EQK is a Mac equalizer with per-app, AI-assisted tuning, local analysis, local saved routes, local file playback, headphone correction, and no account required.

EQK

What EQK does

EQK is a Mac equalizer that routes audio per app and applies AI-assisted tone shaping while playback is running. It is built for people who want better sound without working through a traditional equalizer workflow first.

The app runs on macOS 14.6 or later and is available through the Mac App Store and a notarized direct download. EQK keeps analysis and saved routes on the Mac, supports Apple silicon and Intel machines, and is positioned as a private, local audio tool rather than a cloud service.

Core features

On-device AI Tune

EQK analyzes playback on the Mac itself, then adjusts tone while the song is playing. It learns from listening and can shape the next play more accurately using locally saved song memory.

Local song and app memory

The app stores per-song and per-app EQ data locally and can remember up to 1,000 songs. EQ memory is kept on the Mac instead of being downloaded or synced to a cloud account.

Optimizer housekeeping

EQK includes an Optimizer console that checks saved layouts and song memories for broken or incomplete data. The 3.1 release notes say it can run on a schedule or on demand.

Local file playback

The guide says EQK supports a local library player for FLAC, ALAC, WAV, and MP3 files. This lets users play and tune local files without the System Audio Recording permission needed for app routes.

Headphone correction and imports

EQK provides bundled headphone correction profiles and also accepts community EQ imports. The guide says imported AutoEQ / EqualizerAPO .txt files become editable saved presets, while vetted correction profiles remain separate.

Per-app audio routing

EQK routes audio per app and keeps route settings such as output device, correction profile, AI mode, and playback state. The roadmap also lists ten-band EQ, output trim, app-following activity modes, and multichannel support.

Where EQK fits

  • Tuning one app at a time

    Use EQK when you want to improve the sound of a specific music app without changing the rest of your Mac’s audio. The guide lists dedicated app routes and activity modes for app-by-app control.

  • Playing and tuning local files

    Use the local player when you want to play FLAC, ALAC, WAV, or MP3 files inside EQK without granting System Audio Recording permission. This is a cleaner fit for local libraries and offline listening.

  • Applying headphone correction

    Use the headphone correction library when you already know the exact model you are listening through and want a starting correction profile before making taste-based EQ changes.

  • Learning playback over time

    Use AI Tune when you want EQK to learn a song as it plays and save a remembered curve for the next listen. The roadmap and homepage describe song memory and locally stored AI analysis as core behavior.

  • Importing outside EQK presets

    Use the community import path when you want to bring in an AutoEQ or EqualizerAPO parametric preset as a saved editable preset. The community page makes clear that shared files are unverified and separate from the vetted correction library.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Processes and stores EQ data locally, with no account required and no cloud audio upload described in the source.
  • Supports per-app routing, local playback, headphone correction, and AI-assisted song tuning in one Mac app.
  • Works with both the Mac App Store and a notarized direct download, which gives users two installation paths.
  • The guide and roadmap document a concrete workflow for setup, routing, bypass comparison, and local file playback.

Cons

  • The source does not show public pricing details beyond a 14-day free trial and one-time purchase model.
  • Normal browser tabs are not supported as isolated routes; the guide says browser audio is mixed at the macOS level unless the site is saved as its own app.
  • EQK relies on system audio capture for app routes, so users must grant the relevant macOS permission for those routes to work.

FAQ

What Mac systems does EQK support?

EQK requires macOS 14.6 or later. It is available through the Mac App Store and as a notarized direct download, and the guide says both Apple silicon and Intel Macs are supported.

Does EQK need audio capture permission?

For app routes, EQK needs System Audio Recording permission so it can capture the selected app’s audio. The local player for FLAC, ALAC, WAV, and MP3 files does not need that permission.

Which apps can EQK route audio from?

EQK works with a curated list of dedicated music, video, podcast, and local-player apps, including Apple Music, Spotify, TIDAL, Apple TV, VLC, Plexamp, and others listed in the guide. Normal browser tabs are excluded because macOS does not expose them as isolated audio sources.

How is EQK licensed?

EQK has one-time purchase distribution, a 14-day free trial, and a local Mac App Store version. The roadmap also says a lifetime web license activates up to two Macs.

Can I compare EQK tuning with the original audio?

The guide describes AI Tune as local playback analysis with manual control still available, plus Bypass for comparing the tuned and original signal. EQK also stores routes and tuning locally on your Mac and does not require an account.

Quick Facts

Category
Mac equalizer
Platform
macOS 14.6+ on Apple silicon and Intel Macs
Distribution
Mac App Store and notarized direct download
Pricing shape
14-day free trial; one-time purchase; lifetime web license noted in the roadmap
Audio workflow
Per-app routing with local AI Tune, correction profiles, and Bypass comparison
Source domain
kuja.dev