SteelSeries Arctis Prime EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the SteelSeries Arctis Prime, 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 about 3 dB of sub-bass and bass.
- Adds about 5 dB around 1.5 kHz.
- Adds about 7 dB around 3.6 kHz.
- Dips about 8 dB around 6 kHz.
- Cuts about 4 dB above 16 kHz.
Arctis Prime at a glance
Wired competitive gaming headset with high-fidelity audio, released in 2021. Official specifications from SteelSeries:
- Driver
- 40 mm neodymium
- Connection
- 3.5 mm wired
- Weight
- 295 g
Sources: SteelSeries: Arctis Prime.
Using the Arctis Prime with a Mac
Codec: AAC. The Arctis Prime support , 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 Arctis Prime in stereo music mode.
Wired Connects via 3.5 mm audio jack. Works with any Mac that has a headphone port or a USB-C adapter.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Rtings' measurements of the Arctis Prime. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 3 dB of sub-bass and bass.
- Adds about 5 dB around 1.5 kHz.
- Adds about 7 dB around 3.6 kHz.
- Dips about 8 dB around 6 kHz.
- Cuts about 4 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 Arctis Prime connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Arctis Prime (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Arctis Prime and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -4.4 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 3.4 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 6166 Hz Gain -8.3 dB Q 0.99 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1519 Hz Gain 4.6 dB Q 1.49 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 3608 Hz Gain 7.2 dB Q 2.43 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 233 Hz Gain -1.7 dB Q 1.44 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -1.9 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 51 Hz Gain 0.7 dB Q 2.27 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 28 Hz Gain -1.0 dB Q 3.35 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 605 Hz Gain -0.5 dB Q 3.24 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 2798 Hz Gain -0.5 dB Q 6.00
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | +3.4 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 6.17 kHz | −8.3 dB | 0.99 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.52 kHz | +4.6 dB | 1.49 |
| 4 | Bell | 3.61 kHz | +7.2 dB | 2.43 |
| 5 | Bell | 233 Hz | −1.7 dB | 1.44 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −1.9 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 51 Hz | +0.7 dB | 2.27 |
| 8 | Bell | 28 Hz | −1.0 dB | 3.35 |
| 9 | Bell | 605 Hz | −0.5 dB | 3.24 |
| 10 | Bell | 2.8 kHz | −0.5 dB | 6.00 |
Preamp: −4.4 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 SteelSeries Arctis Prime use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Arctis Prime support , 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 SteelSeries Arctis Prime?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Rtings' measurements, adds about 3 dB of bass, adds about 7 dB around 3.6 kHz, dips about 8 dB around 6 kHz, with a preamp of -4.4 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 SteelSeries Arctis Prime 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.
Should I turn off the EQ in SteelSeries's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in SteelSeries'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 Arctis Prime 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 SteelSeries's published specifications. SteelSeries Arctis Prime is a trademark of SteelSeries; TuningMac is not affiliated with SteelSeries.