 dB | 1.17 |
| 8 | Bell | 745 Hz | +0.5 dB | 2.09 |
| 9 | Bell | 7.55 kHz | −0.8 dB | 4.20 |
| 10 | Bell | 9.63 kHz | −1.0 dB | 5.99 |
Preamp: −6.0 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 −6.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Do the Etymotic ER4SR need a Bluetooth codec on a Mac?+
None: the ER4SR 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 ER4SR?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, adds about 6 dB of bass, adds about 6 dB around 7 kHz, cuts about 4 dB around 2.5 kHz, with a preamp of -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 Etymotic ER4SR 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 ER4SR 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 ER4SR is a trademark of Etymotic; TuningMac is not affiliated with Etymotic.