Etymotic hf5 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Etymotic hf5, 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 8 dB around 7.2 kHz.
- Adds about 6 dB of bass shelf below 105 Hz.
- Adds about 4 dB of high shelf above 10 kHz.
- Cuts about 3 dB around 2.3 kHz.
hf5 at a glance
Wired in-ear monitor with balanced armature driver designed for portable high-fidelity listening. Official specifications from Etymotic:
- Driver
- Single balanced armature
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz – 16 kHz
- Impedance
- 42 ohms
- Sensitivity
- 104 dB SPL/mW
- Connector
- 3.5 mm
Sources: Etymotic: hf5 specifications.
Using the hf5 with a Mac
Wired, so no Bluetooth codec. The hf5 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 hf5 in stereo music mode.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on oratory1990's measurements of the hf5. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 8 dB around 7.2 kHz.
- Adds about 6 dB of bass shelf below 105 Hz.
- Adds about 4 dB of high shelf above 10 kHz.
- Cuts about 3 dB around 2.3 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 hf5 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for hf5 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your hf5 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.3 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 6.1 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 7190 Hz Gain 7.7 dB Q 0.81 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 2324 Hz Gain -3.1 dB Q 0.42 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 221 Hz Gain -1.7 dB Q 0.68 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 57 Hz Gain 0.5 dB Q 1.90 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 4.1 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 9788 Hz Gain -1.3 dB Q 4.49 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 1257 Hz Gain -0.8 dB Q 2.70 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 844 Hz Gain 0.7 dB Q 2.24 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 7755 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 3.99
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +6.1 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 7.19 kHz | +7.7 dB | 0.81 |
| 3 | Bell | 2.32 kHz | −3.1 dB | 0.42 |
| 4 | Bell | 221 Hz | −1.7 dB | 0.68 |
| 5 | Bell | 57 Hz | +0.5 dB | 1.90 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +4.1 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 9.79 kHz | −1.3 dB | 4.49 |
| 8 | Bell | 1.26 kHz | −0.8 dB | 2.70 |
| 9 | Bell | 844 Hz | +0.7 dB | 2.24 |
| 10 | Bell | 7.75 kHz | −1.4 dB | 3.99 |
Preamp: −6.3 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 hf5 need a Bluetooth codec on a Mac?+
None: the hf5 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 hf5?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, adds about 8 dB around 7.2 kHz, adds about 6 dB of bass, adds about 4 dB of high shelf, with a preamp of -6.3 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 hf5 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 hf5 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 hf5 is a trademark of Etymotic; TuningMac is not affiliated with Etymotic.