What is the best free volume booster?
A volume booster is a device or software that increases the overall volume or loudness of audio from a computer, smartphone, or other device. Volume boosters work by amplifying the gain on the audio signal to make it louder. People may want to use a volume booster if the standard volume on their device is too low, or if they have hearing difficulties and need louder audio. Some popular free volume booster options include software like the Windows Volume Booster, VLC media player, Audacity audio editor, and Chrome browser extensions. There are also free mobile apps like Volume Booster and Volume Booster Pro that can amplify sound.
Windows Volume Booster
Windows has a built-in volume booster called Loudness Equalization that can help make quiet sounds louder. To enable Loudness Equalization in Windows:
1. Open the Sound settings by going to Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound.1
2. Go to the Playback tab and select your speaker device.
3. Click Properties, go to the Enhancements tab, and check the box for Loudness Equalization.
Enabling Loudness Equalization boosts the volume of quiet sounds so they become more audible. This can make it easier to hear voices and details in music. However, it may reduce audio quality by distorting louder sounds when boosted. The effect may also be less noticeable with high-quality speakers.2
VLC Player
VLC media player is a popular free, open source media player available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. It includes an audio volume booster that can increase the maximum volume by up to 400% over the normal maximum.[1][2]
To enable the audio volume boost in VLC, open the Preferences menu (Ctrl+P on Windows/Linux, Command+P on Mac) and select “All” at the bottom to show all settings. Then expand the “Audio” section and increase the volume boost slider to up to 400% as desired. This will allow you to raise the volume higher than the normal maximum volume level of 100%.
The main advantage of using VLC’s built-in volume booster is that it’s free and doesn’t require installing any additional software. It also allows fine-grained control over the volume boost percentage. However, it only affects audio played through VLC, so it won’t boost volume globally. VLC also may not work as well for boosting volume on certain audio drivers. But for a basic free volume boost option, VLC is a good choice.
[1] https://superuser.com/questions/1513285/how-can-i-increase-the-maximum-volume-output-by-vlc
[2] https://geekswipe.net/technology/computing/increase-vlc-volume-800/
Audacity
Audacity is a free open source digital audio editor and recording application available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. One of Audacity’s most useful features is the Amplify effect, which can boost the volume of audio files.
To use the Amplify effect in Audacity, first download and install the software from https://www.audacityteam.org/download/. Once installed, open an audio file in Audacity. Select the entire track or portion you want to amplify, then go to Effect > Amplify. Here you can adjust the amplification level measured in decibels (dB). The higher the amplification level, the louder the volume.
When applying amplification, it’s important to be aware of clipping. Clipping occurs when the amplification pushes the volume past the maximum level, causing distortion. Audacity provides a clipping warning if this occurs. You may need to balance the amplification level to get the desired volume increase without clipping.
The advantages of using Audacity’s Amplify effect are that it’s free, works cross-platform, and allows precise control over the amplification amount. The limitation is that it requires downloading and installing desktop software rather than being an online or mobile solution.
Chrome Volume Booster Extension
There are several free Chrome extensions that can boost your computer’s volume beyond the maximum level. These extensions work by amplifying the audio signal before it reaches your speakers. Some popular options include:
Volume Booster – With over 10 million total installs, this is one of the most popular volume boosting extensions. It provides volume amplification up to 400%.
Sound Booster – This extension can boost volume by up to 1000% and has options to remember settings on a per-website basis. It works for both music and videos.
To install these extensions, simply go to the Chrome Web Store and click “Add to Chrome”. Then adjust the volume boost level in the extension’s settings. These extensions are very easy to use – just set your desired boost level and enjoy louder audio.
The main advantage of these extensions is being able to make audio louder than your speakers’ max volume. This is useful for music, videos, and games. The downside is that excessive boosting can reduce audio quality and cause distortion. So it’s best to use the minimum boost needed.
Desktop App Solutions
There are several free desktop apps like Volume2 and JetAudio that can boost volume above the Windows maximum. These provide an easy way to get more volume without any complicated setup.
