Counter-Strike 2

Hear every footstep
in CS2.

CS2 uses a layered audio engine where footsteps compete with weapon sounds, ambient noise, and ability audio. StepFreq cuts through all of it with headphone-corrected EQ tuned specifically for CS2's footstep frequency signature.

Generate Your CS2 EQ Profile → ← Back to StepFreq
150–400 Hz
Movement weight zone
1.5–3.5 kHz
Surface texture zone
4–5 kHz
Distance definition zone
CS2 Audio Science

Where CS2 footsteps actually live

Counter-Strike 2's audio engine renders footsteps across three distinct frequency bands. Without EQ, most headphones mask the mid-range presence zone — the band that tells you exactly where the enemy is.

20 Hz 150 Hz 1.5 kHz 4 kHz 10 kHz 20 kHz
Thud / Body Impact
150 – 400 Hz
Heavy footfall on concrete and metal. The physical weight of movement. Critical for hearing crouching vs running on hard surfaces.
Presence / Texture
1.5 – 3.5 kHz
Surface material cues — wood vs. concrete vs. metal grating. Separates enemy footsteps from ambient map noise. The most masked zone.
Distance Edge
4 – 5 kHz
The snap that cuts through gunfire. Higher-frequency clicks let you judge proximity through walls and around corners with precision.
How it works

CS2 profile in 30 seconds

StepFreq combines two EQ layers: headphone correction first, then CS2 footstep boost. The result is flat, accurate audio that doesn't mask the sounds that matter.

01

Select your headphones

Pick from 60+ supported headphones. StepFreq applies the measured inverse frequency response, correcting your headphones' built-in colorations before anything else.

02

CS2 boost layered on top

On top of the headphone correction, StepFreq adds a parametric boost targeting the three CS2 footstep zones. Tuned from actual CS2 audio analysis, not guesswork.

03

Download and install

StepFreq generates an Equalizer APO config.txt. Drop it in place, and you're done. Auto-game detection switches profiles automatically when CS2 launches.

Other Games

EQ profiles for every FPS

Each game has different footstep audio. StepFreq has separate tuning profiles for Valorant, Apex Legends, and more.

Valorant → Apex Legends → All games →
Free Download

Get your CS2 config file

Pick your headphone, enter your email, and get the Equalizer APO config file tuned for CS2 footsteps. Drop it in and you're done.

Equalizer APO config · Windows only · No account needed

Common questions

CS2 EQ — what you're actually asking

Does CS2 have its own audio mixer? Should I use that instead?

CS2's in-game audio settings control volume and spatialization — not EQ. They don't boost the specific frequency bands where footsteps appear. StepFreq works at the system level via Equalizer APO, applying corrections before the audio hits your headphones. You can use both together.

What headphones are best for CS2 footsteps?

With StepFreq, the "best headphones for CS2" aren't necessarily the most expensive — they're the ones you can correct most accurately. Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro, Sennheiser HD 560S, and HyperX Cloud II all profile well. If your headphones are in AutoEQ's database, StepFreq can correct them.

Will this affect other sounds in CS2 like grenades or gunshots?

Yes — any EQ affects all sounds, not just footsteps. The StepFreq CS2 profile is tuned to boost footstep zones without over-boosting frequencies that make gun audio fatiguing. The net result is better overall sound balance, not just footstep emphasis.

Does this work with CS2's new audio occlusion system?

Yes. StepFreq processes audio after the game outputs it, so it works with all CS2 audio engine versions. The occlusion system reduces volume through walls — StepFreq's presence boost at 1.5–3.5 kHz helps you hear those quieter through-wall footsteps more clearly.

Featured Guide
Read the full guide

How to EQ for Footsteps in FPS Games

Why do the same EQ settings feel different across CS2, Valorant, and Apex? Because each game has a distinct footstep frequency signature. This guide breaks down the science — and why generic EQ presets fail.

Read the guide →
Also worth reading

Best EQ Settings for CS2, Valorant & Apex

Per-game frequency tables, surface-type breakdowns, and Why Generic EQ Presets Fail — plus the full FAQ.

View all game guides →
Headphone-Specific Presets

CS2 EQ settings for your headphone

Each page below combines the headphone correction profile with the CS2 footstep boost — one combined config, ready to download.

DT 990 Pro + CS2 → HD 560S + CS2 → HD 6XX + CS2 → ATH-M50x + CS2 → G Pro X + CS2 → Arctis Nova Pro + CS2 → BlackShark V2 + CS2 → 7Hz Timeless AE + CS2 → Moondrop Aria + CS2 → Sennheiser IE 300 + CS2 →

Stop losing gunfights you should have heard coming.

One-click EQ. Free. No account needed. Works with Equalizer APO.

Generate Your CS2 EQ Profile →