Long gone are the days when cell phones were used just for making calls and sending texts.
Now, people use their smartphones to handle just about everything, including listening to music. In fact, 68 percent of smartphone users use their phones to stream music on a daily basis.
Are you part of this group? If so, are you happy with the sound quality and music experience you’re getting from your phone?
If not, the solution is not necessarily to go out and buy a new phone or a pair of fancy headphones.
Listed below are some simple tips that will help to improve your music experience while listening on your phone.
Improving Your Music Experience
There are a lot of steps you can take that will make your music sound much better, whether you’re listening through an expensive pair of headphones or the best cheap earbuds.
Here are seven tips to try if you’re unhappy with the sound coming from your smartphone:
1. Check App Settings
First, did you know that you can change the settings of your preferred music streaming app? If you’re not happy with the sound you’re getting from your phone at the moment, this is a great place to start.
Most music streaming apps let you change the quality of the music — both streamed and downloaded — through the settings page. Some of these apps, such as Apple Music and Google Play Music, even come with equalizer settings.
Sometimes, all you need to do to get better music is to adjust the app settings. Keep in mind, though, that if you’re not connected to a wifi network when you change the app settings to improve your music quality, you will use more data.
2. Install an Equalizer
If your music app of choice does not include an equalizer function, just download an equalizer app to your phone. There are lots of third-party apps out there that will let you customize your listening experience and ensure you can hear your music as clearly as you’d like.
Both Android phones and iPhones have third-party equalizer apps available in their app stores. Androids have more options than iPhones, though.
Good Android equalizer apps include Music Volume EQ, ViPER4Android, and Equalizer & Bass Booster.
For iPhones, Equalizer+ is a good option, as is EQu.
3. Invest in a Phone Accessory
If you don’t want to download another app, or if you just want to enhance your music experience even further, you might want to invest in a phone accessory that will take your music to the next level.
A digital to analog converter, or DAC, will help to boost your sound quality in a significant way. Some of these devices are quite small, too, so you won’t have to worry about them taking up a ton of room in your pocket.
Before you invest in a DAC for your phone, make sure your phone has the audio capabilities to handle it. If you have an older smartphone model, you might not notice any improvements when you hook the DAC up to it.
4. Know Your Speaker Placement
Are you aware of where the speakers are located on your phone? You’d be surprised by the number of people who don’t.
Take a moment to figure out whether the speakers on your phone are located on the back, the front, or the bottom of the device.
Once you know where the speaker is located, you can make more informed decisions about how you’re going to position it when you want to listen to music.
You’ll be able to make sure you’re not accidentally blocking the speaker or pointing it away from you when you put your phone in your pocket.
5. Reconsider Your Case
There’s a possibility, too, that your phone case could be negatively affecting your sound quality and music experience.
Now that you know where the speaker is located on your phone, check to make sure your case isn’t accidentally covering it.
Sometimes, a new case is all you need to enhance the quality of music coming from your phone. Before you purchase a new case, test it on your phone to make sure the speaker isn’t obstructed at all.
6. Download a New Music App
If you’re not happy with the quality of your music app, you might want to just switch to a new one.
Third-party apps like Poweramp can have a dramatic impact on your sound quality. They’re relatively inexpensive, too.
Sure, it can be a little irritating getting used to the layout of a new app, but the adjustment period might be worth it if it allows you to enjoy a better music experience when you use your phone.
Remember, too, that if you’re streaming music on a daily basis, you’ll adjust quickly to the new app.
7. Upgrade Your Headphones
Finally, you might need to consider upgrading the headphones you use when listening to music. Sometimes, it’s the headphones that are actually the problem, rather than the phone itself.
You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg investing in new headphones. But, you also shouldn’t buy the cheapest pair you can find.
Be sure to read product reviews carefully to see what people are saying about a particular pair of headphones before you invest in them. If possible, test the headphones out before you buy them, too.
Most stores will let you do this, and most online retailers have a good return policy that lets you test headphones out for a few days before you commit to them. Just be sure to keep them in good shape so you can ship them back and get a refund.
Need More Music Experience Tips?
As you can see, there are a lot of steps you can take to improve your music experience.
You don’t need the latest and greatest smartphone or earbuds to experience good sound quality. You just need to keep these tips in mind.
Do you want to learn more about enhancing your music experience? Or about music in general?
If so, be sure to check out the Music section of our site today.
You’ll find a variety of helpful articles here on subjects ranging from improving your hearing to spotlights of the best new albums.