Sony headphones,
tuned for music

Check the output and the connection

Open System Settings → Sound → Output (or the Sound module in Control Center) and make sure your headphones are selected. Then a few facts about Bluetooth on a Mac that save a lot of searching:

• The codec is AAC or SBC. Macs don't use LDAC, so the headphones' LDAC support doesn't come into play, and no app can add it.
• Bluetooth isn't lossless. Apple says so itself: lossless or hi-res tracks in Apple Music still reach Bluetooth headphones compressed.
• Dropouts: if music stutters, Open Sound Connect's Bluetooth Connection Quality setting on the Sound page offers Stable Connection on the models that report it (on some newer models it's under Wearing → Bluetooth Audio). The headphones reconnect briefly when you change it. More in Sony headphones stuttering on a Mac.

LDAC, AAC and lossless on a Mac explains the codec side in detail.

Use one equalizer

The Sony equalizer runs inside the headphones and applies to everything your Mac plays. A second equalizer on the Mac adds its curve on top, which makes tuning confusing. Pick one:

• The headphones' equalizer (recommended here): it works in every app and follows the headphones to your phone.
• Then leave the others flat or off: the Music app's equalizer (Window → Equalizer), any equalizer in your music player, and system-wide EQ apps.

Sony EQ vs eqMac compares the two approaches if you're undecided.

Pick a starting curve

Set the equalizer on the Sound page (⌘2) of Open Sound Connect. Start flat or from one of these, then change one band at a time:

Exact values for each are in the preset library. The model guides explain each band: WH-1000XM3, XM4, XM5 and XM6. Sony's own presets, like Bright or Mellow, are there too; click one to compare.

Decide on DSEE

DSEE is Sony's upscaling for compressed music: DSEE HX on the XM2 and XM3, DSEE Extreme on the XM4, XM5 and XM6, and DSEE Ultimate on the WH-1000XX. Turn it on from the Sound page, My Device or the menu bar, and listen with and without it.

• XM2 and XM3: Sony says DSEE HX works only with the equalizer off, so it's either your curve or DSEE.
• Other models: the headphones may warn that the equalizer together with DSEE uses more battery.

More in DSEE on a Mac.

Noise canceling, listening modes and Speak-to-Chat

• Noise canceling lets you listen at a lower volume in noisy places. If the Sound page shows NC Optimizer, run it once while wearing the headphones. See noise canceling on a Mac.
• Speak-to-Chat (XM4 and later) reacts to your voice: the XM4 and XM5 pause the music, the XM6 and XX lower the volume. If singing along sets it off, turn it off on the Voice page (⌘3).
• Listening modes (XM6 and XX): on the XM6 the equalizer can be unavailable in Background Music, so use Standard when you want your curve.

Save it as a scene

Put the whole setup in a scene: noise canceling, your curve, DSEE and Speak-to-Chat off. Give it an App trigger, so it applies when Music or Spotify comes to the front, or apply it with a click in the menu bar.