OnePlus Buds 3 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the OnePlus Buds 3, 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 sub-bass by about 6 dB.
- Cuts about 3 dB around 62–125 Hz.
- Adds about 3 dB around 500 Hz.
- Cuts about 4 dB around 5 kHz.
- Cuts about 8 dB in the high treble.
Buds 3 at a glance
True wireless earbuds with smart adaptive ANC (up to 49 dB) and dual drivers, released in 2024. Official specifications from OnePlus:
- Driver
- 10.4 mm woofer + 6 mm tweeter
- ANC
- Smart Adaptive, up to 49 dB
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- Battery
- Up to 10 h (ANC off), 6.5 h (ANC on); 44 h / 28 h with case
- Weight
- 4.8 g per bud
- IP rating
- IP55 (buds), IPX4 (case)
Sources: OnePlus: Buds 3 specs.
Using the Buds 3 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Buds 3 support AAC, SBC and LHDC, 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 Buds 3 in stereo music mode.
Multipoint. Dual connection: stays connected to two devices at once. On a Mac, AAC is used.
AAC on Mac LHDC is not supported on macOS. On a Mac the buds connect over AAC, which is still high quality.
ANC not controllable TuningMac cannot change noise-control modes on OnePlus earbuds. Use the HeyMelody app on a phone or the pinch gesture on the buds.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch OnePlus's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or OnePlus'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 Buds 3. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts sub-bass by about 6 dB.
- Cuts about 3 dB around 62–125 Hz.
- Adds about 3 dB around 500 Hz.
- Cuts about 4 dB around 5 kHz.
- Cuts about 8 dB in the high treble.
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 Buds 3 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Buds 3 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Buds 3 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.2 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -3.9 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 89 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 0.23 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 493 Hz Gain 4.1 dB Q 1.00 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 5035 Hz Gain -4.4 dB Q 2.98 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1441 Hz Gain 0.9 dB Q 2.13 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -7.8 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 9459 Hz Gain 4.2 dB Q 1.76 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 2698 Hz Gain -2.3 dB Q 4.10 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 289 Hz Gain -0.1 dB Q 3.31 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 1973 Hz Gain 0.7 dB Q 4.47
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −3.9 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 89 Hz | −2.5 dB | 0.23 |
| 3 | Bell | 493 Hz | +4.1 dB | 1.00 |
| 4 | Bell | 5.04 kHz | −4.4 dB | 2.98 |
| 5 | Bell | 1.44 kHz | +0.9 dB | 2.13 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −7.8 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 9.46 kHz | +4.2 dB | 1.76 |
| 8 | Bell | 2.7 kHz | −2.3 dB | 4.10 |
| 9 | Bell | 289 Hz | −0.1 dB | 3.31 |
| 10 | Bell | 1.97 kHz | +0.7 dB | 4.47 |
Preamp: −3.2 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 −3.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the OnePlus Buds 3 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Buds 3 support AAC, SBC and LHDC, 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 OnePlus Buds 3?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts sub-bass by about 6 dB, adds about 3 dB around 500 Hz, cuts about 8 dB in the high treble, with a preamp of -3.2 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 OnePlus Buds 3 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 OnePlus Buds 3's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch OnePlus's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds or OnePlus's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in OnePlus's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in OnePlus'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 Buds 3 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 OnePlus's published specifications. OnePlus Buds 3 is a trademark of OnePlus; TuningMac is not affiliated with OnePlus.