Microsoft Surface Headphones EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Microsoft Surface Headphones, 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
- Lowers 50 to 350 Hz by about 3.5 to 6 dB, most near 120 Hz.
- Adds about 3 dB near 700 Hz.
- Adds about 3 to 6.5 dB from 3.5 to 8 kHz, most near 5 kHz.
- Leaves the treble above 10 kHz close to flat.
Surface Headphones at a glance
Wireless over-ear headphones with adjustable ANC, the first generation. Official specifications from Microsoft:
- Driver
- 40 mm Free Edge
- Noise cancelling
- Up to 30 dB
- Battery
- Up to 15 h (ANC on)
- Weight
- 0.64 lb
Using the Surface Headphones with a Mac
Codec: AAC or SBC. Microsoft doesn't list which Bluetooth codecs the Surface Headphones support. A Mac uses AAC when headphones offer it and SBC otherwise, and TuningMac's Device Info shows which one is in use.
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 Surface Headphones in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Microsoft's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Microsoft's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on oratory1990's measurements of the Surface Headphones. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Lowers 50 to 350 Hz by about 3.5 to 6 dB, most near 120 Hz.
- Adds about 3 dB near 700 Hz.
- Adds about 3 to 6.5 dB from 3.5 to 8 kHz, most near 5 kHz.
- Leaves the treble above 10 kHz close to flat.
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 Surface Headphones connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Surface Headphones (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Surface Headphones and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.3 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -0.1 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 115 Hz Gain -6.0 dB Q 0.48 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 5064 Hz Gain 6.3 dB Q 1.44 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 654 Hz Gain 4.6 dB Q 1.25 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 377 Hz Gain -3.3 dB Q 1.82 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -0.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 2842 Hz Gain -2.2 dB Q 3.73 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 1376 Hz Gain 1.1 dB Q 4.84 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 3401 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 5.98 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 7847 Hz Gain 1.3 dB Q 6.00
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −0.1 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 115 Hz | −6.0 dB | 0.48 |
| 3 | Bell | 5.06 kHz | +6.3 dB | 1.44 |
| 4 | Bell | 654 Hz | +4.6 dB | 1.25 |
| 5 | Bell | 377 Hz | −3.3 dB | 1.82 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −0.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 2.84 kHz | −2.2 dB | 3.73 |
| 8 | Bell | 1.38 kHz | +1.1 dB | 4.84 |
| 9 | Bell | 3.4 kHz | +1.4 dB | 5.98 |
| 10 | Bell | 7.85 kHz | +1.3 dB | 6.00 |
Preamp: −6.3 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 −5.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Microsoft Surface Headphones use on a Mac?+
Microsoft doesn't list which Bluetooth codecs the Surface Headphones support. A Mac uses AAC when headphones offer it and SBC otherwise, and TuningMac's Device Info shows which one is in use.
What are the best EQ settings for the Microsoft Surface Headphones?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, lowers 50 to 350 Hz by up to 6 dB and adds up to 6.5 dB from 3.5 to 8 kHz, with a preamp of -6.3 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 Microsoft Surface Headphones 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 Microsoft Surface Headphones's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Microsoft's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Microsoft's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in Microsoft's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Microsoft'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 Surface Headphones 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 Microsoft's published specifications. Microsoft Surface Headphones is a trademark of Microsoft; TuningMac is not affiliated with Microsoft.