How to boost bass on Android equalizer?
An equalizer is an audio setting that allows you to adjust the volume levels of different frequencies within music or audio tracks. Equalizers enable you to customize the sound to suit your preferences and listening environment. For example, you may want to turn up the bass on your Android device’s speakers to get more low end “punch” when listening to hip hop or pop music. Or you may want to boost treble frequencies to make acoustic guitars and vocals sound crisper when using headphones. With just a few adjustments in the equalizer settings, you can significantly alter and enhance the listening experience on your Android phone or tablet.
There are a few different ways to access and customize the equalizer on your Android device. Many Android phones come with a built-in equalizer within the Settings menu. There are also many third party equalizer apps you can download from the Google Play Store. In this guide, we’ll cover the various methods to boost bass and adjust other frequencies using the Android equalizer.
Check if Your Android Phone Has an Equalizer
The first step is to check if your Android phone already has a built-in equalizer. Many Android devices come with a pre-installed equalizer app that can adjust audio settings.
To find the equalizer, open your phone’s Settings app and tap on ‘Sound & vibration’ or ‘Audio settings.’ Look for an option like ‘Equalizer’ or ‘Preset audio’ in this menu (the exact name varies by device). You may need to tap ‘Advanced’ to see more audio options.
On a Samsung Galaxy device, the equalizer will be under ‘Sound quality and effects.’ For a Pixel phone, check under ‘Audio’ in Sounds & vibration settings. Most Android phones from LG, Sony, OnePlus, and other brands also include built-in equalizers.
If you don’t see an equalizer option, your phone may not have one built-in. You’ll need to download a third-party app instead. But try searching your Settings app thoroughly first.
Download an Equalizer App
There are several great equalizer apps to choose from for Android. Some of the top options include:
- Poweramp Equalizer (https://www.soundguys.com/best-eq-apps-73891/) – This is one of the most popular and full-featured EQ apps for Android. It provides a 10-band equalizer as well as presets and the ability to tweak many audio settings.
- Wavelet (https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/w1ozvd/what_is_a_good_eq_app_for_android/) – Wavelet auto-generates settings optimized for your specific headphones and has both graphic and parametric EQ options.
- Equalizer & Bass Booster (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=music.bassbooster.equalizer&hl=en_US&gl=US) – This app offers a 5-band equalizer, bass booster, virtualizer effects, and preset options for different genres.
All of these apps allow you to customize the EQ profile and boost bass or other frequencies as desired. They work with most music apps and streaming services. Try out a few to see which interface and features you prefer.
Open the Equalizer
To open the equalizer on your Android device, first launch the music app or audio player you want to adjust the sound settings for. Many apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, Poweramp, and others have a built-in equalizer you can access in the settings. Look for an “EQ” button or tab in the app’s settings or main menu.
Alternatively, download a third-party equalizer app like Equalizer FX or Wavelet (source). Once installed, open the equalizer app and it will show you sliders to control different frequency bands.
The key is finding where the equalizer interface is located in your chosen music app. It may be buried in the settings, so you may need to tap through a few menus. But once open, you’ll see a graphical equalizer with frequency sliders you can adjust.
Adjust the Bass Level
The easiest way to boost bass on the equalizer is to simply drag the bass slider up. Most equalizers will have a slider specifically dedicated to controlling the bass levels. Find the slider labeled “Bass” and drag the slider up to boost the bass to your liking. The higher you set the slider, the more the bass frequencies will be amplified. Start with the bass slider set halfway and listen to the difference in audio quality. Incrementally increase the bass boost from there until you reach the desired enhanced low end. According to digitaltrends.com, the bass frequency range spans from 50-200 Hz, so this slider controls the amplification of those low frequencies.
Be careful not to boost the bass too much, as this can muddy up the clarity of the audio. A moderate bass boost is usually sufficient to give the music more thump and punch. It’s generally better to make smaller increments when increasing the bass, listening for audible changes as you go. Boosting certain frequencies too high can also cause distortion. Find the sweet spot on the bass slider that gives you the low end bump you want without negatively impacting the overall sound quality.
