Sony LinkBuds S EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Sony LinkBuds S, 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
- Leaves the bass close to flat, with a slight lift in the deep bass and a dip of about 1.5 dB around 150 to 200 Hz.
- Lowers 1 to 1.5 kHz slightly, by about 1.5 dB.
- Lifts 3 to 8 kHz by about 2 to 4 dB, most near 6.6 kHz, for more detail.
- Cuts the top treble above 14 kHz by up to 3 dB.
LinkBuds S at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling earbuds, released in 2022. Official specifications from Sony:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.2
- Bluetooth codecs
- SBC, AAC, LDAC (Classic Audio); LC3 (LE Audio)
- Bluetooth profiles
- A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP; TMAP, CSIP, MCP, VCP, CCP
- Bluetooth frequency range
- 20 Hz to 20 kHz (44.1 kHz sampling); 20 Hz to 40 kHz (LDAC, 96 kHz, 990 kbps)
- Driver
- 5 mm, closed dynamic
- Battery life
- Up to 6 hours with noise cancelling on, 9 hours with it off; 20 hours with the case
- Charging
- Earbuds and case about 3 hours; 5 minutes gives about 1 hour
- Multipoint
- Connects to two Bluetooth devices at once (added in a firmware update)
- Range
- About 10 m (30 ft), line of sight
- Weight
- About 4.8 g per earbud; case about 35 g
- Water resistance
- IPX4
Sources: Sony Help Guide: specifications, Sony Help Guide: supported codecs, Sony Help Guide: operating time, Sony Help Guide: multipoint, Sony LinkBuds S specifications, Sony firmware notes.
Using the LinkBuds S with a Mac
Codec: AAC, not LDAC. The LinkBuds S support SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3, but macOS doesn't support LDAC. On a Mac they play over AAC, which carries the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range at standard sample rates (44.1 or 48 kHz). The 40 kHz hi-res figure only applies to LDAC, which Macs don't support.
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 S 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 S stay connected to your Mac and your phone.
LE Audio stays off by default. LC3 needs LE Audio Priority turned on in Sony's app, and Sony only documents it for Android phones. By default the earbuds use Classic Audio, which is how a Mac connects, over AAC: up to 6 hours with noise cancelling on, 9 off.
Noise control without your phone. Sony's app only runs on phones. TuningMac asks your earbuds which noise controls they support and shows them in the menu bar. It hasn't been tested on the LinkBuds S yet. How it works
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on HypetheSonics' measurements of the LinkBuds S. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Leaves the bass close to flat, with a slight lift in the deep bass and a dip of about 1.5 dB around 150 to 200 Hz.
- Lowers 1 to 1.5 kHz slightly, by about 1.5 dB.
- Lifts 3 to 8 kHz by about 2 to 4 dB, most near 6.6 kHz, for more detail.
- Cuts the top treble above 14 kHz by up to 3 dB.
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 LinkBuds S connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for LinkBuds S (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your LinkBuds S and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.9 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 2.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 8768 Hz Gain 4.0 dB Q 0.67 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 135 Hz Gain -1.8 dB Q 0.65 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1350 Hz Gain -1.7 dB Q 0.65 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 3214 Hz Gain 2.3 dB Q 1.91 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -3.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 42 Hz Gain -0.3 dB Q 1.77 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 382 Hz Gain 0.4 dB Q 2.42 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 6531 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 5.91 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 217 Hz Gain -0.2 dB Q 1.75
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +2.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 8.77 kHz | +4.0 dB | 0.67 |
| 3 | Bell | 135 Hz | −1.8 dB | 0.65 |
| 4 | Bell | 1.35 kHz | −1.7 dB | 0.65 |
| 5 | Bell | 3.21 kHz | +2.3 dB | 1.91 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −3.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 42 Hz | −0.3 dB | 1.77 |
| 8 | Bell | 382 Hz | +0.4 dB | 2.42 |
| 9 | Bell | 6.53 kHz | +1.0 dB | 5.91 |
| 10 | Bell | 217 Hz | −0.2 dB | 1.75 |
Preamp: −3.9 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
Does the Sony LinkBuds S use LDAC on a Mac?+
No. The LinkBuds S support SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3, but macOS doesn't support LDAC, so on a Mac they play over AAC. That carries 20 Hz to 20 kHz audio at standard sample rates; Sony's hi-res LDAC mode is for Android phones and other devices that support it.
What are the best EQ settings for the Sony LinkBuds S?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on HypetheSonics' measurements, keeps the bass close to flat, lifts 3 to 8 kHz by about 2 to 4 dB and trims the top treble above 14 kHz, with a preamp of -3.9 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 S 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 Sony LinkBuds S's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Sony's app only runs on phones. TuningMac asks your earbuds which noise controls they support and shows them in the menu bar. It hasn't been tested on the LinkBuds S 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 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 S 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 HypetheSonics. Specifications from Sony's published specifications. Sony LinkBuds S is a trademark of Sony; TuningMac is not affiliated with Sony.