JBL Live 660NC EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the JBL Live 660NC, 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 62 Hz by about 5 dB.
- Leaves the mids and upper mids mostly flat.
- Rolls the treble above 8 kHz down by 3 to 9 dB.
Live 660NC at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling headphones, released in 2021. Official specifications from JBL:
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- Bluetooth version
- 5.0
- Battery life
- Up to 50 hours (ANC off), 40 hours (ANC on)
- Weight
- 265 g
Sources: JBL: Live 660NC specifications.
Using the Live 660NC with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Live 660NC support SBC and AAC, 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 headphones' 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 Live 660NC in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch JBL's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or JBL'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 Live 660NC. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts 62 Hz by about 5 dB.
- Leaves the mids and upper mids mostly flat.
- Rolls the treble above 8 kHz down by 3 to 9 dB.
Fit, ear pads 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 Live 660NC connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Live 660NC (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Live 660NC and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.1 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -0.8 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 62 Hz Gain -3.6 dB Q 1.03 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 167 Hz Gain 3.7 dB Q 3.08 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 6729 Hz Gain -6.6 dB Q 4.38 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2391 Hz Gain 0.9 dB Q 1.87 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -5.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 4403 Hz Gain 2.6 dB Q 2.05 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 3508 Hz Gain -3.4 dB Q 6.00 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 951 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 4.24 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 727 Hz Gain 0.8 dB Q 3.59
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −0.8 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 62 Hz | −3.6 dB | 1.03 |
| 3 | Bell | 167 Hz | +3.7 dB | 3.08 |
| 4 | Bell | 6.73 kHz | −6.6 dB | 4.38 |
| 5 | Bell | 2.39 kHz | +0.9 dB | 1.87 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −5.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 4.4 kHz | +2.6 dB | 2.05 |
| 8 | Bell | 3.51 kHz | −3.4 dB | 6.00 |
| 9 | Bell | 951 Hz | −1.4 dB | 4.24 |
| 10 | Bell | 727 Hz | +0.8 dB | 3.59 |
Preamp: −3.1 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 −1.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the JBL Live 660NC use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Live 660NC support SBC and AAC, 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 JBL Live 660NC?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts 62 Hz by about 5 dB, rolls the treble above 8 kHz down by 3 to 9 dB, with a preamp of -3.1 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 JBL Live 660NC sound bad on calls on a Mac?+
When an app uses the headphones' 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 JBL Live 660NC's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch JBL's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or JBL's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in JBL's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in JBL's app is applied inside the headphones, 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 Live 660NC 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 JBL's published specifications. JBL Live 660NC is a trademark of JBL; TuningMac is not affiliated with JBL.