Ultimate Guide on How to Make Headphones Louder

Ultimate Guide on How to Make Headphones Louder

This article addresses various factors contributing to low headphone volume and offers multiple strategies to make your headphones louder. Many of us have faced the annoyance of struggling to hear our music clearly, even when the book is set to its maximum. Whether we’re aiming to block out the noise of a bustling subway or seeking to enjoy our music without causing disturbance to others, there are several methods available to increase the loudness of the headphones without risking damage to our ears.

1. Use an Amplifier

Indeed, headphones can be regarded as a specific form of speakers, and similar to many other speakers, they often necessitate an amplifier to optimize their performance. Just as connecting home speakers to a top-notch amplifier can elevate the auditory experience, headphones can reap advantages from being paired with a dedicated headphone amplifier.

Frequently, the internal amplifier in mobile devices may not fully supply enough power to maximize your headphones’ capabilities. However, by employing an external headphone amplifier, you can significantly amplify your headphones’ volume to a significant extent. Moreover, you will be amazed by the improved clarity, enhanced dynamic range, and intricate music details that become discernible.

The appropriateness of a headphone amplifier relies on the size and type of headphones you possess. Smaller earbuds and in-ear headphones typically do not exhibit significant improvements when connected to a headphone amplifier. Larger headphones generally show bigger improvements in sound quality and performance when used with an amplifier.

Fortunately, a wide range of excellent headphone amplifiers are available. The FiiO E10K USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier are highly recommended for affordable options. This amplifier provides exceptional value for its price, and by investing around $100, you can own a remarkable amplifier for your headphones.

2. Verify The Settings

If you are playing music through your smartphone and find that your headphones sound quiet, certain volume settings could affect the maximum loudness. Here are some possible reasons and steps to check and adjust those settings to make your headphones louder:

Volume Limit

Smartphones may have volume limit features that warn you if the volume is too high or display the volume slider differently to indicate excessive levels.

For Android:

1. Swipe down the notification bar and tap the “gear” icon to access the “Settings.”
2. Look for sound-related settings (e.g., “Sound and vibration” on Samsung devices).
3. Tap on “Volume.”
4. Tap the three-dot menu icon at the top and open “Media volume limit.” Make sure this feature is disabled.

For iOS:

1. Go to “Settings” on your device.
2. Find and tap on “Sounds.”
3. At the top, locate and tap “Reduce Loud Sounds.” Ensure that this feature is disabled.

By ensuring that volume limit settings are turned off, you can potentially resolve any issues with low headphone volume on your smartphone.

Adjusting the Volume Level in Settings

To ensure the maximum volume on your device, verify if it’s set to the highest level in the settings. Remember that app volume controls may not always align with the system volume, especially when using wired headphones on a PC. Follow these steps to address this issue:

1. Audio Player Volume: Ensure the sound volume is maximum in your preferred audio player or music app.
2. System Volume: Check the system volume control in the bottom right corner of your screen and ensure it is turned up to the maximum level.
3. Check for Volume Mismatch: Verify that the volume settings in both your audio player and system volume control are appropriately balanced. One may be set to a low level while the other is maxed out, causing an imbalance.

Remember to make volume adjustments gradually to avoid sudden bursts of loud sound.

Restart Your Device

If you experience a sudden change in loudness that persists, try restarting your wireless headphones. This simple action can often resolve software glitches or temporary issues.

Adjust Balance Settings with Equalizer

If you encounter one side of your headphones being quieter than the other, consider adjusting the channel balance. Modifying the balance can decrease the loudness in one channel while raising it in the other, resulting in a more balanced overall loudness. Follow these steps:

For Android:

1. Swipe down the notification bar and tap the gear icon in the upper right corner to access “Settings.”
2. Look for “Accessibility” and select it.
3. Tap on “Hearing enhancements.”
4. At the bottom, you’ll find “Left/right sound balance” for “Connected audio.” Adjust the slider based on your preference.

For iOS:

1. Go to “Settings” and choose “Accessibility.”
2.  Select “Audio/Visual.”
3. At the bottom, you’ll see a “Balance slider.” Adjust it according to your needs.

Using an Equalizer

If specific frequencies are too quiet, you can utilize an equalizer. There are various software equalizers available, offering different features and options. Look for a third-party app that suits your requirements and adjust the settings to achieve the desired sound. Some recommended equalizer apps include:

– Flat Equalizer (for Android)
– SpotiQ Ten (for Android)
– Wavelet (for Android)
– Equalizer APO (for PC)
– FxSound (for PC)
– Boom 2 (for Mac)
– eqMAC (for Mac)

You can identify low frequencies and adjust the equalizer by exploring frequency response measurements specific to your headphones.

Headphone amplifiers and volume-boosting apps are available to boost overall loudness beyond the options mentioned. These will be discussed later for each operating system.

3. Make Headphones Louder on iPhone

The options for third-party equalizers and volume boosters on the App Store seem quite limited and come with certain limitations. Many apps require payment for even basic features and are often disguised as music players primarily working with locally or cloud-stored music. While some may support streaming services like Spotify or TIDAL, they may not be compatible with YouTube.

