A method of compensating audio frequency response characteristics of a portable sound system can be performed using acoustic characteristics of a user measured in real-time. The method of compensating the audio frequency response characteristics can be used by a portable sound system. The method includes generating an acoustic characteristics curve of a user based on a minimum perception level of a user with respect to audible audio frequency bandwidths, generating an acoustic compensation curve of the user based on the acoustic characteristics curve of the user and a predetermined frequency characteristics target curve, and compensating the audio frequency response characteristics of a sound based on the acoustic compensation curve of the user.