How to boost bass Equalizer on Android?

What is an Equalizer?

An audio equalizer is a device or software that allows users to adjust the balance between frequency components within an audio signal [1]. It divides the audio spectrum into several frequency bands and enables the amplification or attenuation of specific bands in order to optimize the overall sound.

Equalizers allow for boosting or cutting frequencies by adjusting multiple sliders, knobs, or filters. For example, boosting the bass frequencies around 80-120 Hz will make the low end more prominent, while attenuating the midrange around 1-5 kHz can reduce harshness or sibilance. Common adjustments involve enhancing bass, reducing treble, or scooping the midrange to achieve a desired tone [2].

Equalizers are commonly used in audio production and reproduction to alter the frequency response of recordings, live sound, or audio playback systems. They can compensate for flaws in speakers, headphones, room acoustics, or correct issues in a recording. Equalizers give users customizable tonal control and are a versatile audio tool.

Why Boost Bass on Android?

Boosting the bass on your Android phone can enhance your listening experience, especially for bass-heavy music genres like hip-hop, EDM, and dubstep. The small speakers on smartphones often lack the ability to reproduce deep, punchy bass tones compared to larger drivers. Turning up the lower frequencies can help compensate for this limitation.

Some people simply prefer a warmer, more bass-heavy sound profile. Bass boost can help achieve that engaging, powerful listening experience on your mobile device. With the right equalizer settings, you can give the bass a noticeable bump without muddying up the other frequencies.

Additionally, boosting certain frequency ranges can help make up for hearing loss in those registers. It enables you to better hear and feel the thumping bass rhythms in your favorite tracks.

Check if Your Android Phone Has an Equalizer

Most Android phones come with a built-in equalizer app. To check if your phone has one, open the Settings app and go to the Sound or Audio section. Look for an option called “Equalizer” or something similar. If you see it, tap to open the equalizer interface. This is where you can adjust the bass and other frequency bands.

Some examples of Android phones with built-in equalizers include Samsung Galaxy, LG, Motorola, Sony Xperia, OnePlus, and Pixel phones. The exact steps to access the equalizer may vary by brand.

If your Android phone does not have an equalizer app built-in, don’t worry. You can download a third-party equalizer app from the Play Store instead. Some popular options are Equalizer FX, Music Bass Booster, Poweramp Equalizer, and Wavelet. These apps let you customize the sound output with various presets and bands.

Use a Third-Party Equalizer App

One of the best ways to optimize your Android audio is by using a dedicated third-party equalizer app. There are many great options to choose from:

Viper4Android – A powerful and highly customizable EQ with bass boosting and surround sound effects.
Equalizer FX – Features a 10-band graphic EQ with bass boost and virtualizer effects.

Poweramp – A popular music player with a built-in 10-band EQ and tone control.

Third-party EQ apps give you more advanced audio tuning options compared to the basic equalizers built into Android. They allow you to customize the sound signature to your liking with hands-on control over multiple frequency ranges. However, some find the extra features overwhelming and prefer to stick with simpler EQs.

The main downside of third-party equalizers is that they only work within their own app. To EQ system-wide audio, your phone needs to support global or system-wide equalization. So check this before installing an advanced equalizer. Overall, they provide the most flexible way to get that perfect bass boost on Android.

Adjust the Bass Level

To boost bass on your Android device, you’ll need to locate the low frequency bands in the equalizer and turn them up. The bass frequencies generally range from 60 Hz to 250 Hz. Look for slider controls labeled as “Bass”, “Lower Range”, or with frequency numbers in that range.

Slowly increase the gain or volume level for those lower bands to boost the bass to your liking. Most EQ apps and music players will allow you to adjust the bass in 2-3 dB increments up to around +12 dB. We recommend starting around +3 to +6 dB and listening to test the impact. Don’t boost any single band too high to avoid muddying the sound.

