Is there an app to make your music louder on Android?
Many Android users want to increase the volume on their phones when listening to music, especially when using headphones or external speakers. However, Android devices come with built-in volume limits to prevent hearing damage from excessively loud audio. While the maximum volume possible varies between devices, Android generally caps volume at around 80-85 decibels for headphone listening.
Exceeding 85 decibels for prolonged periods can cause noise induced hearing loss over time. However, some users may find the default volume too low for their preferences, especially in noisy environments. This leads to an interest in boosting volume beyond the Android limits through software solutions like equalizers, amplifiers and volume boosters. Still, caution should be exercised when increasing loudness to avoid permanent hearing damage.
Default Music Apps
Android comes with some default music apps that allow you to adjust the volume and loudness of your music playback. Here are some of the key options:
The Google Play Music app has a built-in equalizer and volume boost option. You can find this in the settings under “Audio effects”. The equalizer allows you to customize the sound levels across different frequency ranges. The “Volume boost” option can amplify the overall playback volume, but may reduce audio quality at very high levels.[1]
On some devices, there is a separate “Play Music” app that has similar options under “Audio effects” in settings. This legacy music app allows for virtual surround sound effects and a “Volume boost” option as well.
The YouTube Music app does not have built-in audio effects or volume boost capabilities. However, video playback in the YouTube app does have a volume booster under “Settings > General > Playback”. This can make the audio louder for music videos.
Overall, while Google’s default music apps offer some volume boosting, the maximum volume amplification may not be enough for some users. The audio quality may also degrade at very high volume levels.
Third Party Apps
There are several highly rated third party Android apps designed specifically to boost the volume of music playback beyond the default volume levels. Two top options are Extra Volume Booster Equalizer and Loud Volume Booster.
Extra Volume Booster Equalizer (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.music.sound.speaker.volume.booster.equalizer&hl=en_US&gl=US) provides up to 200% volume boost and includes a 5-band equalizer, bass booster, and virtualizer effects. It has over 10 million downloads and a 4.6 rating on Google Play. Features include customizable presets, headphone optimization, and left/right balance.
Loud Volume Booster (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=feniksenia.app.speakerlouder90&hl=en_US&gl=US) delivers up to 90% volume increase across various audio apps. It has a 4.5 rating and over 5 million downloads. The app automatically boosts quiet audio files and has 20+ presets for different use cases. An integrated equalizer provides tone and bass boost capabilities.
In comparing the two apps, Extra Volume Booster appears to offer greater maximum volume increase (200% vs 90%), while Loud Volume Booster seems simpler to use with its automatic boosting and preset options. Both provide robust audio customization features beyond just raw volume boosting.
Equalizers
An equalizer allows you to adjust the volume levels of different frequency bands within an audio signal. This gives you control over the bass, mids, and trebles to customize the sound. Equalizers work by using a series of filters to attenuate or boost the energy of frequencies within set bands.
When using an equalizer to make music louder on Android, the key is to boost the midrange frequencies that the vocals and lead instruments occupy, without over-amplifying the bass. Some popular equalizer apps for Android include Equalizer FX, Music Volume EQ, and Equalizer & Bass Booster. These allow you to create custom presets to achieve louder volume levels. However, pushing any frequency too far can introduce audio distortion. Moderately boosting the right bands typically yields the best results.
According to reddit user discussions, no equalizer often provides the loudest sound compared to applying settings that attenuate frequencies [1]. While equalizers can make the audio more full and vibrant, they inherently lower certain bands. So using no EQ may provide the cleanest signal at max loudness. However, a slight boost around 1-2 kHz focused on the vocals can potentially increase loudness without compromising quality.
Headphones/Speakers
The headphones or speakers you use to listen to music can significantly impact the perceived loudness and audio quality. Many headphones and earbuds designed for Android devices have limited volume and dynamic range compared to higher-end audiophile models. Opting for headphones that can play louder, reproduce a full frequency range, and have low distortion can make your music sound significantly louder and better.
Some of the loudest and best performing headphones and earbuds for Android include:
- Sony WF-1000XM5 – These wireless earbuds have a wide frequency range up to 40kHz and excel at loud volumes with minimal distortion according to testing by RTings.
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds – The Bose earbuds have powerful drivers that get loud and maintain clarity and bass impact according to SoundGuys.
- Focal Celestee – These audiophile over-ear headphones can play extremely loud while retaining sound quality across the frequency spectrum according to Moon Audio.
Choosing headphones designed for performance, loud volumes, and high fidelity sound can make a significant difference in music loudness compared to more basic earbuds.
