Moondrop Aria EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Moondrop Aria, 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 3 dB around 164 Hz.
- Adds about 4 dB around 6.5 kHz.
- Cuts about 5 dB of high shelf above 10 kHz.
Aria at a glance
Wired in-ear monitors with a single dynamic driver and spring-tip nozzle. Official specifications from Moondrop:
- Driver
- 10 mm dynamic
- Impedance
- 32 ohms
- Sensitivity
- 122 dB/Vrms
- Frequency response
- 5 – 36,000 Hz
- Weight
- 25 g (pair)
Sources: Moondrop: Aria product page.
Using the Aria with a Mac
Wired, so no Bluetooth codec. The Aria 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 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 Aria in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Moondrop's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or Moondrop'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 Aria. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts about 3 dB around 164 Hz.
- Adds about 4 dB around 6.5 kHz.
- Cuts about 5 dB of high shelf above 10 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 Aria connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Aria (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Aria and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.5 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -0.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 164 Hz Gain -2.6 dB Q 0.92 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 659 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 1.59 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 3108 Hz Gain 0.5 dB Q 1.51 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 6460 Hz Gain 3.5 dB Q 2.43 Filter 6: ON PK Fc 31 Hz Gain -0.4 dB Q 2.21 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 54 Hz Gain 0.9 dB Q 5.32 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 1408 Hz Gain -0.5 dB Q 2.30 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 8665 Hz Gain 2.1 dB Q 2.79 Filter 10: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -5.3 dB Q 0.70
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −0.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 164 Hz | −2.6 dB | 0.92 |
| 3 | Bell | 659 Hz | +1.4 dB | 1.59 |
| 4 | Bell | 3.11 kHz | +0.5 dB | 1.51 |
| 5 | Bell | 6.46 kHz | +3.5 dB | 2.43 |
| 6 | Bell | 31 Hz | −0.4 dB | 2.21 |
| 7 | Bell | 54 Hz | +0.9 dB | 5.32 |
| 8 | Bell | 1.41 kHz | −0.5 dB | 2.30 |
| 9 | Bell | 8.66 kHz | +2.1 dB | 2.79 |
| 10 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −5.3 dB | 0.70 |
Preamp: −3.5 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 −2.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Do the Moondrop Aria need a Bluetooth codec on a Mac?+
None: the Aria 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 Moondrop Aria?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, cuts about 3 dB around 164 Hz, adds about 4 dB around 6.5 kHz, cuts about 5 dB above 10 kHz, with a preamp of -3.5 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 Moondrop Aria 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.
Can I control the Moondrop Aria's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Moondrop's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or Moondrop's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in Moondrop's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Moondrop'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 Aria 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 Moondrop's published specifications. Moondrop Aria is a trademark of Moondrop; TuningMac is not affiliated with Moondrop.