Soundcore Life Q35 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Soundcore Life Q35, 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 6 dB of sub-bass and 5 dB around 62 Hz.
- Boosts about 3 dB around 250 Hz.
- Adds about 7 dB around 4.6 kHz and 8 dB around 4 kHz for detail.
- Cuts about 5 dB around 8 kHz and 12 dB above 16 kHz.
Life Q35 at a glance
Wireless over-ear headphones with multi-mode ANC and LDAC, released in 2021. Official specifications from Soundcore:
- Driver
- 40 mm silk-diaphragm
- ANC
- Multi-mode hybrid ANC (Transport, Outdoor, Indoor)
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- Battery
- Up to 40 h (ANC on)
- Weight
- 270 g
Sources: Soundcore: Life Q35.
Using the Life Q35 with a Mac
Codec: AAC, not LDAC. The Life Q35 support SBC, AAC and LDAC, 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 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 Q35 in stereo music mode.
AAC on Mac The Life Q35 supports LDAC for Android. macOS doesn't support LDAC, so on a Mac the headphones connect over AAC.
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 Q35. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Cuts about 6 dB of sub-bass and 5 dB around 62 Hz.
- Boosts about 3 dB around 250 Hz.
- Adds about 7 dB around 4.6 kHz and 8 dB around 4 kHz for detail.
- Cuts about 5 dB around 8 kHz and 12 dB above 16 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 Q35 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Life Q35 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Life Q35 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -6.8 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -5.2 dB Q 0.71 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 158 Hz Gain -3.5 dB Q 0.78 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 385 Hz Gain 3.8 dB Q 1.08 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1045 Hz Gain 0.8 dB Q 2.32 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2312 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 2.65 Filter 6: ON PK Fc 4580 Hz Gain 6.8 dB Q 2.42 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5950 Hz Gain -3.5 dB Q 3.56 Filter 8: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -6.0 dB Q 0.70 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 7480 Hz Gain -2.4 dB Q 3.12 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 720 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 2.05
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −5.2 dB | 0.71 |
| 2 | Bell | 158 Hz | −3.5 dB | 0.78 |
| 3 | Bell | 385 Hz | +3.8 dB | 1.08 |
| 4 | Bell | 1.04 kHz | +0.8 dB | 2.32 |
| 5 | Bell | 2.31 kHz | −3.0 dB | 2.65 |
| 6 | Bell | 4.58 kHz | +6.8 dB | 2.42 |
| 7 | Bell | 5.95 kHz | −3.5 dB | 3.56 |
| 8 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| 9 | Bell | 7.48 kHz | −2.4 dB | 3.12 |
| 10 | Bell | 720 Hz | +1.2 dB | 2.05 |
Preamp: −6.8 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 −6.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Does the Soundcore Life Q35 use LDAC on a Mac?+
No. The Life Q35 support SBC, AAC and LDAC, 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 Soundcore Life Q35?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, cuts about 6 dB of deep bass, adds about 8 dB around 4 kHz, cuts about 12 dB above 16 kHz, with a preamp of -6.8 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 Q35 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 Q35'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 Q35 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 Q35 is a trademark of Soundcore; TuningMac is not affiliated with Soundcore.