Sennheiser HD 25 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Sennheiser HD 25, 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
- Lifts the sub-bass and bass from 31 to 62 Hz by about 4 to 7 dB.
- Cuts the low mids around 250 Hz by about 5 dB.
- Adds about 6 dB around 500 to 600 Hz.
- Boosts the presence around 5 kHz by about 7 dB.
- Dips 8 kHz by about 6 dB and lifts the air above 10 kHz by about 4 to 7 dB.
HD 25 at a glance
Closed-back on-ear wired headphones, the industry-standard DJ and monitoring headphone since 1988. Official specifications from Sennheiser:
- Connection
- Wired (3.5 mm / 6.35 mm adapter, 1.5 m cable)
- Impedance
- 70 Ω
- Driver
- Dynamic closed-back
- Frequency response
- 16 Hz to 22 kHz
- Sensitivity
- 120 dB SPL at 1 kHz / 1 V RMS
- Maximum SPL
- 120 dB
- Weight
- 140 g (without cable)
- Ear coupling
- On-ear, closed-back, supraaural
Sources: Sennheiser: HD 25 specifications.
Using the HD 25 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The HD 25 support , 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 HD 25 in stereo music mode.
Easy to drive. At 70 Ω and 120 dB sensitivity, the HD 25 get plenty loud from a Mac's headphone jack or any USB-C dongle. No dedicated amp needed.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the HD 25. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Lifts the sub-bass and bass from 31 to 62 Hz by about 4 to 7 dB.
- Cuts the low mids around 250 Hz by about 5 dB.
- Adds about 6 dB around 500 to 600 Hz.
- Boosts the presence around 5 kHz by about 7 dB.
- Dips 8 kHz by about 6 dB and lifts the air above 10 kHz by about 4 to 7 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 HD 25 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for HD 25 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your HD 25 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.5 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 6.7 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 235 Hz Gain -4.9 dB Q 0.39 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 597 Hz Gain 5.8 dB Q 1.00 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 5303 Hz Gain 7.3 dB Q 1.74 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 8484 Hz Gain -6.0 dB Q 1.20 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 4.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 56 Hz Gain 0.8 dB Q 2.17 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 91 Hz Gain -1.1 dB Q 2.60 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 176 Hz Gain 0.8 dB Q 2.47 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 279 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 2.16
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +6.7 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 235 Hz | −4.9 dB | 0.39 |
| 3 | Bell | 597 Hz | +5.8 dB | 1.00 |
| 4 | Bell | 5.3 kHz | +7.3 dB | 1.74 |
| 5 | Bell | 8.48 kHz | −6.0 dB | 1.20 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +4.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 56 Hz | +0.8 dB | 2.17 |
| 8 | Bell | 91 Hz | −1.1 dB | 2.60 |
| 9 | Bell | 176 Hz | +0.8 dB | 2.47 |
| 10 | Bell | 279 Hz | −0.6 dB | 2.16 |
Preamp: −6.5 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 −7.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Sennheiser HD 25 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The HD 25 support , 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 HD 25?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, lifts the sub-bass by about 7 dB, cuts 250 Hz by 5 dB, boosts 500 Hz and 5 kHz, dips 8 kHz and lifts the top treble by 4 to 7 dB, with a preamp of -6.5 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 Sennheiser HD 25 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.
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 HD 25 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 Sennheiser's published specifications. Sennheiser HD 25 is a trademark of Sennheiser; TuningMac is not affiliated with Sennheiser.