Master & Dynamic MH40 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Master & Dynamic MH40, 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
- Adds about 4 dB to the sub-bass, around 31 Hz.
- Cuts about 4 dB from the bass, from 62 to 250 Hz.
- Cuts about 3 dB from the mids, around 1 kHz.
- Adds about 4 dB to the upper mids and presence range, from 2 to 4 kHz.
MH40 at a glance
Wired over-ear headphones. Official specifications from Master & Dynamic:
- Driver
- 45 mm neodymium
- Impedance
- 32 ohms
- Connection
- Wired, dual 3.5 mm
- Weight
- 360 g
Sources: Master & Dynamic: MH40.
Using the MH40 with a Mac
Wired, so no Bluetooth codec. The MH40 connect with a cable, so nothing is compressed on the way: plug them into the Mac's headphone jack, or a USB-C adapter or DAC.
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 MH40 in stereo music mode.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on oratory1990's measurements of the MH40. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 4 dB to the sub-bass, around 31 Hz.
- Cuts about 4 dB from the bass, from 62 to 250 Hz.
- Cuts about 3 dB from the mids, around 1 kHz.
- Adds about 4 dB to the upper mids and presence range, from 2 to 4 kHz.
This is the wired MH40. The newer MH40 Wireless is a different model and may sound different.
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 MH40 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for MH40 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your MH40 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -5.8 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 10.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 59 Hz Gain -12.3 dB Q 0.57 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 4331 Hz Gain 4.6 dB Q 4.20 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 2342 Hz Gain 4.5 dB Q 1.39 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1031 Hz Gain -2.4 dB Q 1.75 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5976 Hz Gain -3.5 dB Q 5.88 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 4895 Hz Gain 1.6 dB Q 6.00 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 438 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 3.27 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 585 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 2.98
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +10.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 59 Hz | −12.3 dB | 0.57 |
| 3 | Bell | 4.33 kHz | +4.6 dB | 4.20 |
| 4 | Bell | 2.34 kHz | +4.5 dB | 1.39 |
| 5 | Bell | 1.03 kHz | −2.4 dB | 1.75 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 5.98 kHz | −3.5 dB | 5.88 |
| 8 | Bell | 4.89 kHz | +1.6 dB | 6.00 |
| 9 | Bell | 438 Hz | +1.0 dB | 3.27 |
| 10 | Bell | 585 Hz | −0.6 dB | 2.98 |
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 −4.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Do the Master & Dynamic MH40 need a Bluetooth codec on a Mac?+
None: the MH40 are wired. Plug them into the Mac's headphone jack, or a USB-C adapter or DAC, and the sound reaches them without Bluetooth compression.
What are the best EQ settings for the Master & Dynamic MH40?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, adds about 4 dB around 31 Hz, cuts about 4 dB from 62 to 250 Hz, adds about 4 dB from 2 to 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 Master & Dynamic MH40 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 Master & Dynamic's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Master & Dynamic'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 MH40 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 oratory1990. Specifications from Master & Dynamic's published specifications. Master & Dynamic MH40 is a trademark of Master & Dynamic; TuningMac is not affiliated with Master & Dynamic.