Shure SRH1540 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Shure SRH1540, 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 about 6 dB around 107 Hz.
- Cuts about 2 dB around 2.7 kHz.
- Adds about 2 dB of bass shelf.
- Adds about 2 dB around 6.5 kHz.
SRH1540 at a glance
Closed-back premium studio headphone with alcantara earpads. Official specifications from Shure:
- Impedance
- 46 ohms
- Sensitivity
- 99 dB SPL/mW
- Connector
- Detachable dual-exit cable
Sources: Shure: SRH1540 product page.
Using the SRH1540 with a Mac
Wired, so no Bluetooth codec. The SRH1540 connect with a cable, so nothing is compressed on the way: plug them into the Mac's headphone jack, or a USB-C adapter or DAC.
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 SRH1540 in stereo music mode.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on oratory1990's measurements of the SRH1540. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts about 6 dB around 107 Hz.
- Cuts about 2 dB around 2.7 kHz.
- Adds about 2 dB of bass shelf.
- Adds about 2 dB around 6.5 kHz.
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 SRH1540 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for SRH1540 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your SRH1540 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.4 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 1.9 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 107 Hz Gain -5.7 dB Q 0.58 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 688 Hz Gain 1.7 dB Q 0.62 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 6484 Hz Gain 2.0 dB Q 0.31 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2709 Hz Gain -2.3 dB Q 1.97 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -0.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 4812 Hz Gain 2.0 dB Q 4.68 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 5940 Hz Gain -2.4 dB Q 6.00 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 40 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 2.05 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 60 Hz Gain 0.8 dB Q 4.03
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +1.9 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 107 Hz | −5.7 dB | 0.58 |
| 3 | Bell | 688 Hz | +1.7 dB | 0.62 |
| 4 | Bell | 6.48 kHz | +2.0 dB | 0.31 |
| 5 | Bell | 2.71 kHz | −2.3 dB | 1.97 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 4.81 kHz | +2.0 dB | 4.68 |
| 8 | Bell | 5.94 kHz | −2.4 dB | 6.00 |
| 9 | Bell | 40 Hz | −0.6 dB | 2.05 |
| 10 | Bell | 60 Hz | +0.8 dB | 4.03 |
Preamp: −3.4 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 −2.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Do the Shure SRH1540 need a Bluetooth codec on a Mac?+
None: the SRH1540 are wired. Plug them into the Mac's headphone jack, or a USB-C adapter or DAC, and the sound reaches them without Bluetooth compression.
What are the best EQ settings for the Shure SRH1540?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, corrects a dip around 107 Hz, small cuts and boosts across the range, with a preamp of -3.4 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 Shure SRH1540 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 Shure's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Shure'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 SRH1540 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 Shure's published specifications. Shure SRH1540 is a trademark of Shure; TuningMac is not affiliated with Shure.