SoundMax
Free, open-source 10-band system EQ for macOS
The lightweight SoundSource alternative you've been looking for
See It In Action
10-Band EQ with HDMI Volume
Quick Help & Per-Device Profiles
AutoEQ Headphone Correction
10-Band Parametric EQ
Professional biquad filtering from 32Hz to 16kHz with ±12dB per band.
Per-Device Profiles
Automatically saves and restores your EQ settings for each output device.
HDMI Volume Control
Software volume slider for HDMI outputs - fixes macOS's missing volume control.
AutoEQ Integration
One-click headphone correction for 150+ popular models including AirPods, Sony, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, and more.
Menu Bar App
Lives in your menu bar. No dock icon. Always accessible.
100% Free & Open Source
MIT licensed. No subscriptions, no Pro tier, no tracking.
SoundMax vs Alternatives
| Feature | SoundMax | SoundSource | eqMac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $39 | Free / $34 Pro |
| 10-Band EQ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Per-Device Profiles | ✓ Auto | Limited | Limited |
| HDMI Volume | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AutoEQ Built-in | ✓ 150+ headphones | ✗ | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Native SwiftUI | ✓ | Partial | ✗ |
Quick Start
Get system-wide EQ in under 2 minutes
# 1. Install BlackHole audio driver
brew install blackhole-2ch
# 2. Download SoundMax from GitHub Releases
# 3. Set system output to "BlackHole 2ch"
# 4. Launch SoundMax, select your speakers, click Start