How to Improve Sound Quality on Android: 5 Audio Mods for Better-Sounding Music & Videos

How to Improve Sound Quality on Android: 5 Audio Mods for Better-Sounding Music & Videos

Whether I'm in my car or making dinner, I always have music playing. And since I don't like to keep my headphones on me at all times, I end up using my Android's built-in speakers a good portion of the time.

Companies like HTC know how much people use their phone's speakers, and are dedicated to getting the best sound possible out of their handsets. However, this isn't the case for every company, so some phones are left with great quality speakers that have lackluster software powering them.

This would be a problem if our devices were locked down, but thanks to the level of customization on Android, we can just change the built-in equalizer.

However, many apps out there claim to improve audio, but most are actually just trying to make a quick buck by selling false promises. To make your search a little easier, I've compiled a list of my favorite audio mods that I've used most on my various Android devices.

Options for Rooted & Unrooted Devices

Know that some of these will require you to flash a ZIP file in a custom recovery, so you will need to unlock your bootloader. While non-root apps have many of the same features as their root counterparts, they will not be able to override an app's audio output unless the app allows users that type of control. To check if an app supports an equalizer, you will probably have to go into its settings and search for an "Audio" or "Equalizer" tab.

#1 Noozxoide EIZO-Rewire PRO (No Root Needed)

Its odd-sounding name shouldn't dissuade you from giving Noozxoide EIZO-rewire PRO a chance. The app does not require root access, so you can try it without worrying about new audio libraries being installed onto your device.

There are three sections to this app: Line-Out (headphones), Built-In (speakers), and Wireless (wireless speaker/headphones). You will find the same audio enhancements in each section, but be sure to enable your desired features before playing any music or videos.

Noozxoide does not need to be uninstalled in order to disable it, but you will need to force stop the app by tapping its ongoing notification.

#2 Music Volume EQ (No Root Needed)

Instead of creating a traditional standalone app, K&K design created a widget and app hybrid that floats over your home screen whenever it's opened. With Music Volume EQ, you can play music from any app, then use its widget or app icon to adjust the settings to your liking. For an ever quicker way to bring up the equalizer, you can tap the Music Volume EQ notification, then select EQ.

You have the option to use one of the widget's preset equalizers, but you can adjust the EQ sliders to to create your own, then save the preset by tapping the drop-down menu and selecting Save Preset. To disable the EQ, you'll need to tap the Power button on the top-right corner of the floating window.

#3 ViPER4Android (Root Required)

By far the most advanced option in this round up is ViPER4Android by ViPER's Audio. For full installation instructions, check out my guide using an HTC One or Dallas's guide using a Nexus 5, but know that ViPER4Android does require root access.

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Instructions shown on a Nexus 5.

With V4A, you'll get many options that range from adjusting an EQ to loading Impulse Response Samples (IRS), which allow you to mimic the sound style of any high-end equalizers like HTC's BoomSound and Dolby Audio.

Instructions shown on an HTC One.

IRS files are normally user created, but ViPER's Audio has created their own sample pack with 74 preconfigured options. After downloading the ZIP files, unarchive them and place the extracted files in /sdcard/ViPER4Android/Kernel/. You will need to create the "Kernel" folder if this is your first time installing V4A; you can use one of our recommended file explorers to accomplish that.

Now all you need to do is open V4A, enable Convolver, and select the IRS file you would like to use. If the Convolver option is unavailable, tap the overflow menu, select UI Setting, and set it to Expert.

If you decide to switch to another audio mod, you will need to uninstall V4A, which can be done through the overflow menu by selecting Uninstall Driver.

#4 AudioFX (Root Required)

MaxxAudio, aka AudioFX, has been on Android for quite sometime, but due to licensing issues, it has been exclusive to only a few manufacturers. But exclusivity is never permanent in the Android world, and thanks to sorlaz, we now have a functioning port that can run on both KitKat and Lollipop.

To install AudioFX, you'll need to download the appropriate ZIP for your device from above, then flash it through your custom recovery. After doing so, you'll see an AudioFX app in the app drawer. You'll notice the same equalizer settings that are available in all of our previous apps, but at the bottom are a few extra settings.

MaxxBass and MaxxTreble are self-explanatory, so you can adjust those levels to your liking. However, MaxxSpace, which is only available through headphones, Bluetooth, and USB, adds a surround sound effect to your audio which can give you the feeling of listening to a live performance.

To disable MaxxAudio, all you have to do is set the slider on the top of the app to Off.

#5 Dolby Atmos (Root Required)

I have also covered Dolby Atmos in a previous guide, so for a full breakdown of all its features, be sure to check that out.

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Instructions shown on an HTC One.

For the most part, you'll be getting a similar experience to ViPER4Android, but with a more simplistic feel, like MaxxAudio. And just like both of those apps, Dolby Atmos requires root access since you will need to flash its ZIP file through TWRP.

And the Winner Is...

