SoundSource is a great tool and I still use it. However I think for just PEQ using either eqMac or Roon is the best solution. SoundSource’s built-in Headphone EQ is just an easier to use AutoEQ.
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SoundSource can accept any AU plugin and Apple has the AUNBandEQ plugin that can be used in SoundSource. This plugin gives a full parametric equalizer. The default Headphone EQ is a full parametric equalizer, but it doesn’t have an interface, you have to create a text file to apply the filters. I really like SoundSource since I can EQ and I can route my audio by application. This means I can send Qobuz to my headphone AMP/DAC but send Chrome to my desktop speakers with individual EQ or other plugins. It is a swiss army knife for audio configuration on a Mac.
AUNBandEQ Example:
Headphone EQ Example:
Preamp: -4.2 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 2.8 dB Q 0.600
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 57 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 2.000
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 170 Hz Gain -3.6 dB Q 0.700
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 890 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 1.300
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1900 Hz Gain 4.5 dB Q 1.900
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 4500 Hz Gain 3.8 dB Q 2.000
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5600 Hz Gain 4.8 dB Q 1.200
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 7500 Hz Gain -6.0 dB Q 0.700
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 10000 Hz Gain 9.1 dB Q 2.000
Filter 10: ON PK Fc 15000 Hz Gain -11.9 dB Q 1.200
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All true, but not a great user experience IMHO and I was too lazy to type that all out 
OK, so here is the first release of the script that makes SoundSource trial limitations less intrusive: GitHub - b0janilic/soundsource-restart .
I’ve been testing it for a few hours and it seems to be working correctly.
The script is useful on its own, but it becomes much more convenient if you have media controls.
You don’t have to type out the filter information for the Headphone EQ plugin. The export file format from squig.link is compatible. You can use https://squig.link to build the filter set and then export the filters. This gives you a full GUI interface with the information shared by the headphone community at your fingertips to build filter files. Give it a try.
You can’t use this trick for the Apple AU plugins like AUNBandEQ because Apple uses a binary blob data to store the information. There may be a converter but I haven’t seen one yet. You can take the data from Squig.link and manually add it in the plugin interface but that takes a little time.
Understood. Problem is you can’t visually tinker with it while playing music unless you use AUNBandEQ. Yes there are some SquigLinks that allow you to upload a (non-DRM) song, but that is a far cry from being able to browse through your entire streaming library while adjusting the EQ. This is a step that is very necessary to get it right. Like I said, it’s not a great user experience compared to eqMac or Roon. And at $3 a month eqMac is well worth it IMHO.
On the other hand, I think it has been some time since eqMac has made any feature additions making me annoyed at continuing to support it through the subscription. Roon also doesn’t support my EQ workflow very well. I guess I’ll just have to write my own.
Totally undeerstand, I just wanted to make sure you knew you didn’t have to manually type the information in. Like you I find the ability to adjust in real time much more effective. Ths is why I typically copy the base configuration into AUNBandEQ and go from there. Thanks for the information on eqMac.
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