Sony INZONE H9 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Sony INZONE H9, 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
- Adds sub-bass below 40 Hz, up to about 6 dB at 20 Hz, and cuts about 5 dB around 150 Hz, trading mid-bass boom for deeper rumble.
- Lifts 800 Hz to 1.2 kHz by about 4 to 5 dB.
- Adds about 6 dB near 4 kHz for clearer detail.
- Cuts the treble above 8 kHz by about 5 to 7 dB.
INZONE H9 at a glance
Wireless gaming headset with noise cancelling, a USB transceiver and Bluetooth, released in 2022. Official specifications from Sony:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.0
- Bluetooth codecs
- SBC, AAC
- Bluetooth profiles
- A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
- Other connection
- USB-A transceiver, 2.4 GHz wireless, for PC and PS5
- Bluetooth frequency range
- 20 Hz to 20 kHz (44.1 kHz sampling)
- Driver
- 40 mm, closed dynamic
- Battery life
- Up to 32 hours with noise cancelling off, 20 hours with it on
- Charging
- About 3.5 hours; 10 minutes gives about 1 hour of playback
- Microphones
- Flip-up boom mic with mute, plus noise-cancelling mics
- Multipoint
- USB transceiver and Bluetooth at the same time
- Range
- About 10 m, line of sight (Bluetooth)
- Weight
- About 330 g (white), 335 g (black)
Sources: Sony Help Guide: specifications, Sony Help Guide: operating time, Sony INZONE H9 specifications, Sony launch announcement.
Using the INZONE H9 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The INZONE H9 support SBC and AAC, 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 INZONE H9 in stereo music mode.
Use Bluetooth on a Mac. Sony only lists PC and PS5 for the USB transceiver, and its INZONE Hub software (EQ and settings) runs on Windows only. Over Bluetooth, the H9 connect to a Mac like any headphones, and TuningMac's EQ replaces INZONE Hub's.
Transceiver and Bluetooth together. There's no Bluetooth multipoint, but the H9 can use the USB transceiver and Bluetooth at the same time: a PC or PS5 on the transceiver and your Mac or phone over Bluetooth.
Noise control without your phone. Sony's app only runs on phones. TuningMac asks your headphones which noise controls they support and shows them in the menu bar. It hasn't been tested on the INZONE H9 yet. How it works
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the INZONE H9. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds sub-bass below 40 Hz, up to about 6 dB at 20 Hz, and cuts about 5 dB around 150 Hz, trading mid-bass boom for deeper rumble.
- Lifts 800 Hz to 1.2 kHz by about 4 to 5 dB.
- Adds about 6 dB near 4 kHz for clearer detail.
- Cuts the treble above 8 kHz by about 5 to 7 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 INZONE H9 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for INZONE H9 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your INZONE H9 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.4 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 8.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 106 Hz Gain -6.6 dB Q 0.45 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 830 Hz Gain 5.7 dB Q 1.32 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 55 Hz Gain -2.6 dB Q 0.63 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 4136 Hz Gain 4.6 dB Q 3.89 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -6.9 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 2191 Hz Gain -2.7 dB Q 0.86 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 1292 Hz Gain 3.2 dB Q 3.00 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 8320 Hz Gain -3.1 dB Q 2.89 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 4029 Hz Gain 3.1 dB Q 2.74
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +8.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 106 Hz | −6.6 dB | 0.45 |
| 3 | Bell | 830 Hz | +5.7 dB | 1.32 |
| 4 | Bell | 55 Hz | −2.6 dB | 0.63 |
| 5 | Bell | 4.14 kHz | +4.6 dB | 3.89 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −6.9 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 2.19 kHz | −2.7 dB | 0.86 |
| 8 | Bell | 1.29 kHz | +3.2 dB | 3.00 |
| 9 | Bell | 8.32 kHz | −3.1 dB | 2.89 |
| 10 | Bell | 4.03 kHz | +3.1 dB | 2.74 |
Preamp: −6.4 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 −5.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Sony INZONE H9 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The INZONE H9 support SBC and AAC, 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 Sony INZONE H9?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, adds sub-bass below 40 Hz, cuts about 5 dB around 150 Hz, lifts 800 Hz to 1.2 kHz and 4 kHz by 4 to 6 dB and cuts the treble above 8 kHz by 5 to 7 dB, with a preamp of -6.4 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 Sony INZONE H9 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 Sony INZONE H9's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Sony's app only runs on phones. TuningMac asks your headphones which noise controls they support and shows them in the menu bar. It hasn't been tested on the INZONE H9 yet.
Should I turn off the EQ in Sony's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Sony'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 INZONE H9 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 Sony's published specifications. Sony INZONE H9 is a trademark of Sony; TuningMac is not affiliated with Sony.