What Are eqMac's Headphone Presets and How Many Headphones Are Supported?

eqMac's Headphone Presets are reference equalizer presets that apply a correction curve tuned to a specific headphone model. According to the eqMac site, the feature covers 4,600+ headphones and is available in the Free tier — you don't need Pro to use it. The presets are meant to bring a headphone closer to a neutral reference target rather than to add a stylistic sound, so they're most useful when you want to hear what the artist or mix engineer intended.

What a headphone preset actually does

Every headphone has its own frequency response — some boost bass, some push upper mids, some roll off treble. A reference preset is a corrective EQ curve derived from measurements of that specific model. When you select your headphone in eqMac, the app loads that curve into its equalizer so the combined result (headphone + EQ) lands closer to a target response.

Two practical consequences:

• It's model-specific, not brand-specific. "Sony WH-1000XM5" and "Sony WH-1000XM4" are separate entries with separate curves.
• It's a starting point, not a verdict. Fit, earpads, and unit-to-unit variation all shift the real response, so the preset is a better-than-nothing baseline rather than a perfect correction.

How to use them

1. Install eqMac and confirm your macOS version meets the stated requirement (macOS 10.13+, Intel and Apple Silicon).
2. Open the app and find the headphone preset selection.
3. Search for your headphone model and select it.
4. Play audio and listen. If the result sounds thin or dull to you, adjust from there — the preset loads into the equalizer, and the equalizer bands remain editable depending on which equalizer tier you're using.

The expected result is a flatter, more reference-like response than your headphone's stock tuning. If you hear no change, check that the preset is actually applied to the active output device.

Which tier gives you what

The key point for headphone users: the preset library itself is free, but if you want to hand-tune the correction curve with unlimited bands and filter types, that's the Pro Expert Equalizer.

When presets help most — and when they don't

Good fit:

• You own a popular, well-measured headphone and want a neutral baseline without researching EQ curves yourself.
• You switch between several headphones and want each one to sound consistent.
• You're mixing or editing and want fewer headphone coloration surprises.

Weak fit:

• Your model isn't in the 4,600+ list — you'd need to build a curve manually.
• You specifically like your headphone's stock tuning and don't want it corrected.
• You're using in-ear monitors or earbuds whose fit varies enough that a generic curve may not track your actual seal.

Common snags

• Preset applied but sound unchanged. Verify the correct output device is selected; presets attach to the device path, and switching to Bluetooth or a different DAC can leave the wrong profile active.
• Sounds worse than stock. Some listeners prefer the original tuning. Try a different target or reduce the correction rather than abandoning the feature.
• Two headphones, one preset. If you use multiple pairs, switch presets when you switch headphones — or use Super Presets (Free/Pro) to auto-switch based on the output device.

If your goal is simply "make my headphones sound more neutral without paying," the free preset library is the whole answer. If your goal is "correct my headphones precisely and control every band," pair the preset with the Pro Expert Equalizer.