Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 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
- Gently lowers the bass and low mids by about 1 to 3 dB.
- Dips 1.4 kHz by about 2.6 dB.
- Adds about 6 dB around 4 kHz for presence and detail.
- Rolls the treble above 10 kHz down by about 5 dB.
MTW3 at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling earbuds, released in 2022. Official specifications from Sennheiser:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.2
- Bluetooth codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
- Noise cancellation
- Adaptive Noise Cancellation, Transparency, anti-wind
- Driver
- 7 mm dynamic transducer
- Frequency response
- 5 Hz to 21 kHz
- Battery life
- Up to 7 hours (earbuds); up to 28 hours with case
- Charging
- USB-C, Qi wireless charging
- Weight
- 5.8 g per earbud; case 66.4 g
- Water resistance
- IPX4
Sources: Sennheiser: Momentum True Wireless 3 specifications.
Using the MTW3 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The MTW3 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 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 MTW3 in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Sennheiser's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds 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 MTW3. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Gently lowers the bass and low mids by about 1 to 3 dB.
- Dips 1.4 kHz by about 2.6 dB.
- Adds about 6 dB around 4 kHz for presence and detail.
- Rolls the treble above 10 kHz down by about 5 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 MTW3 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for MTW3 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your MTW3 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -5.3 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -2.6 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 4231 Hz Gain 5.9 dB Q 1.39 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 209 Hz Gain -2.2 dB Q 0.78 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1433 Hz Gain -2.6 dB Q 1.99 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 69 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 1.35 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -5.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5556 Hz Gain 1.7 dB Q 5.29 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 759 Hz Gain 0.5 dB Q 2.36 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 335 Hz Gain -0.4 dB Q 3.16 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 4230 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 5.10
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −2.6 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 4.23 kHz | +5.9 dB | 1.39 |
| 3 | Bell | 209 Hz | −2.2 dB | 0.78 |
| 4 | Bell | 1.43 kHz | −2.6 dB | 1.99 |
| 5 | Bell | 69 Hz | +1.5 dB | 1.35 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −5.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 5.56 kHz | +1.7 dB | 5.29 |
| 8 | Bell | 759 Hz | +0.5 dB | 2.36 |
| 9 | Bell | 335 Hz | −0.4 dB | 3.16 |
| 10 | Bell | 4.23 kHz | −0.6 dB | 5.10 |
Preamp: −5.3 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 −6.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Sennheiser MTW3 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The MTW3 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 MTW3?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, lowers the bass by 1 to 3 dB, dips 1.4 kHz by about 3 dB, adds about 6 dB around 4 kHz, rolls the top treble down by about 5 dB, with a preamp of -5.3 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 MTW3 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 Sennheiser MTW3's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Sennheiser's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds 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 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 MTW3 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 Momentum True Wireless 3 is a trademark of Sennheiser; TuningMac is not affiliated with Sennheiser.