Sony LinkBuds (WF-L900) EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Sony LinkBuds (WF-L900), 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 about 6 dB of bass below 120 Hz, where the open design measures light.
- Cuts 500 Hz to 2 kHz by about 4 to 7 dB, most around 1.8 kHz, where the LinkBuds measure forward.
- Adds about 5 dB near 3.7 kHz and 7.7 kHz.
LinkBuds at a glance
Wireless open earbuds with a ring-shaped driver that leaves your ear open, released in 2022. Official specifications from Sony:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.2
- Bluetooth codecs
- SBC, AAC
- Bluetooth profiles
- A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
- Bluetooth frequency range
- 20 Hz to 20 kHz (44.1 kHz sampling)
- Driver
- 12 mm ring driver, open dynamic
- Battery life
- Up to 5.5 hours (AAC); 17.5 hours with the case
- Charging
- Earbuds and case about 3 hours; 10 minutes gives about 90 minutes
- Multipoint
- Connects to two Bluetooth devices at once (added in a firmware update)
- Range
- About 10 m (30 ft), line of sight
- Weight
- About 4.1 g per earbud; case about 34 g
- Water resistance
- IPX4 (earbuds)
Sources: Sony Help Guide: specifications, Sony Help Guide: operating time, Sony Help Guide: multipoint, Sony WF-L900 specifications, Sony launch announcement.
Using the LinkBuds with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The LinkBuds 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 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 LinkBuds in stereo music mode.
Multipoint. Sony added multipoint in a firmware update, installed from its phone app. Then turn on Connect to 2 devices simultaneously and the LinkBuds stay connected to your Mac and your phone.
Open by design. The ring driver leaves your ear canal open so you hear what's around you. There's no noise cancelling, and room noise will cover some of the bass.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the LinkBuds. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 6 dB of bass below 120 Hz, where the open design measures light.
- Cuts 500 Hz to 2 kHz by about 4 to 7 dB, most around 1.8 kHz, where the LinkBuds measure forward.
- Adds about 5 dB near 3.7 kHz and 7.7 kHz.
Because the LinkBuds never seal your ear, how much bass you hear depends a lot on fit. If the extra bass sounds strained at high volume, lower the low shelf (filter 1).
How they sit in your ears 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 LinkBuds connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for LinkBuds (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your LinkBuds and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.2 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 5.6 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1600 Hz Gain -6.2 dB Q 0.22 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 3687 Hz Gain 8.7 dB Q 2.25 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 7572 Hz Gain 7.4 dB Q 1.22 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 154 Hz Gain 4.7 dB Q 0.70 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 1148 Hz Gain 1.6 dB Q 1.00 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 1856 Hz Gain -2.8 dB Q 3.88 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 432 Hz Gain -1.6 dB Q 0.86 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 307 Hz Gain 2.8 dB Q 3.64
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +5.6 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 1.6 kHz | −6.2 dB | 0.22 |
| 3 | Bell | 3.69 kHz | +8.7 dB | 2.25 |
| 4 | Bell | 7.57 kHz | +7.4 dB | 1.22 |
| 5 | Bell | 154 Hz | +4.7 dB | 0.70 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +1.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 1.15 kHz | +1.6 dB | 1.00 |
| 8 | Bell | 1.86 kHz | −2.8 dB | 3.88 |
| 9 | Bell | 432 Hz | −1.6 dB | 0.86 |
| 10 | Bell | 307 Hz | +2.8 dB | 3.64 |
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 −7.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Sony LinkBuds (WF-L900) use on a Mac?+
AAC. The LinkBuds 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 LinkBuds (WF-L900)?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, adds about 6 dB of bass, cuts 500 Hz to 2 kHz by 4 to 7 dB and adds about 5 dB near 3.7 and 7.7 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 Sony LinkBuds (WF-L900) 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.
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 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 LinkBuds 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 LinkBuds (WF-L900) is a trademark of Sony; TuningMac is not affiliated with Sony.