Skullcandy Indy ANC EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Skullcandy Indy 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 by about 9 dB and bass by about 3 dB.
- Dips about 4 dB around 125 Hz and about 3 dB around 250 Hz.
- Adds about 4 dB around 4 kHz for presence.
- Adds about 3 dB around 8 kHz.
Indy ANC at a glance
Wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling and ambient mode, released in 2020. Official specifications from Skullcandy:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.0
- Bluetooth codecs
- SBC
Sources: Skullcandy: Indy ANC specifications.
Using the Indy ANC with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Indy ANC support 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 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 Indy ANC in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Skullcandy's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the earbuds 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 Indy ANC. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts sub-bass by about 9 dB and bass by about 3 dB.
- Dips about 4 dB around 125 Hz and about 3 dB around 250 Hz.
- Adds about 4 dB around 4 kHz for presence.
- Adds about 3 dB around 8 kHz.
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 Indy ANC connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Indy ANC (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Indy ANC and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.2 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -7.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 202 Hz Gain -4.1 dB Q 1.00 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 5812 Hz Gain 6.0 dB Q 2.22 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 3021 Hz Gain 3.1 dB Q 2.08 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 735 Hz Gain 2.4 dB Q 2.81 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -0.8 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 1309 Hz Gain -1.8 dB Q 3.75 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 41 Hz Gain 2.0 dB Q 2.75 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 26 Hz Gain -2.2 dB Q 1.93 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 75 Hz Gain 0.9 dB Q 3.13
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −7.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 202 Hz | −4.1 dB | 1.00 |
| 3 | Bell | 5.81 kHz | +6.0 dB | 2.22 |
| 4 | Bell | 3.02 kHz | +3.1 dB | 2.08 |
| 5 | Bell | 735 Hz | +2.4 dB | 2.81 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −0.8 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 1.31 kHz | −1.8 dB | 3.75 |
| 8 | Bell | 41 Hz | +2.0 dB | 2.75 |
| 9 | Bell | 26 Hz | −2.2 dB | 1.93 |
| 10 | Bell | 75 Hz | +0.9 dB | 3.13 |
Preamp: −6.2 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 Skullcandy Indy ANC use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Indy ANC support 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 Indy ANC?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts sub-bass by about 9 dB, dips about 4 dB around 125 Hz, adds about 4 dB around 4 kHz, with a preamp of -6.2 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 Indy ANC 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 Skullcandy Indy 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 earbuds 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 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 Indy 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 Indy ANC is a trademark of Skullcandy; TuningMac is not affiliated with Skullcandy.