What is the best app to make your speakers louder?
The maximum volume achievable from smartphone or computer speakers is limited by the hardware. The speakers themselves can only output sound up to a certain decibel level before distortion occurs. Simply turning up the device’s volume to maximum may not result in the loudest clean audio if the speakers lack the power to reproduce it properly. There are a few different ways to maximize volume within the hardware limitations. This includes using apps to boost software volume, adding external amplifiers and speakers, and utilizing audio enhancements to make the sound appear louder than it is. The goal is to find the best balance between loud yet clear and undistorted audio output.
Volume Booster Apps
Many volume booster apps like Volume Booster and Volume Maximizer can boost the max volume output on Android phones. These apps work by modifying the system sound profiles to increase the maximum amplification limits (1). Popular options include:
- Volume Booster by Goodev – A simple, free app to safely boost volume higher than max levels (2).
- XBooster – Provides extra volume boosting with bass boost and equalizer features.
- Volume Booster GOODEV – Another basic volume boosting app good for music and videos (3).
These volume booster apps directly modify your Android system sound profiles, allowing you to bypass the default max volume set by your phone manufacturer. This lets you pump up the sound substantially louder than normal maximum levels. However, pushing volumes too high can cause distortion or damage speakers, so use caution (4).
Overall, volume booster apps provide a quick and easy way to get louder sound from your mobile device’s built-in speakers. Just be careful not to overdo it. For more nuanced audio adjustments, see the sections below on equalizers and amplifiers.
Sources:
(1) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=volumebooster.sound.loud.speaker.booster&hl=en_US&gl=US
(2) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goodev.volume.booster&hl=en_US&gl=US
(3) https://www.lifewire.com/best-speaker-booster-apps-4174657
(4) https://www.lifewire.com/best-speaker-booster-apps-4174657
Equalizers
Equalizers are tools that allow you to adjust the balance of low, mid and high frequency ranges in your music. They work by boosting or cutting specific frequency bands, which enables you to amplify the parts of the music you want to emphasize. For example, boosting the low frequencies can help increase the bass, while cutting the highs can reduce any harsh treble sounds.
Using an equalizer is an effective way to make your speakers sound louder. By boosting the low frequencies around 60-250 Hz, you can give the music more thump and power. The mid frequencies around 500 Hz-2 kHz also control the clarity and presence of vocals and instruments. Gently boosting these can help make the music sound fuller at lower volumes. However, be careful not to overdo the EQ otherwise the sound may become distorted or fatiguing.
There are many equalizer apps available for Android devices including Equalizer FX, Bass Booster and Music Volume EQ. These provide graphical interfaces with sliders to tweak the different frequency bands. Start with small boosts of 1-3 dB and listen to the effect. Too much boosting can make the sound unnatural. Always use high quality headphones or speakers to set your EQ for the best results.
Use Compression to Boost Loudness
Audio compression, also called dynamic range compression, is a technique that reduces the volume of loud sounds or amplifies quiet sounds to narrow the overall volume range. It makes quiet sounds louder and loud sounds quieter.
Apps like Volume+ use compression to boost the loudness of your smartphone’s speakers. Compression brings up the quiet parts so they are more audible, while preventing the loud parts from getting uncomfortably loud. This allows you to turn up the volume higher before distortion kicks in.
Compression is useful for boosting loudness because it dynamically shapes the volume curve across the frequency range. It can amplify low-level detail that would otherwise be drowned out at high volumes. Used correctly, compression can produce a fuller, richer sound from small speakers.
Amplifiers/DACs
External amplifiers and digital-to-analog converters (DACs) are designed to drive speakers with more power and enhance the audio signal for louder, cleaner volume. Dedicated headphone amplifiers like the FiiO BTR3 are compact devices that can be used with smartphones and other audio sources to amplify the signal and make your headphones play louder. They provide a cleaner gain structure without adding distortion or digital artifacts like some software volume boosters. The amplifier takes the line-level or digital signal and amplifies it through high quality analog circuits rather than relying on digital processing. This allows the sound to get significantly louder with lower noise and distortion.
External DAC/amp units and AV receivers also have much more powerful amplifiers than those built into phones and laptops. Connecting bookshelf speakers or home theater speakers to one of these devices enables louder volumes with room-filling sound compared to the tiny built-in phone speaker. The external amp provides the power needed for high dynamic range and volume levels. So if you need louder speakers, getting a dedicated amp or DAC is the best option for audio quality and volume.
