Why Doesn’t Apple Music on iOS Have Custom EQ?

Question

Why Doesn’t Apple Music on iOS Have Custom EQ?

I switched from Spotify to Apple Music and honestly may switch back. Spotify has a custom equalizer where you can fine tune and tweak it to your desire. I got tired of Spotify so I switched to Apple Music mainly for the much better audio quality, but higher audio quality doesn’t really mean anything at all if you can’t EQ it how you like. Every speaker I listen to Apple Music on sounds so much worse than when I used Spotify and that drives me absolutely insane.

Apple Music is 10 years old, why is there not a custom equalizer built into the app? Why do all EQ preset options make the audio even worse than standard? I am seriously considering leaving Apple Music because that is ridiculous to me.

Posted on Jul 16, 2025 11:47 AM

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Answer 1

brbo

Level 8

38,107 points

Jul 19, 2025 12:10 AM in response to ChristopherC.Hill

Re: Why Doesn’t Apple Music on iOS Have Custom EQ?

why is there not a custom equalizer built into the app?

Why do all EQ preset options make the audio even worse than standard?

Apple doesn't always explain what it does and why We are all Apple users, like yourself in this community..

If you want more features in Apple Music on iOS, you can always ask Apple:

Eg: Send feedback or a feature request on this web-form Apple provides: Feedback - Apple Music - Apple

Adjust the sound in Music on iPhone - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"Use EQ and normalize volume levels

Choose an equalization (EQ) setting: Go to Settings > Apps > Music > EQ.
Normalize the volume level of your audio: Go to Settings > Apps > Music, then turn on Sound Check."

(More info in the above linked article)

and ...If you have any Dolby Atmos albums or songs .. Have you tried Dolby Atmos ?

Dolby Atmos will play on any headphones, but not all speakers will play Dolby Atmos as intended.

Apple support's article: Play music in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on iPhone - Apple Support

Eg: says:

If you subscribe to Apple Music, you can play available tracks in Dolby Atmos, which creates an immersive, three-dimensional (spatial) audio experience on stereo headphones and speakers or receivers compatible with Dolby Atmos.

Albums and songs available in Dolby Atmos have the Dolby icon next to them. If a track is playing in Dolby Atmos, the icon also appears on the Now Playing screen.

Note: Apple Music and Dolby Atmos aren’t available in all countries or regions.

See the Apple Support article Availability of Apple Media Services.

Eg: says:

"Turn on Dolby Atmos

Go to Settings > Apps > Music.
Tap Dolby Atmos, then choose Automatic or Always On.

- Automatic: Plays Dolby Atmos whenever iPhone is connected to compatible headphones such as AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max, or to speakers or receivers compatible with Dolby Atmos.
- Always On: Plays Dolby Atmos on any headphones or speakers. The Music app will attempt to play Dolby Atmos tracks on any headphones or speakers connected to iPhone.

Dolby Atmos will play on any headphones, but not all speakers will play Dolby Atmos as intended."

More info: About Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos in Apple Music - Apple Support

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