Skullcandy Hesh ANC EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Skullcandy Hesh ANC, 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 sub-bass at 31 Hz by about 9 dB.
- Dips about 4 dB around 125 Hz.
- Adds about 5 dB around 500 Hz and about 8 dB around 2 kHz.
- Cuts treble above 8 kHz by about 6–12 dB.
Hesh ANC at a glance
Wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling, released in 2021. Official specifications from Skullcandy:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.0
- Bluetooth codecs
- AAC, SBC
Sources: Skullcandy: Hesh ANC specifications.
Using the Hesh ANC with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Hesh ANC support AAC and SBC, 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 Hesh ANC in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Skullcandy's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Skullcandy's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the Hesh ANC. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts sub-bass at 31 Hz by about 9 dB.
- Dips about 4 dB around 125 Hz.
- Adds about 5 dB around 500 Hz and about 8 dB around 2 kHz.
- Cuts treble above 8 kHz by about 6–12 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 Hesh ANC connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Hesh ANC (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Hesh ANC and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -7.1 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -6.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1873 Hz Gain 6.6 dB Q 2.07 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 533 Hz Gain 4.1 dB Q 0.83 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 179 Hz Gain -3.8 dB Q 1.66 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 913 Hz Gain -1.8 dB Q 2.30 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -7.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 7029 Hz Gain -4.3 dB Q 1.08 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 61 Hz Gain 2.1 dB Q 2.38 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 3410 Hz Gain -4.6 dB Q 5.30 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 2543 Hz Gain 3.6 dB Q 3.93
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −6.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 1.87 kHz | +6.6 dB | 2.07 |
| 3 | Bell | 533 Hz | +4.1 dB | 0.83 |
| 4 | Bell | 179 Hz | −3.8 dB | 1.66 |
| 5 | Bell | 913 Hz | −1.8 dB | 2.30 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −7.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 7.03 kHz | −4.3 dB | 1.08 |
| 8 | Bell | 61 Hz | +2.1 dB | 2.38 |
| 9 | Bell | 3.41 kHz | −4.6 dB | 5.30 |
| 10 | Bell | 2.54 kHz | +3.6 dB | 3.93 |
Preamp: −7.1 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 Skullcandy Hesh ANC use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Hesh ANC support AAC and SBC, 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 Skullcandy Hesh ANC?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts sub-bass by about 9 dB, adds about 8 dB around 2 kHz, cuts upper treble sharply, with a preamp of -7.1 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 Skullcandy Hesh ANC 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 Skullcandy Hesh ANC's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Skullcandy's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Skullcandy's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in Skullcandy's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Skullcandy'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 Hesh ANC 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 Skullcandy's published specifications. Skullcandy Hesh ANC is a trademark of Skullcandy; TuningMac is not affiliated with Skullcandy.