Jabra Elite 85t EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Jabra Elite 85t, 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
- Cuts bass below 62 Hz by about 4 dB.
- Slight dip around 250 Hz.
- Adds about 3 dB around 4 kHz for presence.
- Relatively flat overall with a sub-bass reduction.
Elite 85t at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling earbuds with adjustable ANC, released in 2020. Official specifications from Jabra:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.1
- Bluetooth codecs
- AAC, SBC
Sources: Jabra: Elite 85t specifications.
Using the Elite 85t with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Elite 85t support AAC and SBC, and a Mac picks AAC, the better of the two. It carries the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range at standard sample rates (44.1 or 48 kHz).
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 Elite 85t in stereo music mode.
Multipoint. The Jabra Elite 85t supports multipoint: it can stay connected to two devices at once.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Jabra's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or Jabra's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the Elite 85t. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts bass below 62 Hz by about 4 dB.
- Slight dip around 250 Hz.
- Adds about 3 dB around 4 kHz for presence.
- Relatively flat overall with a sub-bass reduction.
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 Elite 85t connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Elite 85t (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Elite 85t and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -4.2 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -4.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 238 Hz Gain -1.8 dB Q 2.14 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 3336 Hz Gain 2.9 dB Q 1.93 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 5891 Hz Gain 3.8 dB Q 4.30 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1557 Hz Gain -1.7 dB Q 2.62 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 0.7 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 834 Hz Gain 1.8 dB Q 2.83 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 84 Hz Gain 0.5 dB Q 1.79 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 1178 Hz Gain -0.8 dB Q 3.68 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 168 Hz Gain -0.3 dB Q 2.73
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −4.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 238 Hz | −1.8 dB | 2.14 |
| 3 | Bell | 3.34 kHz | +2.9 dB | 1.93 |
| 4 | Bell | 5.89 kHz | +3.8 dB | 4.30 |
| 5 | Bell | 1.56 kHz | −1.7 dB | 2.62 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +0.7 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 834 Hz | +1.8 dB | 2.83 |
| 8 | Bell | 84 Hz | +0.5 dB | 1.79 |
| 9 | Bell | 1.18 kHz | −0.8 dB | 3.68 |
| 10 | Bell | 168 Hz | −0.3 dB | 2.73 |
Preamp: −4.2 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 −3.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Jabra Elite 85t use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Elite 85t support AAC and SBC, and a Mac picks AAC, the better of the two. It carries the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range at standard sample rates.
What are the best EQ settings for the Jabra Elite 85t?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts sub-bass by about 4 dB, adds about 3 dB around 4 kHz for presence, with a preamp of -4.2 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 Jabra Elite 85t 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.
Can I control the Jabra Elite 85t's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Jabra's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or Jabra's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in Jabra's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Jabra'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 Elite 85t 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 Rtings. Specifications from Jabra's published specifications. Jabra Elite 85t is a trademark of Jabra; TuningMac is not affiliated with Jabra.