How much you boost the bass depends on your personal taste in music and the type of headphones/speakers you use. For reference, many experts recommend between +3 to +9 dB for bass boost on Android. You can always adjust the bass bands up or down to find the sweet spot for your audio setup.[1]

Set Other Frequency Bands

After you’ve boosted the bass to your liking, you’ll want to adjust the other frequency bands for optimal sound. The midrange frequencies (250 Hz – 2 kHz) encompass vocals and most musical instruments. High frequencies (2 kHz – 16 kHz) include cymbals, higher piano and guitar tones.

Reduce midrange frequencies that conflict with the boosted bass. For example, lower the 500 Hz and 1 kHz bands slightly. This will allow the bass to shine through more clearly. Too much midrange can make the sound muddy.

The high frequencies control the treble and overall clarity. Boosting 8-16 kHz can add liveliness, but don’t overdo it. Excessive treble leads to listening fatigue. Find a comfortable balance between sparkling highs and smooth mids.

Experiment with different settings while listening to your favorite bass-heavy tracks. See what sounds best to your ears. There is no one-size-fits-all equalizer setting. Take the time to tweak it to match your preferences and music library.

Enable Volume Normalization

The purpose of volume normalization when adjusting EQ levels is to ensure a consistent, balanced listening experience across your music library. Normalization aims to match the volume of all tracks to a similar loudness which prevents the need to adjust volume constantly track-by-track.

Typically normalization is set to a loudness around 89-90 dB which brings all audio to an equal perceived level without distortion or compromise to audio quality (source). This allows you to boost bass or treble as desired without certain tracks becoming disproportionately loud.

Many third party equalizer apps like Poweramp have normalization settings built-in to find under audio preferences or playback settings. For Spotify’s built-in equalizer, normalization can be enabled under settings > playback. Just toggle the “enable volume normalization” switch.

While normalization can impact perceived loudness slightly, it generally does not degrade audio quality if set to reasonable levels. For the best listening experience while adjusting EQ levels, normalization is recommended.

Use Media Players with Equalizer

To enhance your overall listening experience, use Android music apps that have built-in equalizer support. This allows you to apply audio adjustments to all music played through the app, instead of just adjusting system-wide settings.

Some popular Android music apps with robust equalizer capabilities include:

Poweramp – This powerful music player has a fully customizable 10-band equalizer and presets to choose from. You can tweak the equalizer to get the exact sound you want.
Neutron Music Player – Provides a 32-band equalizer to finely tune audio output. Has an impressive array of audio enhancement tools.

Pulsar Music Player – Features a 5-band equalizer with bass boost and virtualizer effects. Pulsar lets you customize the audio profile.
jetAudio HD Music Player – Equipped with a 20-band graphic equalizer and various sound effects. Known for its high-quality audio output.

Using these specialized music apps gives you more granular control over the equalizer. You can create an audio profile tuned to your preferences that will apply to all music played in the app. This delivers a consistent listening experience optimized for your bass boost and other equalizer needs.

Troubleshooting

If you’re having issues getting your equalizer to work properly, here are some tips to try:

Check app permissions – Make sure the equalizer app has permission to access your audio and modify settings. Go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Permissions and enable all relevant permissions.

Disable audio effects – Other sound effects like virtual surround sound can conflict with the equalizer. Try disabling any other audio mods in your phone’s settings.

Revert to default – If your adjustments end up sounding bad, reset the equalizer back to its default flat state. This will remove any problematic settings you may have enabled.

As a last resort, uninstalling and reinstalling the equalizer app, or rebooting your phone, may also help resolve glitches.

Tips for Great Bass

Here are some tips for getting the most out of your bass boost on Android:

Use good quality headphones. Quality headphones with good bass response will allow you to really feel the low end. Avoid cheap earbuds that can’t reproduce bass well.

Pick genres like hip-hop, EDM, dubstep etc. that emphasize bass in the mix. The heavy use of bass lines and kick drums in these genres lets you experience thumping bass.

Experiment with different equalizer settings. Boosting too much can make the bass muddy. Try small boosts around 60-100Hz for punchy but clean bass.

Use an app like Viper4Android or Wavelet that lets you tweak advanced audio options. They give finer control over the frequency bands.

Consider using high-resolution music files or streaming services. The improved audio quality brings out details in bass better.

Try alternative tips like using seal-type ear tips that isolate noise and increase perceived bass.