DSEE upscaling on a Mac
DSEE is Sony's upscaler for compressed music. It runs inside the headphones, so it can work with a Mac too; whether it's active depends on your model and its settings.
Short answer
Yes, DSEE works on a Mac, because the headphones do the upscaling, not the phone or the Mac. A Mac sends SBC or AAC, which is what DSEE is for. Which one you have:
- DSEE HX: MDR-1000X, WH-1000XM2, WH-1000XM3. On the XM2 and XM3 it works only with the equalizer off.
- DSEE Extreme: WH-1000XM4, XM5, XM6.
- DSEE Ultimate: WH-1000XX (1000X The Collexion).
In Open Sound Connect, turn it on under Sound → Sound Quality, in My Device under Quick Settings, or from the menu bar.
DSEE by model
| Model | Upscaler | When Sony says it works | Switch in Open Sound Connect |
|---|---|---|---|
| MDR-1000X | DSEE HX | With codecs other than LDAC | No |
| WH-1000XM2 | DSEE HX | With SBC or AAC, and with Sound Position, Surround (VPT) and the equalizer off | Yes |
| WH-1000XM3 | DSEE HX | With SBC or AAC, and with Sound Position, Surround (VPT) and the equalizer off | Yes |
| WH-1000XM4 | DSEE Extreme | No codec limit given | Yes |
| WH-1000XM5 | DSEE Extreme | May be disabled with LDAC | Yes |
| WH-1000XM6 | DSEE Extreme | May be disabled with LDAC; off during calls | Yes |
| WH-1000XX | DSEE Ultimate | Upscales CD and compressed audio | Yes |
Sony describes DSEE Extreme as AI-based, and DSEE Ultimate as upscaling "CD and compressed audio files to high-resolution quality".
Why it fits a Mac
DSEE is meant for compressed audio, and over Bluetooth a Mac always sends compressed audio: SBC or AAC, the codecs macOS supports. So the LDAC limits in the table don't apply on a Mac, and the codec condition on the XM2 and XM3 is always met. See LDAC, AAC and lossless on a Mac for the details.
What can still stop it:
- XM2 and XM3: the equalizer must be Off. A flat custom curve isn't the same as off. If you've set Sound Position or Surround (VPT) in Sony's phone app, turn those off there too.
- Newer models: some headphones tell the app when DSEE is unavailable for a while, for example during a call, while a voice assistant is listening, with LE Audio, with 360 Upmix or in some listening modes. The app then grays out the switch and says why.
Turn DSEE on or off
- Connect your headphones and open Open Sound Connect.
- Open Sound (⌘2) and find Sound Quality, or use Quick Settings on My Device (⌘1).
- Switch DSEE on. The app uses your headphones' own name for it, such as DSEE Extreme.
You can also switch it from the menu bar panel or the Headphones menu, and include it in a scene, for example on for music and off for calls.
When the headphones report that DSEE is actually processing, the app shows Upscaling now. If DSEE is on but that doesn't appear, the headphones aren't upscaling at the moment, often for one of the reasons above.
Will you hear a difference?
Maybe. DSEE tries to restore detail that compression removes. How much you notice depends on the music, how it was compressed, your hearing and your equalizer settings, and the difference can be small. We can't promise an improvement. The easiest test is to play a track you know well and switch DSEE on and off from the menu bar.
Battery
Upscaling takes processing in the headphones. Sony's guides for the XM5 and XM6 say that setting DSEE Extreme to Auto shortens battery life, and the headphones may ask you to confirm when you use the equalizer together with DSEE for the same reason. If battery matters more than upscaling on a long day, turn it off. See battery on a Mac.
For more ways to tune music, read the best Sony headphone settings for music on a Mac or open the equalizer.
Common
questions
Does DSEE work with Apple Music or Spotify on a Mac?
It works on whatever the Mac sends over Bluetooth, whatever the app. The music is compressed to SBC or AAC on the way to the headphones, and DSEE upscales that.
Why can't I find a DSEE switch for my MDR-1000X?
Open Sound Connect doesn't offer DSEE control for the MDR-1000X. Sony says its DSEE HX is active with codecs other than LDAC, which includes the SBC or AAC a Mac uses.
Is DSEE the same as LDAC?
No. LDAC is a Bluetooth codec, and a Mac doesn't use it. DSEE is an upscaler inside the headphones, so it works with the SBC or AAC a Mac sends.
Where to next
- LDAC, AAC and lossless on a MacWhich Bluetooth codecs a Mac uses with Sony headphones, why lossless needs a cable, and what an app can't change.
- Settings for music on a MacA short checklist for listening to Spotify or Apple Music on a Mac with Sony headphones.
- Equalizer and Clear BassSony's presets, your own band curve and Clear Bass, set in the headphones from your Mac.
Put your headphones
in the menu bar
macOS 15 or later · Apple silicon and Intel