Per-app equalizer on Mac
A per-app equalizer on Mac lets one app sound different from the rest; macOS has none built in, and SoundDial gives every app its own 10-band EQ in the menu bar.
Music wants a fuller low end, a podcast wants clear voices, and a call should stay exactly as it is. With one sound for every app, any EQ you find has to be a compromise.
What macOS gives you
System Settings > Sound picks an output device and its volume; there is no equalizer there. Some players have their own: Apple's Music app has one under Window > Equalizer. An in-app EQ only shapes that one app, and most apps, browsers included, have none. Audio MIDI Setup works on devices, not apps.
An equalizer for every app with SoundDial
- Start playback, open SoundDial and click ⋯ on the app's row
- Choose “Equalizer & Balance…” and turn on the Equalizer switch
- Pick a preset or drag the bands; changes apply instantly
There are 10 bands at 31, 63, 125, 250 and 500 Hz and 1k, 2k, 4k, 8k and 16k Hz, each ±12 dB in 0.5 dB steps. Double-click a band to reset it. The 11 presets are Flat, Bass Boost, Bass Cut, Treble Boost, Vocal, Podcast, Loudness, Late Night, Rock, Electronic and Acoustic. The app's row shows an EQ chip while its equalizer is on, and a soft limiter keeps raised bands from clipping hard.
Setups that work
| App | Preset | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify or Music | Bass Boost or Loudness | Fuller sound on small speakers |
| Podcast in a browser | Vocal or Podcast | Voices come forward |
| Zoom or Teams | Flat, or EQ off | Calls stay natural |
| Video late at night | Late Night | Gentler at low volume |
Limits
The equalizer belongs to one app: there is no system-wide EQ. It works per app, not per browser tab, so all Chrome tabs share Chrome's EQ. SoundDial is stereo only.
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FAQ
Does the equalizer work with Safari and Chrome?
Yes. Browsers get a row like any other app that plays sound, and their helper processes are grouped under the browser, so one EQ covers the whole browser.
Does each app keep its EQ?
With Settings > General > “When an app opens” set to “Remember last”, each app's EQ and balance come back when it opens. Profiles save whole sets of EQ, volume, mute and balance.
Is the equalizer an extra purchase?
No. SoundDial is a €14.99 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store with no in-app purchases.
SoundDial: a volume slider and mute button for every app.
€14.99 one-time purchase · macOS 14.2+ · no subscription