EQ Software for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS/iPadOS and Android.

[audiofromaustria]

@Berwhale
This ist not

Yes, AutoEQ allows you to download filters as a text file for direct input into a PEQ application. However, I posted a picture to the upload button, rather than the download button (I have edited my post above to correct the error).

For example, downloading AutoEQ's generated filters for 'Austrian Audio The Composer (standard setting)', based on Oratory1990 measurements, and formatted for EqualizerAPO yields a file with this text...

.....

In Safari, Firefox I miss the download button ....
Now test this with other settings – no download available for my Mac environment – only for tools on Windows. AutoEQ doesn't do anything for me. I might as well just stick with downloading the text files.

 

[_thelaughingman]

@Berwhale
This ist not

In Safari, Firefox I miss the download button ....
Now test this with other settings – no download available for my Mac environment – only for tools on Windows. AutoEQ doesn't do anything for me. I might as well just stick with downloading the text files.
View attachment 468808

Have you tried SoundSource for Mac? it has built in profiles for headphones.

 

[audiofromaustria]

Have you tried SoundSource for Mac? it has built in profiles for headphones.

I tested AudioHijack and Sound Source some time ago, but I didn't like either of them very much.

I've now revisited Sonarworks SoundID, which had been gathering dust on my hard drive despite having a licence (buy'd the headphone license in promotion offer).

SoundID test:
HD600
HD650
HD490 Pro Producer Pads
DT1990 Pro MK1 Balanced Pads
Loreena McKennitt track ‘The Lady of Shallot’
Changes are noticeable in exactly this order – least noticeable with HD600 – filter on/off
With HD 600, these are very minor.

Loreena McKennitt track ‘Marco Polo’ HD650 exaggerates the low bass, seems almost overdriven, HD600 better, HD490 manages it easily, DT1990 also booms a bit – HD490 best here!
Most noticeable with DT1990 Pro Mk1 szszs is then gone. Completely filters out the Beyer peak.
HD490 Pro Prod sounds a bit hollow and treble-heavy without the filter – the frequency band tells us why: reduced mids.

With the SoundID filter, these headphones are almost indistinguishable – even the DT1990.

No wonder tools like SoundID are used in studios for headphones as well as studio monitors.

Bottom line: HD490 Pro Producer Pads harmonise best with the default SoundID settings, followed by HD600.

Nevertheless, the Oratory1990 sets cannot be imported with it either.

 

[Berwhale]

@Berwhale
This ist not

In Safari, Firefox I miss the download button ....
Now test this with other settings – no download available for my Mac environment – only for tools on Windows. AutoEQ doesn't do anything for me. I might as well just stick with downloading the text files.
View attachment 468808

If there is no download link on autoeq.app, then the chosen PEQ app does not support import of PEQ filter files. I'm not sure what your options are for Mac.

 

[audiofromaustria]

In discussions with Oratory1990 and others (head-fi meeting in Vienna) – it is important to remember that with EQ, you can only ‘normalise’ the frequency response (e.g. adjust to the Harman curve) – what you cannot influence are THD, IM, transient response (waterfall diagram), other parameters (e.g. limit of the linear membrane deflection) of the respective headphones. Furthermore, one should not operate the respective headphones at excessive volumes with regard to their correction.

But you probably know that anyway!

 

[BYTEME]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned EffeTune ( https://frieve-a.github.io/effetune/docs/faq.html ) - imho best alternative for eqapo with real-time multi-band/multi-channel processing, 56 available effects and just insanely low cpu/ram usage - in my case it's 1% cpu and around 500mb of ram for 192khz audio. Very easy to set-up. Below screenshot with effects list.

I'm a pretty good Googler and still missed Effetune until I saw this post here... IMO, this is much better than Equalizer APO. Though I would prefer it not requiring all sources to be fixed to 96KHz for optimal quality (resampling and all that). Overall, I think it sounds pretty good but I can only seem to get my system latency down to about 16ms using VB Audio Cable set to 3 X 512 samples = 1536 samples latency. That's on the very edge of being acceptable for streaming videos and running into video/audio sync issues - it may be psychological, but I feel like I'm noticing a lipsynch type delay watching movies.

I have a Topping D10 (original) that I believe is ASIO capable, but I haven't found any discussions indicating that ASIO would improve anything based on how Effetune is implemented into the Windows audio path.