Audio Codecs
Codec refers to the audio encoding and decoding technology used to compress digital audio files (Source 1). Different codecs use varying compression algorithms, resulting in differences in audio quality and file size. When it comes to volume, the efficiency of the codec plays an important role.
Modern Bluetooth audio relies on advanced compression codecs like aptX and AAC to transmit high quality audio while minimizing latency. aptX is a popular codec developed by Qualcomm which uses 4:1 compression, meaning the file size is reduced to 1/4th of the original uncompressed audio. This allows aptX enabled devices like wireless headphones to transmit CD-quality audio over Bluetooth without any noticeable loss in quality (Source 2).
Most modern Android smartphones support aptX Bluetooth audio. If your phone and headphones both support aptX, you can stream music at higher bitrates resulting in better volume output compared to default SBC codec audio. Enabling aptX also reduces audio-video lag for a more synchronized listening experience. Devices without aptX support are limited to lower quality SBC codec streaming.
Audio Normalization
Audio normalization is a process that adjusts the overall gain of an audio recording so that the loudness is consistent across tracks. This evens out the perceptible volume so that the quiet parts are amplified and the loud parts are attenuated. The goal is to achieve a consistent listening level without sudden changes in volume.
There are a few different methods of audio normalization:
- Peak normalization – Boosts the gain so the loudest peak hits a target level like 0 dBFS.
- RMS normalization – Adjusts gain based on the root mean square (RMS) loudness measurement.
- Loudness normalization – Considers perceived loudness based on psychoacoustic models of human hearing. This most closely matches how our ears hear loudness.
Music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music use loudness normalization so songs have a consistent volume level. This provides a smoother listening experience without needing to adjust the volume between tracks.
However, some audiophiles argue against normalization because it can reduce audio quality by amplifying noise in quiet sections. There is also a preference for retaining the original dynamic range intended by the artist and mixer. But for casual listening, normalization can make music more enjoyable by preventing jarring volume shifts.
Overall, normalization aims to even out perceived loudness differences, but it can impact audio quality. There are valid reasons for and against using normalization depending on your priorities as a listener.
Hearing Health
Listening to music at high volumes, especially for extended periods, can potentially damage your hearing over time. As noted by Houston Methodist, “Listening to your music too loudly, as well as loudly for extended periods of time, can indeed cause damage to your hearing over time.” [1] The tiny hair cells in your inner ear that recognize sounds can be damaged by loud noise or music through earbuds or headphones.
To protect your hearing when listening to music on your Android device, follow these tips:
- Avoid listening at maximum volume for extended periods
- Take regular breaks from headphone use to give your ears a rest
- Invest in noise-cancelling headphones to block out external noise at lower volumes
- Use in-app volume limiters or equalizers to control loudness
- Pay attention to warning signs like muffled hearing or ringing ears
- Have your hearing tested periodically to monitor for early signs of damage
Protecting your hearing now allows you to keep enjoying music for years to come. Be mindful of volume levels and duration when listening via headphones.
Summary
There are several options for boosting the volume of music played through Android devices. The default music apps often have basic equalizers and volume boosters built-in. Third party apps like Poweramp offer more advanced audio controls and effects. Dedicated equalizer apps can also help customize the frequency response.
Some high impedance headphones and external speakers may benefit from an amplifier to reach full volume potential. Upgrading from basic earbuds to headphones engineered for audiophiles can make a significant difference in loudness and sound quality.
For the codec, aptX HD, LDAC, and AAC tend to provide louder audio than SBC on supported devices. Normalizing the volume of music files themselves is another approach but runs the risk of clipping or distortion from excessive peaks.
While making music louder can improve the listening experience, it’s important to keep volume within safe levels to avoid long-term hearing damage.
Recommendations
There are a few things you can try to safely increase the volume of your music on an Android device:
Use a third-party equalizer app – Download an app like Equalizer FX or Wavelet that will allow you to boost specific frequency ranges to make the overall volume louder.
Get headphones or speakers with higher sensitivity – More sensitive headphones and speakers can play louder at the same power level from your device. Look for headphones/speakers with a higher dB/mW sensitivity rating.
Enable volume normalization – This feature, available in some music apps, will analyze and adjust the volume of songs to maintain a consistent loudness level.
Be careful with maximum volume settings – Make sure to avoid boosting the volume to dangerous levels that could permanently damage your hearing over time.
Use wired options – Wired headphones or speakers will usually provide more volume than Bluetooth options since there’s no wireless connection.
The key is to find ways to safely and moderately enhance the loudness as needed while being careful not to overdo it. Protecting your hearing should always be the top priority.