Marshall Major II EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Marshall Major II, 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 2 dB around 125 Hz.
- Dips about 3 dB from 500 Hz to 1 kHz.
- Adds about 6 dB around 4 kHz for clarity and presence.
Major II at a glance
On-ear headphones with detachable cable and foldable design. Official specifications from Marshall:
- Driver
- 40 mm dynamic
- Frequency response
- 10 – 20,000 Hz
- Weight
- 172 g
Sources: Marshall: Major II.
Using the Major II with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Major II support , 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 Major II in stereo music mode.
Wired only The Major II is a wired headphone. A Bluetooth version (Major II Bluetooth) exists separately and supports aptX.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the Major II. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts about 2 dB around 125 Hz.
- Dips about 3 dB from 500 Hz to 1 kHz.
- Adds about 6 dB around 4 kHz for clarity and presence.
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 Major II connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Major II (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Major II and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -5.8 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -0.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 4187 Hz Gain 5.7 dB Q 1.31 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 620 Hz Gain -2.9 dB Q 0.57 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1205 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 2.07 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2208 Hz Gain 3.1 dB Q 2.08 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 0.3 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 150 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 1.17 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 275 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 2.02 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 45 Hz Gain 0.7 dB Q 1.99 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 6694 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 6.00
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 4.19 kHz | +5.7 dB | 1.31 |
| 3 | Bell | 620 Hz | −2.9 dB | 0.57 |
| 4 | Bell | 1.21 kHz | −1.5 dB | 2.07 |
| 5 | Bell | 2.21 kHz | +3.1 dB | 2.08 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +0.3 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 150 Hz | −1.4 dB | 1.17 |
| 8 | Bell | 275 Hz | +1.4 dB | 2.02 |
| 9 | Bell | 45 Hz | +0.7 dB | 1.99 |
| 10 | Bell | 6.69 kHz | −2.0 dB | 6.00 |
Preamp: −5.8 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 −6.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Marshall Major II use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Major II support , 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 Marshall Major II?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts about 2 dB around 125 Hz, dips about 3 dB from 500 Hz to 1 kHz, adds about 6 dB around 4 kHz, with a preamp of -5.8 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 Marshall Major II 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.
Should I turn off the EQ in Marshall's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Marshall'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 Major II 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 Marshall's published specifications. Marshall Major II is a trademark of Marshall; TuningMac is not affiliated with Marshall.