At the end of the day, the audio mod you go with depends on your personal taste, but my clear-cut winner is ViPER4Android. The sheer amount of extras, coupled with the ability to load different sound profiles through IRS files, make it a clear winner for an Android power user like me.

But, if you don't have root access on your device, I'd suggest going with Noozxoide EIZO-rewire PRO. No matter which way you go, you'll certainly notice an improvement in your Android's audio immediately.

Follow Android Hacks over on Facebook and Twitter, or Gadget Hacks over on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter, for more Android tips.

Cover image via Norebbo

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Top 8 Free Wallpaper Apps for Android Phones & Tablets

Top 8 Free Wallpaper Apps for Android Phones & Tablets

Out of all the questions that we receive from our readers and viewers here at Gadget Hacks, the most frequently asked one is "What wallpaper is that?" On occasion, our wallpapers may be personal or images from the web, but for the most part, they come from dedicated wallpaper applications.

And since we're asked so often, we're going to show you some of our favorite wallpaper apps for your Android device (in no particular order).

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1. Muzei Live Wallpaper

Muzei is a well-known app that many of you probably already used, but absolutely worth checking out if you haven't. With a subtly blurred background, tie-ins with a ton of other apps, and new images daily, your wallpaper will compliment and accentuate the look of your icons and widgets. Learn more about Muzei here.

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There are also extensions for Muzei, including ones that use your music album art, Instagram pictures, photos with certain Google+ hashtags, images from your Dropbox account, Tumblr pics, and more. Learn more here.

2. TapDeck - Wallpaper Discovery

TapDeck has received a significant update since we last covered it, ending their beta and launching officially on the Google Play Store.

TapDeck will ask you to select a few images when you first sign up, then suggest new wallpapers based on that. If it loads an image you don't like, simply double-tap any empty space on your home screen to load another. You can even learn more about any image simply by swiping up. Learn more about TapDeck here.

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3. PolyGen - Create Polygon Art

Although finding a wallpaper you enjoy is great, creating one yourself is much more rewarding. With PolyGen, you can adjust various preferences that'll help you generate a unique, polygon-shaped wallpaper. You can also use a picture to apply the polygon effect to, which can render some pretty awesome-looking results. Learn more about PolyGen here.

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4. Hipster Wallpaper - HPSTR

Alright, alright... I know the name is pretty lame, but the wallpapers are cool and certainly unique. HPSTR applies different shapes that include filters over beautiful imagery, making anyone's background look like an Urban Outfitters ad. From your home screen, you can double-tap the wallpaper to cycle through others, or generate your own from within the app.

5. 500 Firepaper

500 Firepaper is a very cool live wallpaper app that does its best to save you energy. There are various preferences that'll let you select different photo categories, and once applied, will automatically cycle through them. Alternatively, you can triple-tap the wallpaper to manually change it, and supports Muzei for added blur effects. If you want your wallpaper periodically changing, then try this one out. Learn more about 500 Firepaper here.

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6. Minima Live Wallpaper

Material Design was all the rage when Lollipop was released, and the design aesthetic has really come into its own as more and more apps are updated to meet its guidelines. But if the stock wallpapers included on Android 5.0 didn't give you your fix or provide enough variety, then you have to check out Minima Live Wallpaper. The app includes a healthy amount of live Material Design wallpapers with shifting shapes that can be tailored to your liking with adjustable colors.

7. Comic Wallpapers

Comic books are packed with artwork that I wish I could use as my wallpaper, and sometimes I can if I find a high-quality image online and crop it just perfectly. With Comic Wallpapers, there's no need to scour the internet, because the app updates frequently with great imagery derived from your favorite comic books, cropped and ready for use as your home screen background.

8. Wallrox Wallpapers

As I stated up top, I didn't order this list in any particular manner, but I did leave my personal favorite, Wallrox, for last. With twelve different categories to choose from ranging from Blur to Minimal, this has easily become my one-stop-shop for wallpapers. One of the best aspects of the app is the simple interface that enhances the user experience.

More Fun Wallpaper Stuff to Check Out

Have other other wallpaper apps to recommend? Let us know in the comment section below.

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The 5 Best Android Apps for Transferring Files Without Any Cables

The 5 Best Android Apps for Transferring Files Without Any Cables

We've come to a point where smartphones and computers are ubiquitous in society—even my 80-year-old grandparents have Android phones and Windows laptops by now. But as prevalent as these devices are, they're simply not interconnected well enough just yet.

Sure, you can detach your charger cable from its AC adapter, plug one end into your computer and the other into your smartphone, then install drivers and click through multiple tiers of folders to copy and paste a few files from one device to the other. But with wireless technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC at our disposal, this convoluted process is simply unacceptable.

Luckily, several third-party Android apps have stepped in to fill this void that OEM companies have left. As a result, there are many great options for wirelessly transferring files between your various devices, and I'll go over some of the better ones below (in no particular order).

1. AirDroid: File & Notifications

One of the pioneers in this field of apps is AirDroid, and their early entry into the market has given them a leg up when it comes to added features. Like most of these apps, you'll have to install the software on both your smartphone and your computer, but the control it gives you is unparalleled.

