Is there an equalizer app that works with YouTube?
An equalizer is an audio filter that adjusts the volume levels across different frequencies. It allows you to boost or cut certain frequency ranges to customize the sound output. People want an equalizer for YouTube so they can tweak the audio to their preferences.
YouTube’s default audio quality tends to be compressed and lacking in certain frequencies. An equalizer enables users to get a fuller, richer sound by increasing bass, mids, trebles, or other ranges as desired. This can enhance the listening experience, bringing out details that may get lost in YouTube’s default compression.
Additionally, equalizers allow personalization based on equipment. Earphones and speakers vary in how they reproduce sound, so an equalizer lets you tune the audio for your particular setup. With an equalizer, YouTube listeners gain more control over the sonic qualities of what they hear.
Default YouTube Audio Quality
YouTube uses an audio compression codec called AAC to encode all audio in videos uploaded to the platform. According to Elektronauts, YouTube compresses audio at 128kbps regardless of the original audio quality. This is considered low to medium quality audio compression.
The main reason YouTube compresses audio is to reduce file sizes for faster streaming and smaller storage requirements. However, the heavy compression can degrade the listening experience, especially for music-focused content.
YouTube’s 128kbps audio bitrate is sufficient for basic listening but falls short of CD-quality audio which is around 1411kbps. The compression shrinks file sizes but also removes a lot of the dynamics and frequency range of songs and music videos.
Many users complain about the “tinny” or “flat” sound of YouTube audio after compression. While acceptable for casual viewing, audiophiles and music creators often look for ways to bypass the compression for higher fidelity playback.
Benefits of an Equalizer for YouTube
Using an equalizer can provide several audio benefits when watching YouTube videos:
Better audio quality – An equalizer allows you to adjust the frequency levels to suit your preferences. This can help compensate for deficiencies in your headphones or speakers and make the audio clearer and more balanced. You can boost certain frequencies that are too quiet in a video’s mix.
Customize sound profile – Equalizers give you granular control over different frequency ranges like bass, mids, and trebles. You can create audio profiles tailored to your taste for different genres like classical, rock, or pop music. This level of customization isn’t possible with YouTube’s default audio.
Boost quiet videos – Some YouTube videos can have very low volume levels. An equalizer enables you to turn up the gain across all frequencies to make quiet videos louder. This saves you from constantly adjusting your device’s main volume.
According to Browser Insider, key benefits of their Equalizer for YouTube Chrome extension include unleashing superior sound quality and elevating your audio experience.
Challenges of Using an Equalizer with YouTube
Using an equalizer with YouTube poses some challenges due to the nature of YouTube’s audio. YouTube compresses audio and video files when uploaded to optimize streaming and save bandwidth (Quora). This compression reduces audio quality and limits how much an equalizer can improve the sound. Additionally, YouTube does not natively support equalizer integrations in order to provide a consistent experience across devices (Reddit).
The compressed audio on YouTube means equalizers have less raw audio data to work with. Boosting certain frequency ranges may introduce artifacts and distortion. There’s only so much an equalizer can do with lower quality compressed audio. This poses a challenge compared to using an equalizer with lossless local audio files.
YouTube also aims to provide the same listening experience across platforms and devices. Allowing custom audio equalizer settings would disrupt that uniformity. This standardized approach limits the flexibility of integrating more advanced audio options natively within YouTube.
While equalizers can still help improve YouTube audio to an extent, these factors present challenges compared to other audio sources. Understanding these limitations helps set proper expectations when using an equalizer with YouTube.
Equalizer Apps for Desktop
There are several equalizer apps for desktop that work well for Windows and Mac users looking to enhance their YouTube audio experiences.
Equalizer APO is a popular open-source equalizer option for Windows users. It has a graphic user interface with an included configurator named Peace that allows users to control multiple frequencies and add effects like bass boost, reverb, and stereo widening [1]. Equalizer APO works system-wide and with nearly every audio source including YouTube.
Mac users have a native system equalizer in Audio MIDI Setup that allows basic adjustments to audio output. While functional, it lacks the detailed customization options of more advanced equalizers. Boom 3D and SoundSource are two often recommended commercial equalizer options [2]. They provide an interface to boost or lower frequencies across multiple bands and can integrate directly into system audio.