Adjust Media Volume
A common issue with streaming media and audio files is that the volume level can be lower than desired. This can occur due to compression or an intentional lower volume mix by the content creator. Normalizing and adjusting the volume on the playback device is an easy solution.
Apps like Audacity allow you to open audio files and increase their normalized volume. This is done through amplification and compression to bring up the overall level. The file can then be exported at a higher volume while maintaining the original audio quality. It’s an easy editing solution before listening.
Most music players and streaming apps also have volume boost or leveling options. This amplifies the playback volume of that particular media player. Features like Spotify’s “Loudness Normalization” normalize volume across tracks so you don’t have to adjust constantly. This boosts the quieter tracks. Most music players now include options to amplify or normalize volume.
Adjusting playback and normalized volume before listening is an easy way to boost audio files and streams to the desired loudness. Just be careful not to over-amplify, which can degrade the quality.
Get Loud Speakers
The key features of a speaker that allow it to play very loud are its sensitivity, impedance rating, and power handling capabilities. Speaker sensitivity refers to how efficiently the speaker converts electrical input to sound output, measured in decibels per watt (dB/W). Speakers with high sensitivity ratings, like 90+ dB/W, will play louder at the same power level compared to less sensitive speakers.
Impedance indicates how much resistance there is to electrical signal flow through the speaker, measured in ohms. Lower impedance speakers, like 4-8 ohms, allow more current to flow for a given voltage, resulting in higher power and volume capacity. However, low impedance speakers require an amplifier capable of driving that amount of current without distortion or damage.
Power handling signifies the continuous and peak wattage a speaker can accept from an amplifier without damage. High power handling capacity, such as 200+ watts continuous, enables louder volumes to be produced. To achieve extreme loudness, choose high-sensitivity speakers with low impedance and high power handling.
Some examples of speakers optimized for very loud playback are the SOUNDBOKS Gen 3, JBL PRX815W, and Cerwin Vega Stroker.
Add a Subwoofer
Adding a dedicated subwoofer allows your main speakers to focus on higher frequencies like mids and highs, while the subwoofer handles the low frequency bass tones. According to one source, “The main purpose of adding another subwoofer is not to increase the volume of the bass. It is to fill the gaps in the room.” [1] With a subwoofer handling the lows, your main speakers can use their full power on the mids and highs. This division of frequency ranges allows for an increase in perceived loudness and impact.
While adding a second equal subwoofer only increases volume by +6dB, most people perceive a doubling of loudness as requiring a 10dB increase. The added impact provided by a dedicated subwoofer can make music and movies sound significantly louder and harder hitting, even at the same absolute volume levels.
Use Sound Enhancements
Some apps utilize psychoacoustic effects to make audio seem louder without actually increasing the volume. As described by Izotope (https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/psychoacoustics-how-perception-influences-music-production.html), our perception of loudness depends on factors like frequency, timing, and timbre. Apps can boost certain frequencies to increase the perceived clarity and loudness of audio without raising the actual volume level.
Many volume booster apps use equalization to emphasize the mid and high frequencies. Since these ranges are more perceptible to the human ear, selective boosts can make audio seem subjectively louder and clearer. However, care must be taken to avoid over-boosting treble which can lead to listening fatigue over time.
While psychoacoustic effects can make quieter audio more audible, they have limitations. Large boosts may degrade sound quality, and these methods can’t replace actual volume increases when audio is very low. Users should be thoughtful about applying psychoacoustic processing, and avoid relying on it as a sole solution for quiet speakers.
Conclusion
Increasing speaker volume can be achieved through various software and hardware methods, each with their own pros and cons. While volume booster apps and equalizers can provide a quick and easy boost, they may also degrade audio quality at high volumes. Dedicated amplifiers and DACs can substantially increase volume without distortion, but require additional hardware purchases. Adjusting media and system volumes, upgrading speakers, and adding a subwoofer also help maximize loudness through hardware improvements.
However, hardware limitations must be kept in mind – playing audio above a speaker’s capabilities can permanently damage voice coils and other components. Pushing volume too high can also lead to blown tweeters and degraded sound. Additionally, prolonged exposure to loud volumes poses hearing damage risks.
The ideal approach is to use a combination of software boosts and hardware upgrades to safely maximize volume without distortion or damage. Start with volume enhancer apps and EQ adjustments, but invest in higher-powered speakers and amplifiers if louder audio is desired. Most importantly, avoid excessive volumes for long periods and be mindful of hardware limitations to find the optimal balance between loud yet safe and high-quality sound.