Considering these limitations, it is essential to note that no volume booster app can increase the headphone volume for all activities on an iPhone. In this case, the best approach would be to adjust the EQ (Equalizer) settings or select an EQ preset within your music app that provides the loudest sound output. This way, you can optimize the audio experience within the capabilities of your device and available options.

4. Make Headphones Louder on Android

Android users have more EQ app options on the Google Play Store, but not all are reliable or effective. One highly recommended equalizer app for increasing the loudness of headphones or speakers is Wavelet. This app provides powerful features and customization options.

Here’s how you can use it:

1. Open the Wavelet app and make sure it’s enabled.
2. Go to “Gain control” and select “Limiter.”
3. Increase the “Post-gain” slider at the bottom to a maximum of 5.0 dB. This will boost the overall volume.
4. Access the settings by tapping the gear icon in the bottom left corner.
5. In the settings, adjust the “Buffer size” to 8192 samples. Remember that this may affect audio latency in activities like watching movies or gaming, but it ensures the best sound quality for music. Increasing the buffer size helps prevent distortion caused by clipping when boosting the master volume.

It’s worth noting that increasing volume by boosting all frequencies using the EQ is not advised, as it can lead to imbalanced sound and possible distortion.

By following the provided steps and leveraging Wavelet’s features, you can enhance the loudness of your headphones or speakers without compromising sound quality or introducing distortions.

5. Make Headphones Louder on the Computer

When it comes to increasing headphone volume on a Windows computer and MacOS, there are a few recommended apps that can be helpful:

For Window:

• Equalizer APO:  This free EQ app offers a 31-band EQ, allowing you to import custom EQ settings and adjust preamplification. To increase volume, open the app and modify the preamplification gain in the upper left corner.
• FxSound:  Another excellent free EQ app that lets you tweak frequencies and adds sound effects like bass boost, dynamic boost, and clarity. The dynamic boost feature tends to work best for increasing overall loudness, although it may slightly alter the frequency response.

For macOS:

• eqMac: This inconspicuous add-on offers free features, including bass boost and channel balance. The volume-boosting feature is exclusive to the Pro version. Adjusting the bass, midrange, and treble levels may increase overall loudness, but it could create an unbalanced sound.
• Boom 2: This volume-boosting app offers a 7-day trial to test its features. It provides comprehensive options, including bass and volume boost. To increase volume, look for the Pre-Amp feature in the upper left corner and adjust its value to your preference.

By utilizing these recommended apps on Windows and macOS, you can enhance the loudness of your headphones and customize the sound according to your preferences.

6. Clean Your Headphones

Regularly cleaning your headphones is crucial for making your headphones louder than before. The heat from your ear canal increases wax and oil production, blocking the mesh screens, fading sound, and exposing your ears to bacteria. Clean your headphones with soapy water or hydrogen peroxide to prevent dust, wax, or oil buildup. Gather cleaning cloths, paper towels, and a dry toothbrush. Check the manual for any specific instructions. Here’s a simplified guide to cleaning your headphones:

• To initiate the cleaning process for the ear tips: begin by extracting them and submerging them in a receptacle filled with warm soapy water. Allow them to soak for roughly five to ten minutes. Subsequently, employ a Q-tip or cotton swab to carefully eliminate any accumulated earwax from the inner area of the earpiece. Then, gently wipe the ear tips using a soft cloth drenched in hydrogen peroxide, and leave them to dry naturally.
• For cleaning the earbuds: hold them with the mesh facing downwards. Take a dry toothbrush and gently brush the mesh of the earbuds. Then, dampen a cloth with hydrogen peroxide and carefully wipe the earbuds, paying attention to the mesh. Remember to dry them promptly with a paper towel. Alternatively, you can use alcohol or hand sanitizer as substitutes for hydrogen peroxide.

7. Consider a New Headphone

If previous attempts have failed to yield satisfactory results, consider buying a new pair of headphones. Rest assured, purchasing a headset is similar to buying any other electronic device. This implies that navigating through abundant misinformation and the risk of being deceived exists if one is not cautious. With numerous brand headphone models, locating a suitable option with desired specifications can be more challenging than anticipated.

Apart from delivering excellent sound quality, a commendable headset should include Bluetooth connectivity, an inline microphone, and noise isolation capabilities. Investing in high-end headphones might seem like a costly endeavor, correct? Nonetheless, with careful selection, the rewards will undoubtedly justify the expenditure.

Exclusive Summary

The perfect audio settings on your Android device, combined with maximizing the potential of your headphones, work together seamlessly to provide the desired bass, clarity, and equalization for an optimal listening experience. Don’t miss out on these benefits, whether you own budget-friendly or premium headphones.

Hopefully, these suggestions have helped you enhance the volume level on your Android device when using headphones, allowing you to enjoy your audio content to the fullest! Which of these tips proved most valuable to you? Were you able to make your headphones louder without purchasing new headphones or ear cups/tips?