The only downside is that desktop equalizer apps require manual adjustments tailored to each audio source like YouTube, and remember to disable the equalizer when not needed. But for those looking for granular audio control, desktop equalizers provide significant enhancements.
Equalizer Apps for Mobile
When it comes to mobile equalizer apps for Android and iOS, there are a few popular options to consider. Wavelet (https://www.androidauthority.com/best-equalizer-apps-android-761240/) is an advanced equalizer and audio processing app for Android that allows for significantly enhanced audio quality when using headphones or connected speakers. It features ten band graphic equalizers for precise audio tuning and includes presets for different headphone brands.
Equalizer & Bass Booster is another good Android option (https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-equalizer-apps/) that provides control over the audio output through its five band equalizers. It also provides presets for apps like YouTube, Spotify and more.
Boom Sound is an equalizer app made by HTC for its Android smartphones. It provides customizable presets and the ability to personalize audio for videos, music and specific brands of headsets. It supports virtual surround sound, bass boost, and reverb effects.
For iOS, the Apple Music app has a built-in equalizer and options to create custom presets. Other good iOS equalizer apps include Boom, Horace, and Aequal. These provide equalizers with multiple bands, presets, bass boosting, virtual surround effects, and more.
Chrome Extension Options
Chrome extensions like Equalizer for YouTubeTM and Audio Equalizer for YoutubeTM allow users to customize the audio settings in YouTube. These extensions provide equalization capabilities directly within the Chrome browser when watching YouTube videos.
Features include custom frequency levels, bass boost, different preset equalizer modes like pop, rock, jazz, etc, left-right balance, volume level control, and more. Some extensions have both a graphical and parametric equalizer interface.
These Chrome extensions enable full control over the listening experience on YouTube without requiring a separate desktop app. They can compensate for audio that is too bright, tinny, muddy or lacking warmth and low end. However, they only work on desktop and not in mobile browsers or apps.
Limitations and Downsides
While equalizer apps can enhance the audio quality of YouTube videos, there are some limitations and downsides to be aware of. One major limitation is that YouTube compresses audio when uploading videos, so the full effects of an equalizer may not come through (Source). The compression algorithms YouTube uses optimize for small file sizes rather than audio quality, resulting in lost detail and dynamics.
Equalizer apps also face restrictions imposed by operating systems. On mobile devices, OS security policies limit access to hardware and how audio can be manipulated by third-party apps (Source). So mobile equalizer apps may not have full functionality compared to desktop versions.
There are also practical downsides like increased battery drain on mobile and potential stability issues if pushing extreme EQ settings. Overall, while equalizer apps can provide an improved listening experience for YouTube, there are inherent limits to the audio enhancements they can achieve.
The Best Equalizer for YouTube
Based on research, there are a few strong choices when it comes to equalizers for YouTube that provide robust audio adjustment capabilities:
Equalizer APO – This is a free system-wide equalizer for Windows that works very well with YouTube and allows for advanced audio tuning. It can take some setup but provides a lot of control over the sound. See this guide for help using Equalizer APO.
Wavelet – For Android devices, Wavelet offers an advanced auto-tuning equalizer that can significantly improve YouTube audio quality. It’s easy to setup and use. Wavelet is likely the best equalizer option for mobile YouTube use.
Conclusion
In summary, while the default YouTube audio quality is suitable for most casual listening, using an equalizer can provide a better listening experience by allowing you to customize the sound to your preferences. Apps like Boom, Viper4Android, and Wavelet provide robust equalizer options for mobile, while browser extensions like Enhancer for YouTube and Magic YouTube EQ offer equalizer customization on the desktop.
However, due to how YouTube streams audio, using an equalizer has limitations in boosting quality, especially for music videos. The audio signal may also become distorted if you apply extreme EQ adjustments.
Overall, Boom and Wavelet for Android, Magic YouTube EQ for desktop browsers, and even bundled equalizers on certain phones and headphones, are good options that can provide enhanced audio for most YouTube videos without significant downsides.