Sony WF-1000XM5 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Sony WF-1000XM5, 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
- Already close to AutoEQ's neutral target: every change stays within about 2.7 dB.
- Dips about 2.5 dB around 160 Hz and adds a little deep bass below 40 Hz.
- Adds about 1.5 to 2.5 dB of treble from 6 kHz up.
WF-1000XM5 at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling earbuds, released in 2023. Official specifications from Sony:
- Bluetooth version
- 5.3
- 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
- 8.4 mm Dynamic Driver X
- Battery life
- Up to 8 hours with noise cancelling on, 12 hours with it off; 24 hours with the case
- Charging
- Earbuds about 1.5 hours, case about 2 hours; 3 minutes gives about 1 hour; Qi wireless charging
- Microphones
- 3 per earbud, plus bone-conduction sensors
- Multipoint
- Connects to two Bluetooth devices at once
- Range
- About 10 m (32.8 ft), line of sight
- Weight
- About 5.9 g per earbud; case about 39 g
- Water resistance
- IPX4 (earbuds)
Sources: Sony Help Guide: specifications, Sony Help Guide: supported codecs, Sony Help Guide: operating time, Sony Help Guide: multipoint, Sony launch announcement.
Using the WF-1000XM5 with a Mac
Codec: AAC, not LDAC. The WF-1000XM5 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 WF-1000XM5 in stereo music mode.
Multipoint. The WF-1000XM5 can stay connected to your Mac and your phone at the same time. Music plays from whichever device played last.
LE Audio stays off by default. The LC3 codec only works over LE Audio, which Sony's app enables in its Low latency mode. By default the earbuds use Classic Audio, which is how a Mac connects, over AAC: up to 8 hours with noise cancelling on, 12 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 WF-1000XM5 yet. How it works
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on oratory1990's measurements of the WF-1000XM5. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Already close to AutoEQ's neutral target: every change stays within about 2.7 dB.
- Dips about 2.5 dB around 160 Hz and adds a little deep bass below 40 Hz.
- Adds about 1.5 to 2.5 dB of treble from 6 kHz up.
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-1000XM5 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for WF-1000XM5 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your WF-1000XM5 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -2.6 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 5.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 68 Hz Gain -4.8 dB Q 0.27 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1377 Hz Gain 2.6 dB Q 0.31 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1806 Hz Gain -3.5 dB Q 1.16 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 6875 Hz Gain 1.8 dB Q 3.49 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 2.3 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3757 Hz Gain 0.3 dB Q 2.56 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 5057 Hz Gain -0.7 dB Q 5.70 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 449 Hz Gain 0.3 dB Q 4.15 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 677 Hz Gain -0.2 dB Q 2.75
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +5.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 68 Hz | −4.8 dB | 0.27 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.38 kHz | +2.6 dB | 0.31 |
| 4 | Bell | 1.81 kHz | −3.5 dB | 1.16 |
| 5 | Bell | 6.88 kHz | +1.8 dB | 3.49 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +2.3 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 3.76 kHz | +0.3 dB | 2.56 |
| 8 | Bell | 5.06 kHz | −0.7 dB | 5.70 |
| 9 | Bell | 449 Hz | +0.3 dB | 4.15 |
| 10 | Bell | 677 Hz | −0.2 dB | 2.75 |
Preamp: −2.6 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
Does the Sony WF-1000XM5 use LDAC on a Mac?+
No. The WF-1000XM5 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 WF-1000XM5?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, makes only small changes, within about 2.7 dB: a dip near 160 Hz, a little deep bass and about 2 dB more treble above 6 kHz, with a preamp of -2.6 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-1000XM5 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-1000XM5'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 WF-1000XM5 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 WF-1000XM5 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-1000XM5 is a trademark of Sony; TuningMac is not affiliated with Sony.