Sound on the MBP M1 Pro - any standard equalizer to compensate for muffled vocals and speech?

I went over to Yodobashi Camera, the giant electronics store in Akihabara this afternoon, to try to compare speakers. They have a large Apple corner there. It was noisier there of course, so it wasn't a perfect comparison.

Anyway, I tested on the same model. I didn't have Netflix access there, and of course my music wasn't on their floor model, so I tested with YouTube songs. I played these two:

Forever Young (Joan Baez) -

Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell) -

They sounded pretty beautiful!

NOTE: The moderator of these forums edited by post and removed the two YouTube links.

It was an unfair comparison of course, because I hadn't done the same test at home. So when I got home I created the same conditions: playing the same songs in Safari. And... they sounded beautiful at home too!

However, using the Boom 3D equalizer app with Vocals setting it sounded more beautiful. So I will probably purchase it. It's under $15 right now with some sort of flash sale. And Siri sounds nicer too. And with Movies setting Netflix movies also sound better.

Anyway, that's apparently just the way they are. And the issue with me might be, as some have suggested, a loss of high frequency hearing with age coupled with the increased bass of the new speakers. That might be why I was left with the impression that the vocals were less clear than on my iPad Pro, which doesn't have the spatial audio and bass of the new MBP.

Side-notes:

I wonder why Boom 3D is so inexpensive compared with the supposedly older and less featured Boom 2, which sells with a subscription model. Boom 3D is currently under $15 right now.

I also tested the free eqMac equalizer app. It's also nice, but when it's on and I use FaceTime the sound cuts out. The developer is looking at it on Discord. That app also have a Pro version that is subscription based, and is actually more expensive than Boom 3D. Boom 3D works fine with FaceTime, and a little indicator in the panel indicates that FaceTime is running. It seems more seamless than eqMac, just sitting there quietly in the menu bar.

Anyway, I guess I'll lay this issue to rest for now, and look for something else to gripe about. :)

[Link Edited by Moderator]

It's really confusing though. I did some tests with voice/video call apps.

(1) First, not using a voice/video call app but the eq app is running, and seems to be filtering my music from different sources. However, the Output in preferences shows as just MacBook Pro Speakers.

(2) When I try a Zoom call with my sister it's the same, and also works and the Output doesn't change.

(3) When I go back into FaceTime the Output changes to MacBook Pro Speakers Virtual for the app and at first neither can hear each other.

(4) But if I quit the eq app, the output changes to just Macbook Pro Speakers and we can both hear each other.

(5) But if I then start the app again once more the output switches back to Macbook Pro Speakers Virtual and we can barely hear each other. Like one-tenth volume.

(6) Then if I quit again we can both hear each other normally.

After the video call if I start the app again I *think* it's working with Apple Music but the Output shown in preferences doesn't change.

It's a bit of a confusing mess. Still trying to decide whether to return my new MBP M1 Pro or not. I have until November 21 to decide (my 14 day window).

Aren't others bothered by this sound business at all?

The muffled sound of voices has everything to do with my new Mac! I don't see how you can say otherwise. The equalizer is eqMac. But without it vocals and speech everywhere sounds muffled: Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, Netflix movies with people just talking, even Siri's voice!

The equalizer helps bring back voice clarity.

There new speaker is definitely louder, and "spatial" but it muffles vocals also. I can't believe Apple designed it like this without providing a means to adjust the sound.

Do you have the same model? If not, I guess it's true you can't say.

Please note I already mentioned that this happens with all sources, up to an including Siri's voice, unless I run through through a third-party equalizer such as eqMac.

It's true the forum is not "flooded" with complaints about the M1 Macbook sound. But there are posts about it. Do a search for "muffled M1 pro" and you'll see 600 results. Not all of them are relevant, but a good number are.

I probably do have a loss of sensitivity to higher frequencies. I'm 65 years old now. Still, the vocals sound just fine on my iPad Pro 2021.

It seems to work ok. Need to study the settings more. I wonder why Boom 3D is a one time pretty inexpensive purchase while the less-features Boom 2 comes in subscription packages, so it's more expensive. Anyway, I wrote support to ask them.

Well, I'm glad there are third party options then. I was this close to sending it back.

Is that just the way they are? Or is mine faulty?

Coincidentally I happen to be trying it even as we speak. Thanks.