Rock and metal are dense — lots of instruments fighting for the same space. A good EQ carves out room so the guitars crunch, the drums punch, and the vocals still sit on top. Here’s how to set it on iPhone.
The rock & metal EQ formula
Start here, then tune to taste:
- Tighten the low end — a modest lift at 80–100Hz for punchy drums, not boomy mud.
- Cut the mud — a gentle dip around 300–500Hz clears space for the guitars.
- Bring out the guitars — a lift around 1.5–3kHz gives crunch and bite.
- Add clarity up top — a small boost at 8–10kHz for cymbal sparkle and vocal air.
Why the built-in EQ falls short
iOS’s "Rock" preset is a single fixed curve — no way to fine-tune. With dense metal mixes especially, you need control over the mids to keep the guitars from turning to mush. A full 10-band EQ gives you that, across every app, not just Music.
Clarity over loudness
Metal mixes are already loud — the goal isn’t more volume, it’s separation. Cutting the low-mids does more for clarity than any boost.
Save your rock preset
Once the guitars cut through and the drums punch, save it as your rock/metal preset — then tweak per album if you like.
Quick answers
Should I boost the bass for metal? Only a little — tight low-mids matter more than deep sub-bass for guitar-driven music.
Does this work with the volume booster? Yes — pair the EQ with a modest master boost for power without distortion.
Where to get it
A full 10-band equalizer and real-time boost are built into Volume Booster: Bass EQ — free on the App Store. Dial in the perfect rock and metal sound and let every riff hit hard.