Sony WF-C700N EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Sony WF-C700N, 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 and mids within about 2 dB of where they are.
- Adds about 2.5 dB around 5 to 6 kHz.
- Lifts the top treble from 11 kHz up by about 4 to 6.5 dB for more air.
WF-C700N at a glance
Wireless noise-cancelling earbuds, released in 2023. 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
- 5 mm
- Battery life
- Up to 7.5 hours with noise cancelling on, 10 hours with it off; 15 hours with the case
- Charging
- Earbuds about 1.5 hours, case about 3 hours; 10 minutes gives about 1 hour
- Multipoint
- Connects to two Bluetooth devices at once (added in a 2023 firmware update)
- Range
- About 10 m (32.8 ft), line of sight
- Weight
- About 4.6 g per earbud; case about 31 g
- Water resistance
- IPX4 (earbuds)
Sources: Sony Help Guide: specifications, Sony Help Guide: operating time, Sony Help Guide: multipoint, Sony Help Guide: pairing with a Mac, Sony launch announcement.
Using the WF-C700N with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The WF-C700N 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-C700N in stereo music mode.
Multipoint. Multipoint arrived in a firmware update in summer 2023. After updating from Sony's phone app, turn on Connect to 2 devices simultaneously to keep the WF-C700N connected to your Mac and your phone.
Made to work with a Mac. Sony's Help Guide lists macOS 11 or later and includes Mac pairing steps. Over AAC, battery is up to 7.5 hours with noise cancelling on, 10 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-C700N yet. How it works
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the WF-C700N. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the earbuds closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Leaves the bass and mids within about 2 dB of where they are.
- Adds about 2.5 dB around 5 to 6 kHz.
- Lifts the top treble from 11 kHz up by about 4 to 6.5 dB for more air.
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-C700N connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for WF-C700N (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your WF-C700N and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.5 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 7.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 4513 Hz Gain 2.2 dB Q 1.15 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1318 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 1.79 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 44 Hz Gain -9.3 dB Q 0.49 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 640 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 1.08 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 6.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 9238 Hz Gain -4.5 dB Q 2.54 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 2641 Hz Gain 0.6 dB Q 3.25 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 3992 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 3.63 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 5588 Hz Gain 0.9 dB Q 4.62
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +7.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 4.51 kHz | +2.2 dB | 1.15 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.32 kHz | −2.5 dB | 1.79 |
| 4 | Bell | 44 Hz | −9.3 dB | 0.49 |
| 5 | Bell | 640 Hz | +1.2 dB | 1.08 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +6.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 9.24 kHz | −4.5 dB | 2.54 |
| 8 | Bell | 2.64 kHz | +0.6 dB | 3.25 |
| 9 | Bell | 3.99 kHz | −0.6 dB | 3.63 |
| 10 | Bell | 5.59 kHz | +0.9 dB | 4.62 |
Preamp: −6.5 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 −11.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Sony WF-C700N use on a Mac?+
AAC. The WF-C700N 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-C700N?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, keeps the bass and mids within about 2 dB, adds about 2.5 dB around 5 to 6 kHz and lifts the top treble by 4 to 6.5 dB, with a preamp of -6.5 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-C700N 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-C700N'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-C700N 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-C700N 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 WF-C700N is a trademark of Sony; TuningMac is not affiliated with Sony.