Read frequency, gain and Q
A parametric filter has a type as well as three important values. A peaking filter, often labelled PK, PEQ or PEAK, changes a band around its centre. It can form a cut despite the word “peak” in its name. Do not substitute a high-pass filter, shelf or graphic-EQ slider.
Frequency is the centre in hertz. Gain is the electrical change at that centre, in decibels; the corrective bass cuts here use a negative value. Q sets the width: higher Q is narrower, lower Q broader. Q has no unit and is not the same number as a bandwidth specified in octaves.
For illustration only: a peaking filter at 48 Hz, −5.5 dB, Q 4.2 reduces a band centred on 48 Hz. These example numbers are not a recommendation for your room. Use the values from your own supported reading, including the minus sign.
Choose a compatible equaliser on the playback path
Possible categories include a receiver with genuine manual parametric EQ, a streamer or amplifier with PEQ, a dedicated DSP and computer audio processing. A receiver offering only fixed graphic-EQ bands cannot necessarily reproduce an exact frequency and Q. Confirm the controls and the signal path in its manual.
WiiM’s PEQ documentation describes editable filter type, frequency, gain and Q. The miniDSP 2x4 HD manual explains its parametric controls and device-specific import options. Equalizer APO is a computer-based example with documented filter syntax. These are examples of categories, not product recommendations or a promise that every model accepts the same file.
The equaliser must actually process the route used for listening and the repeat measurement. A computer EQ does not automatically affect audio sent directly from another device. Check the correct input, channel and preset, save the original configuration, and avoid adding a duplicate cut at two points in the chain.
Import a filter file or enter the values manually
Room Tuner offers text exports labelled REW, AutoEQ / Wavelet and Plain text. Its public listing also describes response export in .frd form. A response curve is measurement data, not a ready-to-apply filter bank. The export label alone does not guarantee compatibility with every version of another application.
REW’s EQ Filters panel loads and saves filter settings. A REW “Filter Settings” text file is distinct from a hardware-specific coefficient file or a complete DSP preset. Where supported, use REW to load the values and export for the exact device; follow that device’s current documentation. For coefficient imports, the required sample rate and format matter.
For a single cut, manual entry may be easier to audit. Select the correct peaking type, enter frequency in Hz, retain the negative gain, and enter Q. Check every field again after saving. If the device asks for bandwidth instead of Q, consult its documented conversion rather than copying Q into the wrong field.
If an import is rejected, do not rename its extension and assume it is now compatible. Use the documented format or manual entry. Keep unused filters and existing processing under review so an import does not unexpectedly activate old settings. A vendor’s import control can load a complete configuration or only a filter block; those are different actions.
Why these corrective filters are cuts
A stable excess in the bass is a possible candidate for reduction. A cancellation dip is not a useful target for boost: adding output feeds the same interfering paths and can consume headroom while making surrounding frequencies excessive. Not every low reading is cancellation, but this workflow does not prescribe boosts to fill dips.
The exported corrective cuts normally need no positive make-up gain; start with the supplied preamp setting, normally 0 dB for these cuts. Do not add a compensating boost because a peak has become quieter. Other EQ or processing elsewhere can still affect headroom, so check the whole active chain.
Why Room Tuner may withhold exact numbers
A fixed filter applies every time you listen. If a peak changes across nearby positions, a cut that fits one spot can remove useful bass elsewhere. A peak at one position and a dip at another is a reason for caution, not an invitation to average away the disagreement and force a filter.
Room Tuner can withhold an exact cut when the peak changes with position, positions disagree or fresh spatial evidence is missing. Repeat a Full reading with genuine nearby moves of about 30 cm, following the app’s pattern. Keep the system settings fixed while collecting that evidence.
If the evidence still does not support a cut, use placement or the listening seat as the next experiment. Do not copy the example values from this article or estimate a deep notch by eye. A withheld filter is useful information about the limits of the measurement.
Do not chase narrow detail above the bass region
The transition from room-dominated bass is gradual and room-dependent, often roughly 200–300 Hz in domestic rooms. Above it, directivity and many reflections contribute to the fine shape at a point. A narrow notch can change when the phone or your head moves.
Room Tuner’s corrective bass workflow does not call for narrow EQ in that upper region. Try speaker angle, clear obstructions or compare suitable furnishing instead. The treble guide distinguishes a gentle broad tone preference from a narrow corrective filter.
Re-measure, listen and retain a way back
Apply one supported cut, then repeat from the same seat, phone orientation and volume. Repeat the same nearby-position pattern for a Full reading. Confirm that the intended playback route passes through the filter. Room Tuner reports relative response, not calibrated absolute sound pressure level.
Check the intended band and neighbouring bass, then listen to familiar passages with the filter enabled and bypassed. Save both results and note the preset. Keep the cut only if the benefit repeats without an objectionable trade-off. Disable it or restore the saved configuration if it does not help.
Do not pursue a ruler-flat in-room line. The goal is a useful reduction of a supported excess while retaining natural tonal balance. The treatment and EQ guide explains what a filter can change and what still calls for a physical experiment.
Common questions
Room EQ filter questions
Does a higher Q mean a stronger cut?
No. Gain sets the depth; Q sets the width. A high-Q cut affects a narrower band.
Should I enter −5.5 as +5.5?
No. The sign is essential. A positive value boosts where the intended filter reduces output.
Can every receiver import a REW file?
No. Capabilities and file formats vary by model. Some need manual entry, and some cannot reproduce an exact parametric filter.
Does Room Tuner apply the filter automatically?
No. Apply it in a compatible equaliser, then verify that the intended playback route actually uses it.
Can I use the 48 Hz example in my room?
No. It only explains the fields. Use a supported recommendation from your own reading, or follow the suggested placement experiment when numbers are withheld.
