There are many Windows 10 apps that can be used to improve sound, and in this article we want to highlight some of the best.
We’ll take a look at some of the best equalizers, the best virtual surround sound software, and some alternatives to the Windows 10 default mixer.
Also, be sure to check out our companion article on the best ways to improve display quality on Windows 10.
The best equalizers for Windows 10
Equalizer allows you to change the sound profile of your audio. Equalizers are often used for music or watching movies to boost bass or limit other aspects.
With these equalizer apps, you can choose presets suitable for certain music genres, or create your own preset equalizer. Below we have selected two great equalizers for Windows 10.
FxSound Enhancer – $ 49.99
FxSound Audio Enhancer – $ 49.99
FxSound Enhancer states on their website that they can improve the sound quality of your music. I would say that while the FxSound Enhancer isn’t going to make a pair of $ 20 headphones sound like a $ 200 pair, they can use EQ presets to improve listening experience in many cases.
First, I wanted to explain that FxSound Enhancer works smoothly and consistently across Windows 10. Many equalizers struggle with this for some reason, so this is a great starting point.
Basically, when you turn on FxSound Enhancer, it adds an auto EQ preset to your audio, which will improve your listening experience in most cases if you’re using cheaper audio hardware.
It’s a great alternative for shelling out $ 200-500 for good headphones and a proper DAC. Equalizer presets abound, which is great when you want the best possible listening experience for a particular genre of music. You can also create your own presets.
FxSound Enhancer also uses an interesting real-time “decompression†technique to add more clarity to the sound you are listening to. If you listen to music on YouTube or on compressed live streaming platforms, this makes a big difference.
However, I’d say the best alternative would be to subscribe to Spotify Extreme or Tidal’s own Hifi.
FxSound Pro is not free, which makes it different from our next offer below. A full lifetime subscription costs $ 49.99, but you can get a 7-day free trial to check everything.
APO Equalizer with Peaceful Interface – Free
Equalizer APO With Peace Interface – FREE
If you want convenience, a nice interface, and easy setup, I still recommend the FxSound Enhancer described above. If you don’t mind getting your tech hands a little dirty, Equalizer APO is a better option, it’s free and open source.
The setup will take some time and you will need to read the support files carefully. You have to install Equalizer APO and then download Peace Interface. Together they give you powerful audio management software and a feature-rich interface.
The world interface gives you complete control over creating your own presets. There are also some great presets you can choose from. The listening experience is excellent and once you’ve got things sorted out everything works pretty smoothly on Windows 10.
You can find Equalizer APO here and Peace GUI here .
Best surround sound software for Windows 10
With surround sound software, you can transform your regular stereo headphones into a whole new experience.
A good virtual surround sound will mimic a real surround sound setup, which means you can hear video game noises in the same direction it comes from, or you can have a more immersive movie-watching experience.
Below are three great surround sound software options for Windows 10.
Razer Surround – Free or $ 19.99
Razer Surround – Free or $ 19.99
Razer Surround is a 7.1 surround sound software designed to provide virtual surround sound for any pair of headphones or earphones. The basic software is free, but you can get the pro version for a one-time payment of $ 19.99.
It is immediately clear from the Razer team that the surround sound on offer is designed specifically for gaming. So the video game experience is expected to be very good. Games like the new Blackout Battlefield 5 or Black Ops 4 are a real pleasure to play.
Both games have excellent sound engineering, but the 7.1 Razer Surround software takes it to the next level. In games where surround sound is useful for detecting the movements of other players, Razer Surround is great too.
The Razer Surround is also very easy to use, and thankfully not necessary at all if you want to mute virtual audio with just one button press. In my opinion, the Razer Surround is the best option for gamers.
Dolby Atmos – $ 14.99
Dolby Atmos – $ 14.99
Dolby Atmos can be accessed by downloading the Dolby Access app from the Microsoft Store. To get access to Dolby Atmos, you must also spend $ 14.99 after installing the Access app.
The Access app feels a bit clunky and more hassle than what Razer offers. The surround sound is decent in the end, but it seems to be heavily dependent on your headphones.
If you have a good pair of headphones, especially headphones with an open back cover, Dolby Atmos surround sound can work surprisingly well. It’s great for adding spatial immersion to movies and videos, but can be missed or missed depending on how the sound was created for what you’re watching.
Obviously, if you have surround sound speakers, Dolby Atmos is undoubtedly the best option. Dolby Atmos is the best game when it comes to true surround sound.
Ultimately, Dolby Atmos is a useful app, especially if you have a true surround sound setup. If you’re using headphones, it’s a little risky when it comes to whether it matters or not, depending on what you’re using them for.
Windows Sonic for Headphones – Free
Windows Sonic for Headphones – Free
Windows 10 already has virtual surround sound, and you might never have known. Microsoft quietly added Windows Sonic for headphones in the Creators Update and put it on the taskbar.
To activate Windows Spatial Sound, right-click the volume mixer icon in the taskbar, then click Spatial Sound (Off). You will then have the option to choose Windows Sonic for your headphones.
In my experience, Windows Sonic for headphones is just as good as Dolby Atmos. In fact, I found it difficult to tell the difference.
If you’re looking for free virtual surround sound, Windows’ own offering might be your best bet. However, for a true surround speaker, Atmos might be better.
Best alternative to audio merging for Windows 10
The standard Windows 10 audio mixer is quite limited, so we’ve decided to include two alternatives that will allow you more precise control over the volume levels of each app. You can also use the two suggestions below to control audio on two devices at once and choose which apps use which audio device.
EarTrumpet – Free
EarTrumpet – Free
EarTrumpet is considered one of the best audio management apps in Windows 10. Instead of adding a cumbersome new interface, EarTrumpet substantially extends the existing Windows 10 audio mixer user interface.
With EarTrumpet, you can control the individual volume of each open program and quickly switch playback devices. You can also set up default audio devices for specific programs.
What I love the most about EarTrumpet is that it integrates nicely with Windows 10 – it looks more like an official audio mixer update than a standalone app. What’s great about EarTrumpet is that it’s free. You can find it in the Microsoft Store.
Voicemeeter – free
VoiceMeeter is a huge step up from EarTrumpet, but the additional features are really only useful for those who need to fine tune individual audio streams.
VoiceMeeter allows you to change the equalizer of multiple audio devices and adjust the sound direction at the same time. For example, you can record sound from your desktop, but not your voice, or vice versa.
If you are streaming on platforms such as Twitch or YouTube, you can make sure that the sound and voice of your game is picked up, but the voice of friends in the chat app is not.
There are many possibilities with Voicemeeter, although in order to learn how to deal with it, you need to carefully read or watch the Youtube tutorial. You can find Voicemeeter software for free at VB-Audio .
Summary
Are you interested in any of the software suggestions in this article? Let me know if you have any questions about the software I have included. Enjoy!
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