Is there an Android app to make the volume louder?
Why You May Want a Louder Volume
Many people may benefit from having the ability to increase the maximum volume output on their Android device beyond the built-in limits. Here are some common scenarios:
Hard of hearing users often need extra volume boost to properly hear audio from their device. According to statistics from the CDC, around 15% of American adults report some trouble hearing, with the rates increasing significantly with age. Even mild hearing loss can make it difficult to hear soft sounds and conversations.
Using your device in noisy environments like parties, construction sites, or while traveling on airplanes or trains can make it hard to hear even at full volume. Volume booster apps allow you to temporarily increase the volume for better audibility in these types of situations.
When connecting your Android device to external speakers, a TV, car stereo or other audio equipment, you may find the maximum volume output is too low, especially if trying to fill a large room. Volume boost apps can send a louder signal to these devices.
Android’s Built-In Volume Limits
Android has a built-in maximum volume limit for safety reasons, to help prevent hearing damage from excessive volume exposure. This limit caps the maximum output volume on both the phone’s built-in speakers as well as when using headphones plugged into the headphone jack.
The maximum volume limit is hardware-based and controlled at the operating system level, so it cannot be overridden by volume booster apps. The limit varies across Android devices depending on the audio hardware capabilities, but is typically set to a safe level below 85 dB output, which is the threshold for potential hearing loss with prolonged exposure.
Some Android manufacturers like Samsung allow users to customize the built-in volume limit level in the device settings, but cannot disable it completely for safety reasons. However adjusting the limit higher than the default could potentially lead to unsafe volume levels, so caution is advised.
While software volume boosters cannot override the hardware volume limit on wired headphones, they may be able to boost volume higher than recommended safe levels on the built-in speakers by digitally amplifying the audio signal before it reaches the hardware.
Volume Booster Apps
While Android has built-in volume limits, one way to achieve louder volumes is by using third-party volume booster apps. These apps can override Android’s default volume restrictions and amplify your device’s sound beyond normal levels.
Some popular volume booster apps for Android include:
- Volume Booster GOODEV – Simple app to boost speaker/headphone volume for movies, audio books, and music.
- Volume Booster for Android – Increases system volume levels and provides sound amplification.
- Super Loud Volume Booster – Allows adjusting media volumes beyond max level.
- Volume Amplifier – Boosts sound for music, videos, games, and voice calls.
These volume booster apps override the default volume limits by utilizing Android’s built-in AudioManager system service to directly control audio output volumes. They can boost overall system volume or amplify specific media sound. However, use caution as excessive volume increases hearing damage risk.
How Volume Booster Apps Work
Volume booster apps work by modifying the audio pipeline to amplify the volume beyond the built-in hardware limits (1). Specifically, they intercept the audio stream and use digital signal processing to increase the gain, which amplifies the output volume (2). This allows the sound to be louder than what the standard Android volume controls permit.
Volume booster apps override the volume limits imposed by the hardware manufacturer. For example, Samsung and LG smartphones often have lower maximum volumes than other brands. Volume booster apps bypass these hardware restrictions to boost sound louder than normally allowed (3).
Essentially, volume booster apps inject their own volume boosting code into the core audio pipeline. This enables them to amplify the gain higher than what Android natively permits. They digitally amplify the audio signal itself before passing it to the speakers or headphones (1).
Sources:
(1) https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/hrep01/eli5_how_do_volume_booster_apps_work/
(2) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goodev.volume.booster&hl=en_US&gl=US
(3) https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/129707609/is-there-any-way-to-get-volume-boosting-apps-to-actually-work-and-affect-the-phone-s-volume?hl=en
Caution About Hearing Loss
It’s important to be cautious about increasing volume to unsafe levels, as this can lead to permanent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Prolonged exposure to loud noises above 85 decibels can damage the hair cells in the inner ear that transmit sound to the brain [1]. NIHL is one of the most common occupational injuries, with approximately 16% of hearing loss attributed to occupational noise exposure [2].
Once NIHL occurs, the damage cannot be reversed. It’s crucial to avoid unsafe volume levels that could contribute to cumulative hearing loss over time. The safest option is to use audio compression or hearing assistance apps instead of volume boosters which remove the volume limits designed to protect hearing.
