Yamaha YH-E700A EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Yamaha YH-E700A, 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 from the bass, from 31 to 125 Hz.
- Cuts about 4 dB from the lower mids, around 500 Hz.
- Adds about 5 dB to the treble, around 8 kHz.
- Cuts about 12 dB from the top treble, around 16 kHz.
YH-E700A at a glance
Wireless over-ear headphones with Advanced ANC and aptX Adaptive. Official specifications from Yamaha:
- Driver
- 40 mm dynamic
- ANC
- Advanced ANC
- Bluetooth
- 5
- Battery
- About 35 h with ANC on
- Weight
- 11.46 oz (325 g)
- Wired
- 3.5 mm line input
Sources: Yamaha: YH-E700A specs.
Using the YH-E700A with a Mac
Codec: AAC, not aptX Adaptive. The YH-E700A support SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive, but macOS doesn't support aptX Adaptive. 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).
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 YH-E700A in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Yamaha's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Yamaha's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on oratory1990's measurements of the YH-E700A. 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 from the bass, from 31 to 125 Hz.
- Cuts about 4 dB from the lower mids, around 500 Hz.
- Adds about 5 dB to the treble, around 8 kHz.
- Cuts about 12 dB from the top treble, around 16 kHz.
Measured with ANC on.
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 YH-E700A connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for YH-E700A (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your YH-E700A and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -5.2 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -3.8 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 6692 Hz Gain 8.8 dB Q 1.01 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 461 Hz Gain -3.3 dB Q 1.98 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 85 Hz Gain -4.4 dB Q 2.88 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 5524 Hz Gain -11.6 dB Q 2.64 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -7.6 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 9312 Hz Gain 3.2 dB Q 2.12 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 1805 Hz Gain -1.2 dB Q 2.40 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 3246 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 3.86 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 33 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 2.77
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −3.8 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 6.69 kHz | +8.8 dB | 1.01 |
| 3 | Bell | 461 Hz | −3.3 dB | 1.98 |
| 4 | Bell | 85 Hz | −4.4 dB | 2.88 |
| 5 | Bell | 5.52 kHz | −11.6 dB | 2.64 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −7.6 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 9.31 kHz | +3.2 dB | 2.12 |
| 8 | Bell | 1.8 kHz | −1.2 dB | 2.40 |
| 9 | Bell | 3.25 kHz | +1.5 dB | 3.86 |
| 10 | Bell | 33 Hz | −0.6 dB | 2.77 |
Preamp: −5.2 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 Yamaha YH-E700A use on a Mac?+
AAC. The YH-E700A support SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive, but macOS doesn't support aptX Adaptive, so on a Mac they play over AAC. That carries 20 Hz to 20 kHz audio at standard sample rates.
What are the best EQ settings for the Yamaha YH-E700A?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, cuts about 4 dB from 31 to 125 Hz, adds about 5 dB around 8 kHz, cuts about 12 dB around 16 kHz, with a preamp of -5.2 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 Yamaha YH-E700A 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 Yamaha YH-E700A's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Yamaha's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Yamaha's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in Yamaha's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Yamaha'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 YH-E700A 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 Yamaha's published specifications. Yamaha YH-E700A is a trademark of Yamaha; TuningMac is not affiliated with Yamaha.