Nothing Ear (2) EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Nothing Ear (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
- Slight bass reduction of about 2 dB.
- Dips about 2 dB around 125 Hz.
- Adds about 1 dB around 2 kHz.
- Adds about 2 dB above 16 kHz.
Ear (2) at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling earbuds with transparent stem, released in 2023. Official specifications from Nothing:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.3
- Bluetooth codecs
- AAC, SBC, LDAC
Sources: Nothing: Ear (2) specifications.
Using the Ear (2) with a Mac
Codec: AAC, not LDAC. The Ear (2) support AAC, SBC and LDAC, but macOS doesn't support LDAC. On a Mac they play over AAC, which carries the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range at standard sample rates (44.1 or 48 kHz). The 40 kHz hi-res figure only applies to LDAC, which Macs don't support.
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 (2) in stereo music mode.
Multipoint. The Nothing Ear (2) supports dual connection: it can stay connected to two devices at once.
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 Rtings' measurements of the Ear (2). It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Slight bass reduction of about 2 dB.
- Dips about 2 dB around 125 Hz.
- Adds about 1 dB around 2 kHz.
- Adds about 2 dB above 16 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 Ear (2) connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Ear (2) (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Ear (2) and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.3 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -1.8 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 195 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 1.01 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1571 Hz Gain 2.3 dB Q 0.62 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 502 Hz Gain 1.8 dB Q 1.69 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 4918 Hz Gain -5.1 dB Q 3.04 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3299 Hz Gain 2.1 dB Q 4.25 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 6765 Hz Gain 2.1 dB Q 5.23 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 62 Hz Gain 0.6 dB Q 2.06 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 7920 Hz Gain -1.3 dB Q 3.42
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −1.8 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 195 Hz | −2.0 dB | 1.01 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.57 kHz | +2.3 dB | 0.62 |
| 4 | Bell | 502 Hz | +1.8 dB | 1.69 |
| 5 | Bell | 4.92 kHz | −5.1 dB | 3.04 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +1.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 3.3 kHz | +2.1 dB | 4.25 |
| 8 | Bell | 6.76 kHz | +2.1 dB | 5.23 |
| 9 | Bell | 62 Hz | +0.6 dB | 2.06 |
| 10 | Bell | 7.92 kHz | −1.3 dB | 3.42 |
Preamp: −3.3 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 −2.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Does the Nothing Ear (2) use LDAC on a Mac?+
No. The Ear (2) support AAC, SBC and LDAC, but macOS doesn't support LDAC, so on a Mac they play over AAC. That carries 20 Hz to 20 kHz audio at standard sample rates; Sony's hi-res LDAC mode is for Android phones and other devices that support it.
What are the best EQ settings for the Nothing Ear (2)?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, slight bass reduction, dips about 2 dB around 125 Hz, adds about 1 dB around 2 kHz, with a preamp of -3.3 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 Nothing Ear (2) 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 (2)'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 (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 Nothing's published specifications. Nothing Ear (2) is a trademark of Nothing; TuningMac is not affiliated with Nothing.