Alternatives to Volume Boost
Instead of relying on software volume boosting, which can cause audio distortion and hearing damage over time, there are some handy hardware accessories that can help amplify volume for those with hearing difficulties. Bluetooth speakers and headphones with their own volume amplifiers built-in are a great option. Many modern Bluetooth speakers have volume levels that far exceed what a phone’s built-in speakers can produce. Popular portable Bluetooth speaker brands like Anker, JBL, and Bose are known for delivering thunderous volume levels in compact form factors.
There are also dedicated external amplifier accessories made specifically for amplifying smartphone audio. These accessories, like the Cell Phone Amplifiers from ADCO, plug directly into your phone’s headphone jack or Lightning port and can boost sound up to 50x louder than normal volume. They act as a pre-amp before feeding audio into your headphones. Some models combine both a speaker and headphone jack amplifier together. The amplifier accessories are designed with hearing aids and cochlear implants in mind but provide a volume boost for anyone. Just be careful not to damage your hearing by cranking the volume too high.
Audio Compression Instead
Dynamic range compression is an alternative to boosting overall volume that can help make quiet sounds louder without overamplifying loud sounds. As described in an article on Homebrew Audio, compressors work by reducing the dynamic range between the loudest and quietest parts of an audio signal. This has the effect of turning up the volume during quiet passages while avoiding excessive loudness during already loud sections.
As one Reddit user explained in a thread on compression, “Compression turns up the the volume during the time quiet parts of your sounds are playing or turns down the loud parts of your sounds.” This makes the overall volume more consistent without introducing clipping or distortion from simply amplifying the entire signal equally.
So for anyone looking to effectively boost volume on Android without sacrificing audio quality or damaging speakers, using compression rather than a brute-force volume booster app could be a smarter approach. Audio production tools like equalizers and compressors give more nuanced control over loudness than just maximizing amplitude across the board.
Other Assistive Hearing Apps
In addition to volume boosters, there are other types of apps that can assist people with hearing impairments. Here are some examples:
- Hearing aid apps like ReSound and Oticon – These connect hearing aids to smartphones to adjust settings and stream audio.
- Live captioning apps like Live Transcribe – They provide real-time subtitles for conversations, videos, and other audio.
- Sound notification apps like Sound Alert – They provide visual alerts for sounds like alarms, knocks, baby cries.
Unlike volume boosters, these types of apps focus on enhancing speech, converting audio to text, adjusting hearing aid settings, or providing alternative alerts. They can be used together with volume boosters or separately based on a person’s specific needs.
For those who don’t require extremely loud volumes, assistive hearing apps provide more customizable options to improve audio and accessibility. With subtitles, visual alerts, and direct hearing aid integration, these apps tailor the sound experience for each individual user.
Conclusion
In summary, there are a few options to make your Android device’s volume louder if needed. Volume booster apps like Volume Booster GOODEV, Volume Booster & EQ, and Extra Volume Booster can amplify the volume beyond the built-in maximum limits. They work by compressing the audio signal to increase the volume. However, it’s important to use them cautiously and sparingly. Prolonged high volume exposure can damage your hearing over time. Consider using headphones to avoid disturbing others. You may also want to explore audio compression apps or other assistive hearing apps as safer alternatives.
Overall, while you can increase the volume through certain apps, it’s best to avoid overdoing it. Protect your hearing health while still being able to better hear your device when you need to.
References
NASA, Mars 2020 Rover Webpage. https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/. Accessed January 2020.
European Space Agency, ExoMars Rover Webpage. https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/ExoMars/ExoMars_rover. Accessed January 2020.
Jia, Ruixuan. “Difference Between Mars 2020 and ExoMars.” Space.com, January 2020. https://www.space.com/mars-2020-exomars-differences.html.
O’Callaghan, Jonathan. “Here Are All the Instruments Flying on NASA’s Perseverance Rover.” Scientific American, July 2020. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/here-are-all-the-instruments-flying-on-nasas-perseverance-rover/.
NASA, Mars Exploration Program. “Mars 2020 Rover.” https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/instruments/. Accessed January 2020.
