Sennheiser HD 450BT EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Sennheiser HD 450BT, 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 bass from 31 to 125 Hz by about 2 to 3 dB.
- Dips around 2.4 kHz by about 4 dB.
- Lifts the upper mids and presence around 3.9 kHz by about 8 dB.
- Adds about 5 to 11 dB of treble above 8 kHz, where the HD 450BT sound dull.
HD 450BT at a glance
Wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling, released in 2020. Official specifications from Sennheiser:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.0
- Bluetooth codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Low Latency
- Noise cancellation
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Driver
- 32 mm dynamic transducer
- Frequency response
- 18 Hz to 22 kHz
- Battery life
- Up to 30 hours with ANC on
- Charging
- USB-C
- Weight
- 234 g
- Folding
- Flat-folding design
Sources: Sennheiser: HD 450BT specifications.
Using the HD 450BT with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The HD 450BT support SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Low Latency, 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 450BT in stereo music mode.
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 HD 450BT. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts the bass from 31 to 125 Hz by about 2 to 3 dB.
- Dips around 2.4 kHz by about 4 dB.
- Lifts the upper mids and presence around 3.9 kHz by about 8 dB.
- Adds about 5 to 11 dB of treble above 8 kHz, where the HD 450BT sound dull.
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 450BT connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for HD 450BT (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your HD 450BT and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.4 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -2.7 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 2417 Hz Gain -4.2 dB Q 0.56 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 3855 Hz Gain 8.3 dB Q 1.65 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 151 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 1.14 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 6571 Hz Gain 3.5 dB Q 1.15 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 5.6 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 8215 Hz Gain -2.8 dB Q 4.27 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 374 Hz Gain 0.9 dB Q 2.79 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 656 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 2.31 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 41 Hz Gain -0.2 dB Q 1.75
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −2.7 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 2.42 kHz | −4.2 dB | 0.56 |
| 3 | Bell | 3.85 kHz | +8.3 dB | 1.65 |
| 4 | Bell | 151 Hz | −3.0 dB | 1.14 |
| 5 | Bell | 6.57 kHz | +3.5 dB | 1.15 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +5.6 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 8.21 kHz | −2.8 dB | 4.27 |
| 8 | Bell | 374 Hz | +0.9 dB | 2.79 |
| 9 | Bell | 656 Hz | −0.6 dB | 2.31 |
| 10 | Bell | 41 Hz | −0.2 dB | 1.75 |
Preamp: −6.4 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 −11.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Sennheiser HD 450BT use on a Mac?+
AAC. The HD 450BT support SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Low Latency, 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 450BT?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, cuts the bass by about 2 to 3 dB, dips 2.4 kHz by about 4 dB, adds about 8 dB around 3.9 kHz and up to 11 dB of treble above 8 kHz, with a preamp of -6.4 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 450BT 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 HD 450BT'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 HD 450BT 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 HD 450BT is a trademark of Sennheiser; TuningMac is not affiliated with Sennheiser.