Sennheiser IE 200 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Sennheiser IE 200, 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
- Leaves the bass and low mids essentially flat.
- Dips the upper mids around 1.5 kHz by about 2 dB.
- Adds about 4 to 5 dB around 4 kHz for presence.
- Rolls the treble above 10 kHz down by about 6 dB.
IE 200 at a glance
Wired in-ear monitors, a popular entry-level audiophile IEM, released in 2023. Official specifications from Sennheiser:
- Connection
- Wired (3.5 mm, MMCX detachable)
- Impedance
- 18 Ω
- Driver
- 7 mm TrueResponse dynamic transducer
- Frequency response
- 6 Hz to 20 kHz
- Sensitivity
- 110 dB SPL at 1 kHz / 1 V RMS
- Weight
- 4 g per earbud
- Ear tips
- Silicone, three sizes
Sources: Sennheiser: IE 200 specifications.
Using the IE 200 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The IE 200 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 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 IE 200 in stereo music mode.
Easy to drive. At 18 Ω and 110 dB sensitivity, the IE 200 work well from any source, including a Mac's headphone jack or a USB-C dongle.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on oratory1990's measurements of the IE 200. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Leaves the bass and low mids essentially flat.
- Dips the upper mids around 1.5 kHz by about 2 dB.
- Adds about 4 to 5 dB around 4 kHz for presence.
- Rolls the treble above 10 kHz down by about 6 dB.
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 IE 200 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for IE 200 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your IE 200 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -4.3 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 0.3 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 4135 Hz Gain 4.3 dB Q 1.83 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1520 Hz Gain -1.9 dB Q 1.99 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 180 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 1.14 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 67 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 1.34 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -6.1 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 727 Hz Gain 0.8 dB Q 1.79 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 5480 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 3.96 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 1154 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 3.44 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 2978 Hz Gain 0.4 dB Q 3.96
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +0.3 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 4.13 kHz | +4.3 dB | 1.83 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.52 kHz | −1.9 dB | 1.99 |
| 4 | Bell | 180 Hz | −1.2 dB | 1.14 |
| 5 | Bell | 67 Hz | +1.0 dB | 1.34 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −6.1 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 727 Hz | +0.8 dB | 1.79 |
| 8 | Bell | 5.48 kHz | +1.2 dB | 3.96 |
| 9 | Bell | 1.15 kHz | −0.6 dB | 3.44 |
| 10 | Bell | 2.98 kHz | +0.4 dB | 3.96 |
Preamp: −4.3 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 −4.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Sennheiser IE 200 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The IE 200 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 IE 200?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, leaves the bass flat, dips 1.5 kHz by about 2 dB, adds about 4 to 5 dB around 4 kHz, rolls the top treble down by about 6 dB, with a preamp of -4.3 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 Sennheiser IE 200 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.
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 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 IE 200 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 IE 200 is a trademark of Sennheiser; TuningMac is not affiliated with Sennheiser.