For now it may be my best option until someone starts offering an affordable dsp/dac like MiniDSP (but with more/better dsp features). OR, I may look into switching to the Apple platform - I think Apple provides a better audio processing path in their OS to allow dsp processing at the system audio output. Linux is a nonstarter as it has HDCP issues with protected streaming content.

EDIT - system latency is likely higher than 16ms because Effetune adds it's own latency to the audio path. Which probably explains why I feel like video streaming is 'off' a bit. Effetune is no doubt a great solution for playing audio, but video is a different issue.

 

[BYTEME]

On my search for a Windows system-wide audio processing solution, I discovered two apps that I haven't come across before: NCH Desk FX Audio Enhancer and Breakaway Audio Enhancer. The Breakaway app is just a Dynamic Range Compressor, but well laid out and seemingly exactly what you'd want to tame movies that bounce from quiet dialog to crazy explosions. The NCH app is more a complete suite of audio processing modules from EQ through compressor and also some daw type fx like echo and flangers, and is geared towards desktop streaming. Both seem a little 'sketchy' - especially the NCH app that includes links to a boatload of other pay-for apps.

I'm not sure these are the solutions I want, but they do demonstrate that a Windows system centric type of solution is possible - why there aren't more of these types of apps (especially audiophile types) is beyond me - maybe the target audience of these are using the Realtek and Nahimic shananogens? A whole lot easier than setting up Equalizer APO etc. And I do like the system tray equalizer icon thingy on the Breakaway compressor ;-)

 

[Thelo80]

Linux user. I’m in love with easyeffects which use the Linux Studio Pluggins. PEQ for Iloud micro and headphones and loudness control easy to implement and minimum latency.

 

[BYTEME]

Linux user. I’m in love with easyeffects which use the Linux Studio Pluggins. PEQ for Iloud micro and headphones and loudness control easy to implement and minimum latency.

Do you use your linux box for streaming video? I always understood linux to have issues with HDCP protected content...

 

[Thelo80]

I watch ESPN, Netflix, Hulu without issues using chrome. I think you need extra package for chromium

 

[BYTEME]

If Effetune could insert itself into the system audio path without requiring some kind of virtual audio cable (like EQ APO does), it would likely make EAPO redundant - it's such a better user experience. But the setup is a bit complicated, especially for less advanced users. And the added latency is starting to bug me on the video streaming front.

It's astonishing that an OS in 2025 doesn't provide an easy way to tweak system audio - MS will give you controls to manage gui scaling, HDR video and input/control but audio is an afterthought at best lol. I've typically been a Windows guy because I like having a bit more flexibility on how my system runs, but there is no doubt that Apple puts more effort into the user experience and how good things look and sound. Even the onboard audio solutions in most Apple products rival entry-mid level external dacs.

 

[Ktacos]

If Effetune could insert itself into the system audio path without requiring some kind of virtual audio cable (like EQ APO does), it would likely make EAPO redundant - it's such a better user experience. But the setup is a bit complicated, especially for less advanced users. And the added latency is starting to bug me on the video streaming front.

It's astonishing that an OS in 2025 doesn't provide an easy way to tweak system audio - MS will give you controls to manage gui scaling, HDR video and input/control but audio is an afterthought at best lol. I've typically been a Windows guy because I like having a bit more flexibility on how my system runs, but there is no doubt that Apple puts more effort into the user experience and how good things look and sound. Even the onboard audio solutions in most Apple products rival entry-mid level external dacs.

Yeah I personally just don't touch anything that require VB cable to work.

It is kind of sad that windows audio is such a pain to get it to what you want. No reason I shouldn't be able to hook up a multichannel DAC and get flexible and easy to use signal routing, but no we have to use work arounds and often times entirely different audio protocols. Honestly probably a linux install in my future.

 

[CedarX]

It's astonishing that an OS in 2025 doesn't provide an easy way to tweak system audio - MS will give you controls to manage gui scaling, HDR video and input/control but audio is an afterthought at best lol. I've typically been a Windows guy because I like having a bit more flexibility on how my system runs, but there is no doubt that Apple puts more effort into the user experience and how good things look and sound. Even the onboard audio solutions in most Apple products rival entry-mid level external dacs.

That's not a very high-bar!

 

[BYTEME]

That's not a very high-bar!