Set a Custom Bass Boost
The easiest way to boost bass is to select a preset with extra bass. Many equalizers have presets like “Bass Booster”, “Bass Heavy”, or “Extra Bass”. Selecting one of these presets will automatically adjust the EQ bands to emphasize low frequencies.
For example, on the Google Play Music app, go into Settings > Equalizer and select a preset like “Bass Reducer” or “Bass Booster”. This will boost bass levels without having to manually change each frequency band.1
You can also create a custom EQ setting optimized for bass. Do this by turning up the decibel levels on the lower frequency bands. For most bass, boost the 60 Hz – 200 Hz bands. Don’t turn the decibels up too high or it may sound distorted. Boost bass gradually and listen to music samples as you adjust to get the ideal mix.
On the Samsung Music app equalizer, slowly turn up the 60 Hz, 130 Hz, and 260 Hz bands. Each incremental boost will emphasize bass more. Listen to music samples after each adjustment. When the bass is punchy without sounding muddy, you’ve likely found the sweet spot for that device’s speakers.2
Enable the Volume Boost
To increase the overall volume, especially the bass, enable the volume booster or amplifier setting in your equalizer app. This will allow you to get more powerful and louder bass from your Android phone’s speakers or headphones. Many equalizer apps like Extra Volume Booster Equalizer have a dedicated volume booster/amplifier option that can increase the master volume by up to 200%. Turning this on will make the bass much more prominent without having to max out the bass sliders. Just be careful not to set the volume too high to avoid damage to your hearing or speakers. The volume boost gives an easy way to get thumping bass sound from your Android device.
Use the Bass Booster Preset
Some equalizer apps like A PowerSoft Free Audio Enhancer come with dedicated bass booster presets that can dramatically amplify the lower frequencies.[1] Switching on these presets enables the app to automatically adjust the frequency bands to boost bass levels. This provides a quick and easy way to get thumping bass without having to manually configure the equalizer. Most bass booster presets focus on boosting frequencies between 20-200 Hz to target sub-bass and low bass frequencies.
To use a bass booster preset:
- Open your equalizer app and locate the presets section.
- Look for presets named “Bass Booster”, “Bass Enhancer”, or something similar.
- Tap on the bass booster preset to activate it.
- Play your music and listen if the bass is now boosted to your liking.
- Adjust the strength of the bass boost effect in the app settings if needed.
Experiment with different bass presets to find the one that works best for bringing out the low end on your tracks. Some apps allow saving your own custom presets as well.
Adjust Other Frequency Bands
In addition to boosting bass, you can also tweak the midrange and treble frequencies to further customize the overall sound profile on your Android device. The midrange controls the vocals and lead instruments, while the treble controls the high-pitched sounds and percussion.
If the mids sound muddy or the highs are too piercing, try lowering those bands slightly. Alternatively, to make vocals or cymbals more pronounced, try raising the mids or highs a few decibels. Just don’t boost too drastically or you may introduce distortion. Aim for minor +/- 3 to 6 dB adjustments to fine-tune things.
It’s especially important not to overdo the treble boost, as too much high end can become fatiguing on the ears. Consider lowering the highest frequencies if the sound seems overly thin or harsh. Trust your ears and make small, gradual changes until you achieve a pleasant, balanced sound across lows, mids, and highs.
Conclusion
Increasing the bass on your Android phone is easy with the built-in equalizer or third-party apps. The key steps are:
1. Check if your Android has a native equalizer in the Settings. If not, download an equalizer app like Equalizer FX.
2. Open the equalizer and locate the bass frequency sliders. Drag them upwards to boost bass. Set the bass to around +4 dB for a moderate boost.
3. Use presets like Bass Booster to maximize bass levels. Customize as needed by adjusting midrange and treble frequencies.
4. Enable volume boost if you want louder overall sound. This amplifies all frequencies, not just bass.
With a few equalizer adjustments, you can achieve a punchier, more vibrant bass sound from your Android device speakers or headphones. Experiment to find the right bass boost for your listening tastes.