JBL Tour One M2 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the JBL Tour One M2, 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
- Dips the bass and low mids from 62 to 125 Hz by 2 to 3 dB.
- Adds about 3 dB around 4 kHz for detail.
- Rolls the top treble above 10 kHz down by about 10 dB.
Tour One M2 at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling headphones with True Adaptive ANC, released in 2023. Official specifications from JBL:
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- Bluetooth version
- 5.3
- Battery life
- Up to 50 hours (ANC off), 30 hours (ANC on)
- Weight
- 268 g
Sources: JBL: Tour One M2 specifications.
Using the Tour One M2 with a Mac
Codec: AAC, not LDAC. The Tour One M2 support SBC, AAC and LDAC, but macOS doesn't support LDAC. On a Mac they play over AAC, which carries the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range at standard sample rates (44.1 or 48 kHz). The 40 kHz hi-res figure only applies to LDAC, which Macs don't support.
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 Tour One M2 in stereo music mode.
Multipoint. Connects to two devices at once; on a Mac, AAC is used regardless of the second device.
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 Filk's measurements of the Tour One M2. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Dips the bass and low mids from 62 to 125 Hz by 2 to 3 dB.
- Adds about 3 dB around 4 kHz for detail.
- Rolls the top treble above 10 kHz down by about 10 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 Tour One M2 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Tour One M2 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Tour One M2 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -4.2 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 100 Hz Gain -4.6 dB Q 1.99 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 4836 Hz Gain 4.6 dB Q 2.38 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 7141 Hz Gain -3.4 dB Q 2.56 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1429 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 2.12 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -6.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 10000 Hz Gain 3.1 dB Q 1.67 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 44 Hz Gain -0.9 dB Q 2.59 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 2624 Hz Gain -2.6 dB Q 4.93 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 3573 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 4.68
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 100 Hz | −4.6 dB | 1.99 |
| 3 | Bell | 4.84 kHz | +4.6 dB | 2.38 |
| 4 | Bell | 7.14 kHz | −3.4 dB | 2.56 |
| 5 | Bell | 1.43 kHz | +1.5 dB | 2.12 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −6.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 10 kHz | +3.1 dB | 1.67 |
| 8 | Bell | 44 Hz | −0.9 dB | 2.59 |
| 9 | Bell | 2.62 kHz | −2.6 dB | 4.93 |
| 10 | Bell | 3.57 kHz | +1.4 dB | 4.68 |
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
Does the JBL Tour One M2 use LDAC on a Mac?+
No. The Tour One M2 support SBC, AAC and LDAC, but macOS doesn't support LDAC, so on a Mac they play over AAC. That carries 20 Hz to 20 kHz audio at standard sample rates; Sony's hi-res LDAC mode is for Android phones and other devices that support it.
What are the best EQ settings for the JBL Tour One M2?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Filk's measurements, dips 62–125 Hz by about 3 dB, adds about 3 dB around 4 kHz, rolls the top treble down sharply, 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 JBL Tour One M2 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 Tour One M2'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 Tour One M2 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 Filk. Specifications from JBL's published specifications. JBL Tour One M2 is a trademark of JBL; TuningMac is not affiliated with JBL.