Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2, 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 250 Hz by about 3 to 7 dB, most near 80 to 120 Hz.
- Adds about 2 dB from 350 to 500 Hz.
- Adds about 1 to 2.5 dB from 1.3 to 3 kHz and about 4.5 to 7 dB from 3.5 to 4.5 kHz, most near 4 kHz.
- Leaves the treble above 7 kHz close to flat.
Surface Headphones 2 at a glance
Wireless over-ear headphones with 13 levels of ANC. Official specifications from Microsoft:
- Driver
- 40 mm Free Edge
- Noise cancelling
- 13 levels, up to 30 dB
- Bluetooth
- 4.1, 4.2 and 5.0
- Battery
- Up to 18.5 h of music
- Weight
- 0.64 lb
Sources: Microsoft Store: Surface Headphones 2.
Using the Surface Headphones 2 with a Mac
Codec: SBC, not aptX. The Surface Headphones 2 support SBC and aptX. macOS doesn't support aptX, and the headphones don't offer AAC, so on a Mac they play over SBC, the standard Bluetooth codec every pair supports.
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 2 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 Rtings' measurements of the Surface Headphones 2. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Lowers 50 to 250 Hz by about 3 to 7 dB, most near 80 to 120 Hz.
- Adds about 2 dB from 350 to 500 Hz.
- Adds about 1 to 2.5 dB from 1.3 to 3 kHz and about 4.5 to 7 dB from 3.5 to 4.5 kHz, most near 4 kHz.
- Leaves the treble above 7 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 2 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Surface Headphones 2 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Surface Headphones 2 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.8 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 8.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 76 Hz Gain -12.6 dB Q 0.45 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 3929 Hz Gain 6.8 dB Q 2.46 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 395 Hz Gain 5.9 dB Q 2.14 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1395 Hz Gain 3.2 dB Q 3.45 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 0.6 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 777 Hz Gain -2.6 dB Q 2.92 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 523 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 3.48 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 7708 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 5.64 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 1755 Hz Gain 0.7 dB Q 3.90
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +8.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 76 Hz | −12.6 dB | 0.45 |
| 3 | Bell | 3.93 kHz | +6.8 dB | 2.46 |
| 4 | Bell | 395 Hz | +5.9 dB | 2.14 |
| 5 | Bell | 1.4 kHz | +3.2 dB | 3.45 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 777 Hz | −2.6 dB | 2.92 |
| 8 | Bell | 523 Hz | +1.2 dB | 3.48 |
| 9 | Bell | 7.71 kHz | −1.1 dB | 5.64 |
| 10 | Bell | 1.75 kHz | +0.7 dB | 3.90 |
Preamp: −6.8 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 −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 2 use on a Mac?+
SBC. The Surface Headphones 2 support SBC and aptX, but macOS doesn't support aptX and they don't offer AAC, so a Mac uses SBC, the standard Bluetooth codec.
What are the best EQ settings for the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, lowers 50 to 250 Hz by up to 7 dB and adds up to 7 dB from 3.5 to 4.5 kHz, with a preamp of -6.8 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 Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 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 2'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 2 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 Microsoft's published specifications. Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 is a trademark of Microsoft; TuningMac is not affiliated with Microsoft.