Enable Star Labs EQ (Linux)

Overview

This guide creates an Internal Speakers PipeWire output with the Star Labs EQ profile applied.

It is for Linux distributions that use PipeWire for audio.

What you will do

You will:

Set the real built-in speaker path to 100% so the EQ has the full range to work with.
Create a user-level PipeWire configuration file.
Restart the PipeWire audio services.
Select Internal Speakers as your audio output.

Before you start

Set your audio output to the built-in speakers before running the command below.

This is important because the EQ connects to whichever output is currently selected. If Bluetooth, HDMI, USB audio, or another external output is selected, the EQ may target that instead of the internal speakers.

Step 1: Open a Terminal

Open the Terminal app.

Common shortcuts:

On many distributions: press Ctrl + Alt + T
Or open your app launcher and search for Terminal

Step 2: Create the Internal Speakers profile

Copy and paste this command into the Terminal, then press Enter:

TARGET_SINK="$(wpctl inspect @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ | awk -F'= ' '/node.name =/{gsub(/"/,"",$2); print $2; exit}')"

if [ -z "$TARGET_SINK" ]; then
  echo "Could not find the current audio output. Please select the built-in speakers and try again."
  exit 1
fi

# Give the EQ the full real-speaker range to work with.
wpctl set-volume @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ 100%

mkdir -p ~/.config/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d

cat > ~/.config/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d/51-star-labs-eq.conf <<EOF
context.modules = [
    { name = libpipewire-module-filter-chain
        args = {
            node.description = "Internal Speakers"
            media.name       = "Internal Speakers"
            filter.graph = {
                nodes = [
                    {
                        type    = builtin
                        name    = eq_band_1
                        label   = bq_lowshelf
                        control = { "Freq" = 105.0 "Q" = 0.80 "Gain" = 3.0 }
                    }
                    {
                        type    = builtin
                        name    = eq_band_2
                        label   = bq_lowshelf
                        control = { "Freq" = 190.0 "Q" = 0.75 "Gain" = 7.0 }
                    }
                    {
                        type    = builtin
                        name    = eq_band_3
                        label   = bq_peaking
                        control = { "Freq" = 280.0 "Q" = 1.00 "Gain" = -0.5 }
                    }
                    {
                        type    = builtin
                        name    = eq_band_4
                        label   = bq_peaking
                        control = { "Freq" = 2800.0 "Q" = 1.10 "Gain" = 1.5 }
                    }
                    {
                        type    = builtin
                        name    = eq_band_5
                        label   = bq_highshelf
                        control = { "Freq" = 8500.0 "Q" = 0.70 "Gain" = 0.5 }
                    }
                ]
                links = [
                    { output = "eq_band_1:Out" input = "eq_band_2:In" }
                    { output = "eq_band_2:Out" input = "eq_band_3:In" }
                    { output = "eq_band_3:Out" input = "eq_band_4:In" }
                    { output = "eq_band_4:Out" input = "eq_band_5:In" }
                ]
            }
            audio.channels = 2
            audio.position = [ FL FR ]
            capture.props = {
                node.name        = "effect_input.star-labs-eq"
                node.description = "Internal Speakers"
                media.class      = "Audio/Sink"
                priority.session = 1600
            }
            playback.props = {
                node.name      = "effect_output.star-labs-eq"
                target.object  = "$TARGET_SINK"
                node.passive   = true
            }
        }
    }
]
EOF

Notes:

This only changes your user account, not the whole system.
You should not need to enter your password.
The real speaker path is set to 100%; control listening volume using the new Internal Speakers output.

Step 3: Restart PipeWire

Restart the audio services:

systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

Audio may briefly stop while the services restart.

If this command reports that one of the services does not exist, reboot instead:

sudo reboot

Step 4: Select Internal Speakers

Open your sound settings and select Internal Speakers as the output device.

If you prefer to use the command line, run:

wpctl status

Find effect_input.star-labs-eq under Filters, then set it as default with:

wpctl set-default ID

Replace ID with the number shown next to effect_input.star-labs-eq.

Verify (optional)

You can check that the EQ is loaded with:

wpctl status

You should see effect_input.star-labs-eq under Filters.

Undo (revert the change)

Remove the config file:

rm -f ~/.config/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d/51-star-labs-eq.conf

Restart PipeWire again:

systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

Select your normal built-in speaker output again in sound settings.

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Enable Internal Speakers EQ (Linux)