Sony WF-1000XM3 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Sony WF-1000XM3, 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 deep bass below 60 Hz, up to about 4 dB, and dips about 2.5 dB around 160 Hz.
- Leaves the mids nearly untouched.
- Adds about 2.5 dB near 4 kHz and 7 kHz.
- Cuts the treble above 10 kHz by up to about 4.5 dB.
WF-1000XM3 at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling earbuds, released in 2019. Official specifications from Sony:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.0
- Bluetooth codecs
- SBC, AAC
- Bluetooth profiles
- A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
- Bluetooth frequency range
- 20 Hz to 20 kHz (44.1 kHz sampling)
- Driver
- 6 mm dome, CCAW voice coil
- Battery life
- Up to 6 hours with noise cancelling on, 8 hours with it off; 24 hours with the case
- Charging
- Earbuds about 1.5 hours, earbuds and case about 3.5 hours; 10 minutes gives about 90 minutes
- Microphones
- A feedforward and a feedback noise-sensing mic per earbud
- Multipoint
- None, one device at a time
- Range
- About 10 m (30 ft), line of sight
- Weight
- About 8.5 g per earbud; case about 77 g
Sources: Sony WF-1000XM3 specifications, Sony Help Guide: operating time, Sony Help Guide: charging, Sony launch announcement.
Using the WF-1000XM3 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The WF-1000XM3 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 WF-1000XM3 in stereo music mode.
One device at a time. The WF-1000XM3 don't support multipoint. Disconnect them from your phone before connecting to your Mac.
Battery on a Mac. Over AAC with DSEE HX off, Sony rates the XM3 at up to 6 hours with noise cancelling on and 8 off. DSEE HX on Auto halves that, and Sony says using the equalizer in its app can cut playback by up to about 45%. TuningMac's EQ runs on your Mac, so it costs the earbuds no battery.
Noise control without your phone. Sony's app only runs on phones. TuningMac supports the WF-1000XM3 through Sony's older control protocol, adding Noise Cancelling, Ambient Sound and Off to your Mac's menu bar. How it works
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on oratory1990's measurements of the WF-1000XM3. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds deep bass below 60 Hz, up to about 4 dB, and dips about 2.5 dB around 160 Hz.
- Leaves the mids nearly untouched.
- Adds about 2.5 dB near 4 kHz and 7 kHz.
- Cuts the treble above 10 kHz by up to about 4.5 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 WF-1000XM3 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for WF-1000XM3 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your WF-1000XM3 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.9 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 4.2 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 121 Hz Gain -3.6 dB Q 0.55 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 4159 Hz Gain 2.2 dB Q 2.21 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 7193 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 3.75 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 925 Hz Gain 1.4 dB Q 2.39 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -4.6 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 8983 Hz Gain 2.0 dB Q 2.67 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 1941 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 2.99 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 2602 Hz Gain -0.8 dB Q 4.48 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 991 Hz Gain -0.3 dB Q 3.35
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +4.2 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 121 Hz | −3.6 dB | 0.55 |
| 3 | Bell | 4.16 kHz | +2.2 dB | 2.21 |
| 4 | Bell | 7.19 kHz | +2.5 dB | 3.75 |
| 5 | Bell | 925 Hz | +1.4 dB | 2.39 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −4.6 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 8.98 kHz | +2.0 dB | 2.67 |
| 8 | Bell | 1.94 kHz | +1.2 dB | 2.99 |
| 9 | Bell | 2.6 kHz | −0.8 dB | 4.48 |
| 10 | Bell | 991 Hz | −0.3 dB | 3.35 |
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
Which codec do the Sony WF-1000XM3 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The WF-1000XM3 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 WF-1000XM3?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, adds deep bass below 60 Hz, dips about 2.5 dB near 160 Hz, adds about 2.5 dB near 4 and 7 kHz and cuts the treble above 10 kHz by up to 4.5 dB, 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 WF-1000XM3 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 WF-1000XM3's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Sony's app only runs on phones. TuningMac supports the WF-1000XM3 through Sony's older control protocol, adding Noise Cancelling, Ambient Sound and Off to your Mac's menu bar.
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 WF-1000XM3 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 oratory1990. Specifications from Sony's published specifications. Sony WF-1000XM3 is a trademark of Sony; TuningMac is not affiliated with Sony.