A user of itechtics asks the following question: “Just wondering if I can increase the volume of Windows beyond the maximum limit?”
The question can be divided into two parts, whether you want to increase the sound of the multimedia playback on your system or increase the maximum volume of the overall system. I will discuss three methods to boost sound in Windows beyond 100% default.
Using Audio Enhancements
This method will enhance the maximum volume of the overall system. In Windows, there is a loudness equalization option supported by most sound cards which needs to be configured in order to make audio louder. Let’s go through the process step by step:
- Click on the Volume icon in the system tray
- Click on the speaker icon on the sound mixer popup
- Select Enhancements from the opened window
- Check Loudness Equalization from the list and click OK
This should increase the overall system sound effect to be more louder. But for any reason, your sound card does not support equalization, then you’ll need to go with the other options mentioned in this article.
Using Sound Booster Plugins
Second method is to use sound booster plugins. This is the most reliable and exciting option. But the problem is that there are not many free sound booster plugins available which have many options available for free. But we will list down a few plugins which can be used for boosting the overall volume of the system.
Audio Enhancer Bongiovi DPS Plugin
This is a commercial plugin but you can test it out using the trial version. It supports a lot of sound enhancement and equalization options. Bongiovi DPS plugin is available for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. It also support Max OSX.
DFX Audio Enhancer Plugin
DFX Audio Enhancer is my favorite tool for enhancing the system volume on my system. DFX Audio Enhancer boosts the sound quality of audio playback of the overall system which includes your music, videos, Internet audio, games and other programs. This plugin comes with a free edition which has most of the configuration options disabled but it will be enough for a basic sound boost on your system.
SoundPimp
SoundPimp audio enhancer with High Definition Stereo enhances the overall listening experience of computer audio. I have not used SoundPimp but it seems good because it is available for all platforms including Windows, Mac OS and Linux.
Using VLC Player
If you only want to make your multimedia audio and video louder then you can use multimedia players which let you go beyond the 100% volume limit. One option is VLC Player which lets you increase the volume up to 125%.
38 comments
Tony
According to my test, Avdshare Video Converter also works great to increase volume of mp3, aac, wav, flac, mp4, avi, mov etc.
Step 1: Click Add File button to add the media file,
Step 2: Simply click “Setting…” -> “Advanced” tab, then go to “Audio” column, click 100% tab on the right side of volume to select volume ratio from the drop-down list.
Step 3: Click the “Profile” drop down button to select desired output format.
Step 4: Click Convert button to start and finishe increase the video or audio volume.
It has both Mac and Windows version.
Usman Khurshid
Is it free?
Name
For those who don’t have Enhancements tab in Speaker properties, and other programs didn’t work try FREE program that works – DeskFX
Sriharsha
Equalizer APO. The UI looks weird but it works out of the box by simply increasing the per-amplification gain. It served my purpose though.
isherwooddavidi
I use iDealshare VideoGo to increase the volume of the video or audio files.
jaxon
Letasoft Sound Booster is the droid you’re looking for
Some Bloke
Apparently Microsoft got rid of the “Enhancements” tab after you posted this article because they don’t want you to hear anything. How can I force it back in?
Riverside
DFX Enhancer free version actually does help a little if you shut off all the stupid enhancements and ONLY use the equalizer. The equalizer is the only good part of it anyway. The rest is all weird enhancements there is no way to know exactly what they are doing and all they really do is corrupt the natural fidelity of the sound anyway, so if all you want to do is HEAR BETTER from, say, laptop speakers, get the free version of it, turn off everything but the equalizer and play with that until you can hear well.
A word of caution though. It will hijack your default sound device. If you try to switch back, it won’t let you unless you disable it.
Jesper Hellstén
The first tip fixed my problem. Thank you so-so-so much!
Crashmind
thanks man i appreciate your efforts
Luke
Use scroll wheel to get VLC to 200%!
Daniel
Thanks so much. The first tip did the trick for me.
roego
The first 2 would be line ball. Both are good
Sound pimp seems to just enhance the sterep spread not the volume. Thanks.
connor
you now gom player let you increase the volume up to 200% rigth :)
jkq
Checking the loudness option DOES NOT make overall louder, it EQUALIZES sound – get rid of peaks! Overall effect is softer. Idiot!
skittleJuice
THANK YOU!!! Finally someone else with some sense!
Jose
then how did i raise my volume like about 50% if not almost double?
Chris Hayes
In VLC you can use your scroll wheel to bring volume up to 200%
nonya
you da real mvp
Usman Khurshid
Yup confirmed, the mouse scroll brings the volume to 200%. Thanks for the tip Chris :)
Jake
Don’t download DFX, its garbage. You litterally can’t do anything with it on the free version. I hope someone puts it on TPB for being so shitty.
Usman Khurshid
Agreed. The free version of DFX is not good but if you’re using the paid version, it certainly has some very good options and functionality.
minhajsk
i dont have this ENHANCEMENT option,now what will i do??
Sean Devlin
The advice you gave to adjust the sound with the setting included in Windows seems to have done what I was hoping for. Thanks.
Kristy
Same here!
david
The problem with using the Loudness Equalization setting is it goes mad taking CPU resources. The Micro$oft forums are full of audiodg issues that are cured by disabling enhancements.
It starts off OK but then randomly starts hogging CPU
I do not want my PC to spend all it’s CPU resources simply increasing volume.
It is a joke that there is nothing for the hard of hearing in accessibilty options
Tyler
How weird, for me after downloading DFX Audio Enhancement there is absolutely no CPU resources being taken…. While and right after it was installed it did spike up to 60% for a few minutes as I was still using Firefox and a few other things but it quickly went down to 0% as of now. It’s working like a charm…
alfredbobes
You may try iDealshare VideoGo to Increase volume for audio and video files
Working as an Audio Volume Booster, iDealshare VideoGo can easily boost sound volume for almost all kinds of audio file like increase MP3 volume, increase WAV volume, increase FLAC volume, increase AAC volume, increase AC3 volume, M4A, WMA, AU, DTS, AIFF, OGG, MP2, APE, OPUS, CAF, VOC, etc.
Working as a Video Volume Booster, iDealshare VideoGo helps you raise audio volume for all video files like increase MP4 volume, increase MOV volume, increase AVI volume, WMV, FLV, AVCHD, MKV, MXF, WebM, SWF, OGV, 3GP, ASF, RMVB, etc.
iDealshare VideoGo also has a feature of increase sound volume as well as change the source file format like convert the source audio or video files to other more compatible audio or video formats.
shahno
brother my window 8.1 not showing enhance so what to do
damian
VLC will boost up to 400% using the scroll wheel :P
Usman Khurshid
I tried it and the volume increased to 200% :D. Perfect tip!
StarrShine
That would be “audio.”
StarrShine
Audi Enhancement instructions were great! It worked. Thank you so much!
Usman Khurshid
Great to know your experience :)
Win8Geek
I really don’t like to ‘overclock’ my PC sound card or the speakers. This usually results in a broken headphone or the sound card itself.
Usman Khurshid
I also keep my stuff simple. But there are times when you need to ‘overclock’ your hardware to get the most out of it.
Usman Khurshid
A Facebook fan has specified another wonderful utility to control the volume of Windows beyond its default control limits and that utility is MatrixMixer. The best thing about it is that it is not only free but open source.
http://matrix-mixer.sourceforge.net/
DANKMEMES
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