Volume2 (https://www.techspot.com/downloads/6926-sound-booster.html) is a lightweight app made specifically for boosting volume. It works by intercepting audio streams and amplifying the volume in real-time. You can boost volume up to 500% above the maximum level. Volume2 has options to automatically run at startup and minimize to the tray. It also lets you bind hotkeys for enabling/disabling volume boosting.
JetAudio (https://filmora.wondershare.com/audio/volume-booster-for-windows.html) is an advanced media player that includes a volume booster feature. Under JetEffects, you can enable the Extra Volume option to boost system-wide volume beyond 100%. JetAudio also has a 16-band equalizer and various audio enhancement effects. The main downside is the interface can be overwhelming compared to a simple volume booster app.
A key advantage of desktop apps is they work with nearly any audio source on your PC. Volume boosting also happens in real-time so you can adjust it on the fly. However, desktop apps may not work as well for certain programs like web browsers. They also require installing software rather than using a built-in solution.
Mobile App Solutions
There are a few free mobile apps available for Android devices that can help boost your device’s volume beyond the maximum levels. These apps use software solutions to override the volume limit set by your device manufacturer.
One popular app is Volume Booster GOODEV. This simple, small app allows you to boost your speaker or headphone volume, making it useful for listening to movies, audiobooks, and music. It has over 10 million downloads and generally positive reviews in the Google Play store.
Another top option is Volume Booster – Sound Booster. This app called XBooster acts as an extra volume booster with bass booster and equalizer functionality. It claims to be able to increase your phone’s volume higher than the max hardware levels.
The key advantage of these mobile apps is that they are free and easy to use. Once installed, you simply launch the app and adjust the volume boost slider to your desired loudness level. However, some users report audio quality issues at very high volume levels. These apps may also drain your battery faster. Overall, they provide a decent free option for boosting volume on Android phones and tablets.
Online Web Tools
Some of the most popular and convenient ways to boost audio volume are free online web tools. Sites like Online Audio Volume Booster allow you to upload an audio file like an MP3 and apply effects to increase the volume. These online tools are very easy to use – just drag and drop your file, adjust the volume boost slider, and download the louder version. They work directly in your web browser so there is no software to download.
The main benefit of online web tools is convenience. You don’t need to install any programs and can access them from any computer. However, they may be limited in advanced audio editing features compared to desktop apps. You are also uploading your audio files to a third-party site, so privacy could be a concern. Online tools work well for quick, basic volume boosting but may lack controls over dynamics and EQ that downloaded software provides.
Additional Tips
If the software solutions don’t provide enough volume boost for your needs, here are some additional tips:
Try using headphones or external speakers that can play audio at higher volumes. Quality headphones from brands like Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser are designed to deliver louder and clearer audio safely.
Consider getting a USB sound card or external DAC (digital-to-analog converter). They can bypass limitations of built-in audio hardware and give you more volume control options.
Adjust your system’s sound settings to ensure volume is set to 100%. Go to Control Panel > Sound to configure your playback device’s advanced settings.
When boosting volume, listen at lower levels first to avoid damaging your hearing. Gradually increase to find the sweet spot between loudness and safety.
Take breaks during long listening sessions to give your ears a rest. Exposure to excessive volume over time can cause permanent hearing loss.
If volume is still too low, look into assistive listening devices designed for those with hearing impairments. But consult an audiologist first.
Conclusion
There are many free volume booster options to choose from, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The best overall options seem to be the Windows Volume Booster if using Windows and VLC player for cross-platform use. Both provide system-wide volume boosting capabilities while remaining free and open source.
When selecting a volume booster, key factors to consider are: platform compatibility, if you want a system-wide or app-specific solution, ease of use, and impact on audio quality. Testing different options to find the best fit for your needs is recommended.
Using a volume booster can be useful for those who have hearing difficulties, listen in noisy environments, or simply want extra loud audio for music, videos, or gaming. Boosting the volume beyond your device’s maximum can make content more immersive and enjoyable.
I hope this overview of free volume boosters was helpful. Please share any feedback or suggestions for future tech content topics in the comments below.