Etymotic ER4XR EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Etymotic ER4XR, 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 5 dB of bass shelf below 105 Hz.
- Adds about 6 dB around 7 kHz.
- Cuts about 4 dB around 1.6 kHz.
- Adds about 3 dB around 800 Hz.
ER4XR at a glance
Wired reference in-ear monitor with extended-response 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: ER4XR specifications.
Using the ER4XR with a Mac
Wired, so no Bluetooth codec. The ER4XR 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 ER4XR in stereo music mode.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on oratory1990's measurements of the ER4XR. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 5 dB of bass shelf below 105 Hz.
- Adds about 6 dB around 7 kHz.
- Cuts about 4 dB around 1.6 kHz.
- Adds about 3 dB around 800 Hz.
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 ER4XR connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for ER4XR (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your ER4XR and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.0 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 5.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 6978 Hz Gain 6.4 dB Q 1.06 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1623 Hz Gain -3.6 dB Q 0.52 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 164 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 0.59 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 806 Hz Gain 2.6 dB Q 1.14 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 1.3 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 7344 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 6.00 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 6183 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 5.99 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 4894 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 4.37 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 1333 Hz Gain -0.2 dB Q 4.02
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +5.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 6.98 kHz | +6.4 dB | 1.06 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.62 kHz | −3.6 dB | 0.52 |
| 4 | Bell | 164 Hz | −1.4 dB | 0.59 |
| 5 | Bell | 806 Hz | +2.6 dB | 1.14 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +1.3 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 7.34 kHz | −1.2 dB | 6.00 |
| 8 | Bell | 6.18 kHz | +1.0 dB | 5.99 |
| 9 | Bell | 4.89 kHz | −0.6 dB | 4.37 |
| 10 | Bell | 1.33 kHz | −0.2 dB | 4.02 |
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 ER4XR need a Bluetooth codec on a Mac?+
None: the ER4XR 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 ER4XR?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, adds about 5 dB of bass, adds about 6 dB around 7 kHz, cuts about 4 dB around 1.6 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 ER4XR 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 ER4XR 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 ER4XR is a trademark of Etymotic; TuningMac is not affiliated with Etymotic.