Every headphone has its own sound signature—some are bass-heavy, others bright, and very few are truly neutral. AutoEQ is a project that provides pre-calculated EQ settings to correct these deviations for thousands of headphone models.

In this guide, you'll learn what AutoEQ is, how to find settings for your headphones, and how to apply them.

What is AutoEQ?

AutoEQ is an open-source project that uses headphone measurements to generate EQ corrections. The goal is to make your headphones match a neutral target curve (usually the Harman target).

The database includes over 5,000 headphone models with pre-calculated parametric EQ settings ready to use.

How It Works

Researchers measure headphone frequency responses using specialized equipment. AutoEQ compares these measurements to a target curve and calculates the exact EQ adjustments needed to correct deviations.

Why Use AutoEQ?

Better sound quality – Corrects peaks and dips in frequency response
More neutral sound – Closer to how music was intended to sound
No guesswork – Settings are calculated from actual measurements
Free – The entire database is open source
Works with any parametric EQ – Just enter the values

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Find Your Headphones

Search for your headphone model in the AutoEQ database. You'll need the exact model name (e.g., "Sennheiser HD 650" not just "Sennheiser").

Step 2: Choose a Target Curve

Most presets target the Harman curve—a researched preference curve that most listeners enjoy. Some databases also offer diffuse field or custom targets.

Step 3: Get the Parametric EQ Settings

AutoEQ provides settings in this format:

Filter type (usually Peak)
Frequency (e.g., 3500 Hz)
Gain (e.g., -4.5 dB)
Q factor (e.g., 2.5)

Step 4: Apply in Your Music Player

Enter each filter into your parametric EQ. Most presets have 5-10 bands. Make sure to also set the preamp/gain to avoid clipping.

Step 5: Fine-Tune to Your Taste

AutoEQ gives you a starting point, but everyone's ears and preferences are different. Feel free to adjust bass or treble by a few dB.

AutoEQ Built Into Auris

Auris includes the entire AutoEQ database with 5,000+ headphone presets. Just select your model from the list—no manual configuration needed.

Download Auris

Understanding the Settings

Preamp (Gain)

When you boost frequencies, the overall volume increases and can cause clipping. The preamp setting lowers the input level to compensate.

Rule of thumb: Set preamp to the negative of your largest boost. If your biggest boost is +5 dB, set preamp to -5 dB.

Q Factor

Q determines how narrow or wide each EQ band is:

Low Q (0.5-1) – Wide, gentle adjustment affecting many frequencies
High Q (3-10) – Narrow, surgical adjustment for specific peaks

Filter Count

AutoEQ presets typically use 5-10 filters. More filters = more precise correction, but diminishing returns after ~10 bands. Most players support at least 10-band parametric EQ.

Common Issues

"My headphones aren't in the database"

Not every headphone has been measured. Options:

Search for a similar model from the same line
Try the Harman target preset as a generic starting point
Create your own EQ by ear using a parametric EQ guide

"The sound is too bright/dark"

AutoEQ targets are averages. If the result is too bright, reduce the treble bands by 1-2 dB. If too dark, do the opposite. Trust your ears.

"I hear distortion"

You probably need more preamp reduction. Lower the preamp setting until distortion disappears, especially on bass-heavy tracks.

Popular Headphones with AutoEQ

Some of the most commonly searched headphones with great AutoEQ results:

Sennheiser HD 600 / HD 650 / HD 660S
Beyerdynamic DT 770 / DT 880 / DT 990
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Sony WH-1000XM4 / XM5
AKG K371 / K702
HiFiMAN Sundara / Edition XS
Moondrop Blessing 2 / Variations
Apple AirPods Pro / AirPods Max

Conclusion

AutoEQ is one of the easiest ways to improve your headphone sound. Instead of spending hours tweaking EQ by ear, you get scientifically-calculated corrections based on actual measurements.

Whether you use a manual parametric EQ or a player with built-in presets, AutoEQ can transform how your headphones sound—often making a $100 headphone sound like a $300 one.