Nothing ear (1) EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Nothing ear (1), 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 7 dB around 26–51 Hz.
- Dips about 8 dB around 105–128 Hz.
- Dips about 6 dB around 442 Hz.
- Adds about 8 dB around 1166 Hz.
ear (1) at a glance
True wireless earbuds with ANC and transparent design, released in 2021. Official specifications from Nothing:
- Driver
- 11.6 mm dynamic
- ANC
- Active noise cancelling
- Bluetooth
- 5.2
- Battery
- Up to 5.7 h (ANC on), 34 h with case
- Weight
- 4.7 g per bud
Sources: Nothing.
Using the ear (1) with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The ear (1) support SBC and AAC, 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 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 ear (1) in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Nothing's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or Nothing's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on DHRME's measurements of the ear (1). It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 7 dB around 26–51 Hz.
- Dips about 8 dB around 105–128 Hz.
- Dips about 6 dB around 442 Hz.
- Adds about 8 dB around 1166 Hz.
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 ear (1) connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for ear (1) (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your ear (1) and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -5.0 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -13.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1166 Hz Gain 7.6 dB Q 0.93 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 442 Hz Gain -5.7 dB Q 0.44 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 51 Hz Gain 13.5 dB Q 0.41 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 128 Hz Gain -2.9 dB Q 1.64 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -0.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3306 Hz Gain -2.1 dB Q 3.76 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 2410 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 2.88 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 5439 Hz Gain -1.6 dB Q 6.00 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 26 Hz Gain 1.1 dB Q 6.00
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −13.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 1.17 kHz | +7.6 dB | 0.93 |
| 3 | Bell | 442 Hz | −5.7 dB | 0.44 |
| 4 | Bell | 51 Hz | +13.5 dB | 0.41 |
| 5 | Bell | 128 Hz | −2.9 dB | 1.64 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −0.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 3.31 kHz | −2.1 dB | 3.76 |
| 8 | Bell | 2.41 kHz | +1.4 dB | 2.88 |
| 9 | Bell | 5.44 kHz | −1.6 dB | 6.00 |
| 10 | Bell | 26 Hz | +1.1 dB | 6.00 |
Preamp: −5.0 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
Which codec do the Nothing ear (1) use on a Mac?+
AAC. The ear (1) support SBC and AAC, 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 Nothing ear (1)?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on DHRME's measurements, dips about 8 dB in the bass, adds about 8 dB in the mids, dips about 6 dB in the low-mids, with a preamp of -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 Nothing ear (1) 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 Nothing ear (1)'s noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Nothing's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or Nothing's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in Nothing's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Nothing'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 ear (1) 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 DHRME. Specifications from Nothing's published specifications. Nothing ear (1) is a trademark of Nothing; TuningMac is not affiliated with Nothing.