JLab GO Air POP EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the JLab GO Air POP, 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 about 5 dB from the bass, from 31 to 125 Hz.
- Adds about 4 dB to the mids, from 500 Hz to 1 kHz.
- Adds about 4 dB to the presence range, around 4 kHz.
- Cuts about 12 dB from the treble, from 8 to 16 kHz.
GO Air POP at a glance
Budget true wireless earbuds. Official specifications from JLab:
- Driver
- 6 mm dynamic
- Bluetooth
- 5.1
- Battery
- 8+ h per earbud, 32+ h total with the case
- Water resistance
- IPX4 (earbuds)
- Weight
- 35.4 g with the case
Sources: JLab: GO Air POP tech specs.
Using the GO Air POP with a Mac
Codec: SBC. The GO Air POP support SBC, the standard Bluetooth codec, and that's what a Mac uses with them.
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 GO Air POP in stereo music mode.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the GO Air POP. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts about 5 dB from the bass, from 31 to 125 Hz.
- Adds about 4 dB to the mids, from 500 Hz to 1 kHz.
- Adds about 4 dB to the presence range, around 4 kHz.
- Cuts about 12 dB from the treble, from 8 to 16 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 GO Air POP connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for GO Air POP (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your GO Air POP and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -4.0 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -0.9 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 109 Hz Gain -5.1 dB Q 0.61 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 669 Hz Gain 4.6 dB Q 0.64 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 5015 Hz Gain 3.8 dB Q 4.20 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1210 Hz Gain -2.4 dB Q 2.28 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -7.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 7899 Hz Gain -4.0 dB Q 1.71 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 5874 Hz Gain 3.9 dB Q 5.02 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 280 Hz Gain 0.5 dB Q 2.80 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 4309 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 5.17
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 109 Hz | −5.1 dB | 0.61 |
| 3 | Bell | 669 Hz | +4.6 dB | 0.64 |
| 4 | Bell | 5.01 kHz | +3.8 dB | 4.20 |
| 5 | Bell | 1.21 kHz | −2.4 dB | 2.28 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −7.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 7.9 kHz | −4.0 dB | 1.71 |
| 8 | Bell | 5.87 kHz | +3.9 dB | 5.02 |
| 9 | Bell | 280 Hz | +0.5 dB | 2.80 |
| 10 | Bell | 4.31 kHz | +1.4 dB | 5.17 |
Preamp: −4.0 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 −4.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the JLab GO Air POP use on a Mac?+
SBC, the standard Bluetooth codec. It's the only one the GO Air POP support.
What are the best EQ settings for the JLab GO Air POP?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts about 5 dB from 31 to 125 Hz, adds about 4 dB from 500 Hz to 1 kHz, cuts about 12 dB from 8 to 16 kHz, with a preamp of -4 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 JLab GO Air POP 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 JLab's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in JLab'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 GO Air POP 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 JLab's published specifications. JLab GO Air POP is a trademark of JLab; TuningMac is not affiliated with JLab.