I'm wondering, does anyone know why software bass boost solutions (like equalizers in various media players or that come with sound card) are really awful? I mean, you can boost max. 3-4dB without getting your sound distorted, and that's only if you're lucky …
The only one software solution that has worked for me is Bass boost in Windows 7 HD Audio Drivers (maybe it isn't software solution?), but unfortunately I have another computer now and my sound card doesn't support Windows 7 generic HD Audio driver. So I don't know what to do, and I really need bass boost. My current sound card is Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE.
Any suggestions?
EDIT: I am sorry, but I forgot to mention this. I have Sennheiser HD 215, and they are really capable of outputting loud and bass-rich sound. I know that because I've successfully done it with my laptop sound card (that supports Windows HD Audio Drivers and Bass boost feature) and little amplifier. So I am only asking is there any good software alternative to this Windows Bass boost feature?
Best Answer
Solution: Always use the EQ's PREAMP slider to reduce the level of the audio at least as much dBs as the total bass you're going to add. If you increase bass on multiple frequency sliders, lower the preamp further to compensate. Finally, increase your master volume and enjoy.
Explanation: Most media players like Winamp, iTunes, foobar have EQs that are at least equal, and likely much better than windows' old bass boost or onboard soundcard settings which tend to sound gimmicky at best.
Perhaps what you need to understand is that digital audio can never exceed MAXIMUM volume (or 0dB) - the ceiling after which sound will get distorted (the correct term is clipping). Since the windows mixer is almost never at maximum volume, it has plenty of headroom to add bass without distorsion.
However, media players will generally process EQ on the raw content of the track - read: at maximum volume. That's a good thing because you want to process sound it its rawest form to obtain the best quality, but adding 3-4dB in this situation will almost invariably produce unwanted clipping/distorsion. Note this even applies if the media player's volume slider is low, because the EQ is generally applied first, before the sound gets to that. That damaged audio will then be passed on to the windows mixer and to your headphones.
An EQ preamp serves this purpose of lowering a track's volume prior to applying EQ to avoid clipping.
Fun fact: Apple iPod's EQ settings have had this problem since the first generation in 2001. In forums, people requested for years that Apple fixes this ridiculous problem for such a "high-end" device. Well, I understand they fixed it in 2010 with iOS 4 - you now clearly hear the volume drop when choosing a "bass boost" setting. It took almost a decade! Phew!