Soundcore Life Q20 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Soundcore Life Q20, 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
- Cuts about 4 dB of sub-bass and 7 dB around 62 Hz.
- Boosts about 2 dB around 250 Hz and 4 dB around 500 Hz.
- Slight boost of about 1 dB around 2–4 kHz.
- Slight cut of about 3 dB around 8 kHz.
Life Q20 at a glance
Budget wireless over-ear headphones with hybrid ANC, released in 2019. Official specifications from Soundcore:
- Driver
- 40 mm dynamic
- ANC
- Hybrid active noise cancelling
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- Battery
- Up to 40 h (ANC on) / 60 h (ANC off)
- Weight
- 263 g
Sources: Soundcore: Life Q20.
Using the Life Q20 with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Life Q20 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 headphones' 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 Life Q20 in stereo music mode.
ANC not controllable TuningMac cannot change noise-control modes on Soundcore headphones. Use the Soundcore app on a phone or the button on the headphones.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Soundcore's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Soundcore's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the Life Q20. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts about 4 dB of sub-bass and 7 dB around 62 Hz.
- Boosts about 2 dB around 250 Hz and 4 dB around 500 Hz.
- Slight boost of about 1 dB around 2–4 kHz.
- Slight cut of about 3 dB around 8 kHz.
Fit, ear pads 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 Life Q20 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Life Q20 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Life Q20 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.7 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -3.7 dB Q 0.71 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 142 Hz Gain -3.2 dB Q 0.75 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 372 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 1.15 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 980 Hz Gain 3.2 dB Q 1.88 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2185 Hz Gain -1.8 dB Q 2.56 Filter 6: ON PK Fc 3890 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 2.72 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5420 Hz Gain -0.8 dB Q 3.45 Filter 8: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 7120 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 3.22 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 650 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 2.08
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −3.7 dB | 0.71 |
| 2 | Bell | 142 Hz | −3.2 dB | 0.75 |
| 3 | Bell | 372 Hz | +2.5 dB | 1.15 |
| 4 | Bell | 980 Hz | +3.2 dB | 1.88 |
| 5 | Bell | 2.19 kHz | −1.8 dB | 2.56 |
| 6 | Bell | 3.89 kHz | +1.5 dB | 2.72 |
| 7 | Bell | 5.42 kHz | −0.8 dB | 3.45 |
| 8 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −1.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 9 | Bell | 7.12 kHz | −1.2 dB | 3.22 |
| 10 | Bell | 650 Hz | +1.0 dB | 2.08 |
Preamp: −3.7 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 Soundcore Life Q20 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Life Q20 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 Soundcore Life Q20?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts about 7 dB around 62 Hz, boosts about 4 dB around 500 Hz, slight cut around 8 kHz, with a preamp of -3.7 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 Soundcore Life Q20 sound bad on calls on a Mac?+
When an app uses the headphones' 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 Soundcore Life Q20's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Soundcore's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Soundcore's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in Soundcore's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Soundcore's app is applied inside the headphones, 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 Life Q20 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 Soundcore's published specifications. Soundcore Life Q20 is a trademark of Soundcore; TuningMac is not affiliated with Soundcore.