JBL Tour Pro 3 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the JBL Tour Pro 3, 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
- Leaves the bass and mids close to flat.
- Adds about 1 dB around 1 kHz.
- Rolls the top treble at 16 kHz down by about 8 dB.
Tour Pro 3 at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling earbuds with smart charging case, released in 2024. Official specifications from JBL:
- Driver size
- 10 mm
- Bluetooth version
- 5.3
- Battery life
- Up to 8 hours (earbuds), 32 hours (with case)
- Weight
- 6.2 g per earbud
Sources: JBL: Tour Pro 3 specifications.
Using the Tour Pro 3 with a Mac
Codec: AAC, not LDAC. The Tour Pro 3 support SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3, 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 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 Tour Pro 3 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 earbuds 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 Pro 3. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Leaves the bass and mids close to flat.
- Adds about 1 dB around 1 kHz.
- Rolls the top treble at 16 kHz down by about 8 dB.
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 Tour Pro 3 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Tour Pro 3 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Tour Pro 3 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -2.5 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 4.8 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 5645 Hz Gain -3.2 dB Q 2.21 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 332 Hz Gain -1.6 dB Q 0.81 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 792 Hz Gain 1.9 dB Q 0.71 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 43 Hz Gain -6.5 dB Q 0.83 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -4.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 7916 Hz Gain 1.8 dB Q 5.91 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 5955 Hz Gain 0.3 dB Q 2.97 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 87 Hz Gain 0.4 dB Q 2.01 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 58 Hz Gain -0.5 dB Q 3.29
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +4.8 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 5.64 kHz | −3.2 dB | 2.21 |
| 3 | Bell | 332 Hz | −1.6 dB | 0.81 |
| 4 | Bell | 792 Hz | +1.9 dB | 0.71 |
| 5 | Bell | 43 Hz | −6.5 dB | 0.83 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −4.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 7.92 kHz | +1.8 dB | 5.91 |
| 8 | Bell | 5.96 kHz | +0.3 dB | 2.97 |
| 9 | Bell | 87 Hz | +0.4 dB | 2.01 |
| 10 | Bell | 58 Hz | −0.5 dB | 3.29 |
Preamp: −2.5 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
Does the JBL Tour Pro 3 use LDAC on a Mac?+
No. The Tour Pro 3 support SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3, 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 Pro 3?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Filk's measurements, nearly flat through the mids, rolls the top treble down by about 8 dB, with a preamp of -2.5 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 Pro 3 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 JBL Tour Pro 3's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch JBL's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds 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 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 Tour Pro 3 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 Pro 3 is a trademark of JBL; TuningMac is not affiliated with JBL.