Tell that to Dell/HP and the like ;-)

Looking for alternative solutions, I keep seeing references to Apple apps like eqMac and SoundSource... A full, system level solution complete with a comprehensive library of VST type plugins that is installed like any other application with no futzing around needed. It's a real shame something like this cannot be done for the Windows platform.

 

[Thelo80]

Do you use your linux box for streaming video? I always understood linux to have issues with HDCP protected content...

yes, you are right. Netflix is limited on 720p unless you install a chrome extension and get 1080. Forget 4k

 

[Doodski]

yes, you are right. Netflix is limited on 720p unless you install a chrome extension and get 1080. Forget 4k

I cancelled Netflix because I went with Amazon Prime for substantially less money per month, free shipping, Prime Membership etc. Netflix comparatively looks terrible. I had Netflix for ~12 years and used it on the laptop, the desktop and now the 55" big screen. I was not aware of the Chrome extension and the terrible 720p stuff. I always thought i was looking at high resolution...

 

[dualazmak]

Version-up released: DSP software "EKIO" ver. 1.0.8.1

I assume it would be allowed posting the same here after my writing #1,014 on my project thread.

After 4 years plus 6 months since the last release of ver. 1.0.7.3 in May 2021, Lupisoft recently released "EKIO" ver. 1.0.8.0 and ver. 1.0.8.1 (latest on November 06, 2025). At least I myself, like and admire their very slow but steady and stable developments and version-up releases.

You would please refer to #931 and #1,004 on my project thread for my latest DSP (XO/EQ/Group-delay/Gain/Routing) configuration of "EKIO" together with ASIO/VASIO/VAIO routing by VB-Audio Matrix.

 

[audio_tony]

Am I correct that there doesn't appear to be any trial version?

There is a trial version, it's stated on the link.

Before placing your order, please download the Breakaway Audio Enhancer installer from the www.ClaessonEdwards.com website. Even though the application will be operating in trial-mode, before the purchase, it is fully functional. Please evaluate the application and be sure that it meets your requirements before making the purchase.

Breakaway Audio Enhancer version 1.4

Breakaway Audio Enhancer provides superior audio enhancement processing for all Windows compatible players. This one application will process all of the stereo audio on your Windows system.

store.claessonedwards.com

 

[BYTEME]

Looking for alternative solutions, I keep seeing references to Apple apps like eqMac and SoundSource... A full, system level solution complete with a comprehensive library of VST type plugins that is installed like any other application with no futzing around needed. It's a real shame something like this cannot be done for the Windows platform.

Well, I obtained an M1 Mac Mini for cheap and decided to try replacing my Windows entertainment box. Im probably unique in that I dont care about a 10 foot interface - I just scale the display so that I can see things from the couch and use a small wireless keyboard/trackpad to select streaming websites saved as web apps on the desktop or music players. The first issue on the Mac is that display scaling options are much more limited on the Mac - things are either too big or too small. Its hard to get things just right.

But the audio is great and eqMac is very good - OTHER THAN the MacOS putting a small blue dot in the top right corner as a privacy warning any time an app accesses the system audio. And there’s no way to prevent that on the current OS. There are settings that can disable the dot on external displays, but on a desktop Mac the hdmi out is considered an ‘internal’ display because it is the primary and so it cannot be disabled. It’s not super distracting, but it gets to me. Very unfortunate. Enough between the scaling and the dot to push me back to Windows. I’m really surprised to find Windows doing a better job as a tv entertainment device.

Edit - my tv is a basic HD 1080 display. I might try Linux next, but my experience with it is that you’re always futzing around and I spend half my time Googling command line stuff. I don’t see Linux being an OS for the general public any time soon.

 

[audio_tony]

I might try Linux next, but my experience with it is that you’re always futzing around and I spend half my time Googling command line stuff. I don’t see Linux being an OS for the general public any time soon.

I have Linux on my laptop, it just works. My wife has Linux on her laptop, it just works.

I run Windows & Linux in a dual boot configuration on two PCs and it just works.

I use Linux quite a bit for audio testing - it just works. I also use Linux (headless) for 3 of my audio streamers.

I have a Linux NAS.

It all just works, and is nothing like it was 10 or more years ago.

Have you even tried a recent distribution like Linux Mint or Debian?

P.S. I'm not a Linux zealot, but I am a sysadmin with some 30 years experience - but there was a time that even I had issues with some distributions and in particular software dependencies (e.g. one app depending on another, which depended on another etc....).