Sennheiser ACCENTUM EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Sennheiser ACCENTUM, 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 the sub-bass and bass from 31 to 125 Hz by about 2 to 7 dB.
- Lifts around 1.9 kHz by about 5.7 dB and around 4.2 kHz by about 5.4 dB for clarity.
- Rolls the top treble above 10 kHz down by about 6 dB.
ACCENTUM at a glance
Wireless over-ear headphones with hybrid active noise cancelling, released in 2023. Official specifications from Sennheiser:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.2
- Bluetooth codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
- Noise cancellation
- Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency
- Driver
- 37 mm dynamic transducer
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz to 22 kHz (active)
- Battery life
- Up to 50 hours with ANC on
- Charging
- USB-C
- Weight
- 217 g
Sources: Sennheiser: ACCENTUM specifications.
Using the ACCENTUM with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The ACCENTUM support SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive, 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 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 ACCENTUM in stereo music mode.
Multipoint. The ACCENTUM support multipoint: they stay connected to two devices at once, so your Mac and phone can both use them without re-pairing.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Sennheiser's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Sennheiser'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 ACCENTUM. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts the sub-bass and bass from 31 to 125 Hz by about 2 to 7 dB.
- Lifts around 1.9 kHz by about 5.7 dB and around 4.2 kHz by about 5.4 dB for clarity.
- Rolls the top treble above 10 kHz down by about 6 dB.
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 ACCENTUM connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for ACCENTUM (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your ACCENTUM and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -5.6 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -4.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 571 Hz Gain -1.6 dB Q 0.18 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1870 Hz Gain 5.7 dB Q 2.57 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 4181 Hz Gain 5.4 dB Q 3.61 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 33 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 1.01 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -5.9 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3003 Hz Gain -1.9 dB Q 4.46 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 8989 Hz Gain 3.3 dB Q 0.91 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 5774 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 5.50 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 3777 Hz Gain 0.4 dB Q 2.96
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −4.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 571 Hz | −1.6 dB | 0.18 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.87 kHz | +5.7 dB | 2.57 |
| 4 | Bell | 4.18 kHz | +5.4 dB | 3.61 |
| 5 | Bell | 33 Hz | −2.0 dB | 1.01 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −5.9 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 3 kHz | −1.9 dB | 4.46 |
| 8 | Bell | 8.99 kHz | +3.3 dB | 0.91 |
| 9 | Bell | 5.77 kHz | −3.0 dB | 5.50 |
| 10 | Bell | 3.78 kHz | +0.4 dB | 2.96 |
Preamp: −5.6 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 Sennheiser ACCENTUM use on a Mac?+
AAC. The ACCENTUM support SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive, 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 Sennheiser ACCENTUM?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, cuts the bass by 2 to 7 dB, lifts 1.9 and 4.2 kHz by about 5 dB each for clarity, rolls the top treble down by about 6 dB, with a preamp of -5.6 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 Sennheiser ACCENTUM 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 Sennheiser ACCENTUM's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Sennheiser's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Sennheiser's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in Sennheiser's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Sennheiser'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 ACCENTUM 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 Sennheiser's published specifications. Sennheiser ACCENTUM is a trademark of Sennheiser; TuningMac is not affiliated with Sennheiser.