Loading Custom Bose EQ

into Bose Professional Sound Processors & DSP-based amplifiers

The Bose ControlSpace Designer software uses IIR filter-based signal processing blocks (PEQ blocks) to configure DSP functions for EQ.

This page describes how to use the Bose ControlSpace Designer software to load custom EQ settings (IIR filters) from FIR Designer M and FIR Designer into Bose Professional Sound Processors and PowerShareX, PowerShare & PowerMatch amplifiers.

FIR Designer M and FIR Designer have a built-in ‘Bose Professional’ IIR filter mode to emulate filter behavior in Bose processors & amps. The mode contains options for parametric, low-shelf, high-shelf, notch, Butterworth, Bessel and Linkwitz-Riley filters. The ControlSpace Designer PEQ block enables loading of parametric, low-shelf, high-shelf and Butterworth (1st & 2nd order) filters loading via a *.peq file.

‘PEQ’ typically refers to ‘Parametric EQ’, however parametric filters are not the only kind of IIR filter that can be loaded into a PEQ block.

FIR Designer

In the IIR Filters tab, select the “Bose Professional” mode and set up the EQ filters as desired. Under “Save IIR Coefficients”, select the format “Bose ControlSpace Designer (PEQ)” and press Save.

Bose EQ filters designed in FIR Designer DSP software

ControlSpace Designer

On a MS Windows PC, run ControlSpace Designer. (Download ControlSpace Designer here).

Sound Processor Instructions (or see Amplifier instructions instead)

Choose a processor and drag it onto the “Project View”. (For example, the ESP-880A shown below.)

Bose EQ loading instructions - screenshot 1

Double-click on the processor icon, or click on the processor tab (to the right of the “Project View” tab), to open the specific signal flow view of the processor. On the left, under EQs, select either “Parametric EQ Mono” or “Parametric EQ Stereo” and drag it onto the signal flow view of the processor. A “PEQ” window will appear; select the desired number of bands (IIR filters) and press OK.

Bose EQ loading instructions - screenshot 2

A VPEQ block appears on the processor view.

Bose EQ loading instructions - screenshot 3

Double-click on the VPEQ block to open the “Variable PEQ” window. Press “Load Settings” and select the PEQ file (previously saved from FIR Designer). After loading, the “Variable PEQ” plot will display the IIR filter magnitude response; the same as in FIR Designer.