eqtune
eqtune is a free, system-wide audio equalizer for macOS 14.2 or later.
What eqtune is
eqtune is a free, system-wide audio equalizer for macOS 14.2 or later. It uses Apple’s Core Audio process-tap API to apply parametric EQ without a driver or kernel extension, and the project says it does not require a Developer ID certificate. Controls include editable peaking and shelf bands, preamp adjustment, and Q settings; a soft limiter is enabled by default and can be toggled globally. Bright, mellow, and pro presets are included, and users can save, edit, import, or export presets supporting up to 64 bands. eqtune follows changes to the default output device, including when headphones are plugged in. Idle auto-off and Low Power Mode auto-off are enabled by default. The current supported output is one mixable, little-endian, interleaved stereo Float32 stream; it does not process true mono, multichannel, multistream, or several other formats. Continuous real-time processing uses CPU and can increase battery drain. The documented installable distribution is a crates.io package installed with Cargo; the project also describes building from a clone.
Good
- Free and system-wide on macOS.
- Parametric bands, shelves, preamp, and Q are adjustable.
- Includes three presets and preset import and export.
- Follows default-output changes, including headphone connections.
Watch out
- Requires macOS 14.2 or later.
- Supports only one specific stereo Float32 output stream.
- Continuous processing can increase battery drain.
- First activation requires audio-capture permission.
Who it suits
It suits macOS users who want system-wide parametric EQ and can work within the supported output format. It may be useful to users who want editable presets and power-saving auto-off options.
Verdict
eqtune offers configurable system-wide EQ without a driver or kernel extension. Its narrow output-format support and possible battery impact are important considerations before installing.
The facts
Each one read from eqtune's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audio capture
- It uses Apple’s Core Audio process-tap API and says it needs no driver, kernel extension, or Developer ID certificate.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Audio processing
- It uses Apple's Core Audio process-tap API on macOS 14.2 or later to apply parametric EQ without a driver or kernel extension.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Battery behavior
- Idle auto-off and Low Power Mode auto-off are enabled by default, and the project warns that continuous EQ processing increases battery drain.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Battery impact
- The maker says continuous real-time processing costs CPU and can increase battery drain compared with native playback.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Compatibility
- The project requires macOS 14.2 or later and currently supports a single mixable, little-endian, interleaved stereo Float32 output stream.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Custom EQ
- Users can adjust peaking and shelf bands, preamp, and Q; presets support up to 64 bands.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Equalizer controls
- It supports editable parametric EQ bands, low and high shelves, preamp adjustment, and a soft limiter that is on by default.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The documented installable distribution is the crates.io package, installed with Cargo; the README also describes building from a clone.checked 5 Oct 2026
- License
- The software is licensed under either MIT or Apache-2.0, at the user's option.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Limiter
- A soft limiter is enabled by default and can be toggled globally.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Output switching
- It does not replace the default output device and follows changes such as plugging in headphones.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Permission
- The first time eqtune is turned on, macOS asks for audio-capture permission.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Permissions
- On first activation, macOS asks the user for audio-capture permission.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Power controls
- The daemon can auto-disable when media is idle or macOS Low Power Mode is active, with both behaviors enabled by default.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Presets
- It ships with bright, mellow, and pro presets, and supports saving, importing, exporting, and editing presets.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Product
- eqtune is a lightweight, system-wide audio equalizer for macOS.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Support and integrations
- The repository documents Bash, Zsh, and Fish shell completions; it does not state a support offering or third-party service integrations on the page.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Supported formats
- It currently supports one mixable, little-endian, interleaved stereo Float32 output stream and does not process mono, multichannel, multistream, or several other listed formats.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Unsupported audio
- It does not currently process true mono, multichannel, multistream, non-interleaved, integer-client, nonmixable, big-endian, or encoded-passthrough output streams.checked 5 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Device handling
- eqtune follows default-output device changes and says plugging in headphones continues to work normally.checked 5 Oct 2026
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