Get better sound from your Android phone with these 5 simple tips

I’m always looking for ways to improve the sound I hear. Whether it’s my recorder, my desktop streaming service, or my phone, no device is exempt from my never-ending quest.

If your main source of music, podcasts, videos, etc. is your Android phone and you’re still not satisfied, there are a few ways to improve what you hear. While you’ll never reach that mobile audiophile nirvana, you can improve your results significantly without too much effort.

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Let me show you how.

5 tips to get the best sound from your Android phone

1. Use wired headphones

Bluetooth is convenient but noisy. When it sends a signal from your phone to your headphones, two things happen. First, the audio is compressed, thereby losing significant fidelity. Second, there is always the risk of interference, which can introduce interference into the signal.

Because of these two factors, you should choose wired headphones when you want higher quality sound. Of course, with most modern phones, that means buying one USB-C to 3.5mm adapterso you can plug those headphones in. If you’re looking for an affordable pair of headphones that can handle Bluetooth and wired connections, I highly recommend Marshall Major IV.

2. Absolutely turn off the volume for Bluetooth

This is a problem I often encounter when jogging outdoors: The sound emitted via the Bluetooth connection is not loud enough to be heard clearly. This can be especially true when using bone conduction headphones, which let in a lot of ambient sound. However, the following option comes with a warning: Use caution when using this option as you may experience overly loud or distorted sound. Sending too many decibels into your ears can damage them.

To disable Absolute Volume for Bluetooth in Android, you must first enable developer options. To do that, open Settings and go to About phone. Locate the Build Number listing and tap it seven times. Once you’ve enabled developer options, find it in Settings and look for Absolute Volume Off. Tap the On/Off slider until it is in the On position and the feature is enabled. You can now increase the volume from those Bluetooth speakers.

3. Listen to music from a better source

If your primary source of music is a streaming service, you’ll want to make sure the service you’ve chosen offers a high-quality option. While Spotify has yet to release the long-rumored HiFi option, you can at least change the Sound Quality setting (for both WiFi and cellular) to High or Very High. I recommend using Auto for cellular and Very high for WiFi. If you use Very High for mobile, Spotify will consume significantly more data, which may lead to data overage. Some music streaming services — Tide is a — has provided high-resolution audio options,

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Not every phone/headphone combination can produce high-resolution audio, so your mileage may vary. Also, remember to download your music in high-quality formats, such as FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec), whenever possible. In short, make sure the source is the best it can be.

4. Use built-in EQ or install the app

The equalizer allows you to customize the sound to suit your personal preferences and needs. But don’t think of EQ as just boosting the bass or treble of your music. Equalization can also help you hear voices more easily (by boosting midrange). If you listen to a lot of podcasts, you may want to boost the midrange, which makes voices stand out more.

ABOVE Samsung Android phone, you’ll find the built-in equalizer in Settings > Sound & Vibration > Sound Quality and Effects > Equalizer. On other Android phones, you may need to install a third-party app, such as Flat Equalizer – Bass Booster. On Pixel devices with Pixel Buds Pro, you’ll find minimum EQ in the Pixel Buds Pro settings. Once they’re connected, go to Connected Devices > Pixel Buds Pro > Gear icon > Sound > Equalizer. There you can adjust the upper treble, treble, midrange, bass and low bass – or you can choose from one of the presets.

5. Use the Google Sound Amplifier app

Google has created a Sound Amplifier app that can perform several functions: amplify sounds around you or on your phone; improve phone conversations in noisy places; noise reduction, quiet sound enhancement and frequency adjustment; and allows you to apply settings independently to each ear.

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Note: Because this app is designed to work with wired headphones, you may experience unreliable results with Bluetooth headphones. Once the app is enabled, you can adjust settings for the phone mic or phone media. This app comes pre-installed on Pixel Phones but can be installed on other Android phones from Google Play Store.

With just a little effort, you can significantly improve the sound on your Android device. It may take a combination of the above tips but I’m confident you’ll be able to fill your ears with the best possible sound from your mobile device.