sean-o-sullivan/open-mac-eq — explained in plain English
Analysis updated 2026-05-18
Fine-tune sound output for your specific headphones or speakers system-wide.
Apply a measurement-based EQ preset made for AirPods Pro 3.
Import EQ settings copied from other equalizer tools.
Build and share your own named audio profiles per device.
| sean-o-sullivan/open-mac-eq | aiduckman/claudeusage_latest_may2026 | arnabau/thermalpulse | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Language | Swift | Swift | Swift |
| Setup difficulty | moderate | easy | moderate |
| Complexity | 3/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Audience | general | vibe coder | developer |
Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.
Requires macOS 14.2 or newer and a one-time system audio recording permission.
openEq is a free, open source app for Mac computers that lets you adjust the sound coming out of your speakers or headphones, similar to an equalizer on a stereo. It was built and tested mainly with AirPods Pro 3, but it can work with other output devices too, as long as they meet certain technical requirements. Instead of installing a special driver or kernel extension, openEq taps into your Mac's system audio using Apple's Core Audio system and a private virtual device it creates behind the scenes. This lets it shape the sound in real time without slowing things down or introducing noticeable delay. You can add filters like bass boost, treble adjustment, or narrow frequency cuts, and there is no limit beyond a safety cap of 64 bands. You can drag points on a graph to change the sound curve, paste in settings from other EQ tools, and save named profiles tied to a specific device. The app runs quietly from the menu bar rather than the dock, so once you close the main editor window it keeps working in the background. Menu options let you turn the effect on or off, reopen the editor, or quit completely. It comes with a starter preset tuned for AirPods Pro 3 based on published measurements, though it is a general baseline rather than something personalized to your ears, and it can be replaced with your own settings. The developer has run internal tests measuring things like audio delay and processing time, and included automated tests covering device compatibility, recovery from audio glitches, and preset behavior. If your Bluetooth headphones become unstable, the app automatically adjusts its buffer size or shuts off processing to restore normal sound rather than risking distorted audio. openEq does not collect any data, does not connect to the internet, and does not access your microphone. All settings are stored locally on your Mac. It requires macOS 14.2 or newer, an Apple silicon Mac if building the installer yourself, and Xcode 16 if compiling from source. It is released under the MIT License, meaning you can use, modify, and redistribute it freely.
A free Mac app that adds a system-wide sound equalizer, tested with AirPods Pro 3, using Apple's built-in audio tools instead of a driver.
Mainly Swift. The stack also includes Swift, Core Audio, Xcode.
Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice.
Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.
Mainly general.
This repo across BitVibe Labs
Verify against the repo before relying on details.