Once you've got it configured, the AirDroid program on your computer acts as a dashboard for controlling your Android device. You can browse your smartphone's internal storage and transfer files over to your computer directly from this interface.

But the AirDroid developers didn't stop there—additional features allow you to view and respond to calls and SMS messages directly from your computer, and there's even a screen-mirroring feature that lets you control your Android device with your mouse and keyboard.

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2. SuperBeam WiFi Direct Share

SuperBeam is a great option if you're planning on transferring files between two Android devices. This service uses a combination of NFC and Wi-Fi Direct technologies, so it's incredibly fast and easy to use.

With SuperBeam installed on both devices, you can use any file browser app to initiate the transfer. At that point, just touch the two NFC-enabled devices together, and your file will be transferred in seconds.

SuperBeam functions similarly to the built-in Android Beam feature on most modern devices, but it uses Wi-Fi Direct rather than the much slower Bluetooth to transfer the files. And if one of the devices is not equipped with NFC, SuperBeam can even initiate a transfer using a QR code.

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3. WeTransfer

If you're looking to transfer photos or large video files, WeTransfer is probably your best bet. Unlike most of the other entries in this list, you only have to install WeTransfer on your Android device, which means the recipient of your file can be using any operating system.

The way it works is simple—just open the WeTransfer app on your Android device and select the photo or video file that you'd like to send. Once it's uploaded, you'll be asked to enter an email address that the download link will be sent to. On the other end of the transfer, the recipient can just click the "Download" button to save the file to their device.

At its core, WeTransfer is a lot like a cloud storage service, but it simplifies things by automatically generating an email-ready link to make sharing a lot easier.

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4. Pushbullet

My personal favorite in this list is Pushbullet, which is an Android app with companion software available for Windows, Mac, and Chrome. Once you've installed the software on your various devices, sending files from Point A to Point B is incredibly easy.

To send a file from your Android device, all you have to do is select it, then hit the "Share" button and choose Pushbullet from the list. A popup will appear asking you where you'd like to send the file—choose your preferred destination, and the file will be transferred within seconds. There's a 25 MB file size limit, but you can work around this rather easily with an app like Files Splitter & Joiner.

Like AirDroid, Pushbullet has some nice bonus features. You can respond to text messages from your PC, and you can even mirror all of your Android notifications over to Mac, Chrome, or your PC.

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5. Portal - WiFi File Transfers

The makers of Pushbullet have recently released an app called Portal, which emphasizes quick transferring of larger files. Like SuperBeam, it uses Wi-Fi Direct to make the transfer, so both devices will need to be on the same local network.

You only have to install Portal on your Android device, because the other end is handled through a website. First, scan the QR code on this website with your smartphone to initiate the connection, then simply drag and drop any file into your browser window. Almost immediately, you should see the file appear in the Portal app on your Android device.

[1] Drag file onto Portal webpage from PC. [2] File immediately appears in Portal app on Android.

What's your preferred method for transferring files wirelessly? Let us know in the comment section below, or drop us a line on Android Hacks' Facebook or Twitter, or Gadget Hacks' Facebook, Google+, or Twitter.

Cover image via Shutterstock

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How to Play Your Favorite PS4 Games Remotely on Any Android Device

How to Play Your Favorite PS4 Games Remotely on Any Android Device

Sony's starting to warm up to the current trend of interconnected devices, but just like most manufacturers, they want to keep you within their ecosystem if you're going to use these services. For instance, the PlayStation 4 has a "Remote Play" feature that allows you to play your previously purchased console games on the PS Vita and Sony's Xperia smartphones, but this functionality does not extend to non-Sony devices.

Well, developer Twisted89 took the Xperia Smart Remote Android app and got rid of a series of checks that would previously limit its usability. The restrictions he removed included a device ID check, a root constraint, and a Wi-Fi limitation.

Simply put, you can now use Sony's Remote Play app to play your favorite PS4 games on almost any Android device—whether it's rooted or not, and regardless of if you're on your local Wi-Fi network or a thousand miles away on mobile data.

Requirements

• Sony PlayStation 4 (console and games)
• Android device running Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) or higher
• Unknown sources enabled

Step 1: Enable Remote Play on Your PS4

First up, you'll need to enable a single option on your PS4. From the home screen, head up to "Settings," then scroll down and select the "Remote Play Connection Settings" entry.

From here, make sure that the "Enable Remote Play" option is ticked, then you'll be all set to go.

Step 2: Install the Modded Remote Play App on Your Android

Next, head to this link from your Android phone or tablet to grab a copy of the modified Remote Play app. Once the download has finished, tap the corresponding notification to launch the APK. At this point, Android's installer interface should come right up, so press "Install" here.

Step 3: Sign into Your PlayStation Account & Play Your Games

Immediately after you open the app for the first time, Remote Play will prompt you to register a DualShock controller. This feature does not work in this version of the app (more on that later), so hit "Skip" here. After that, tap the "Next" button at the top of the screen, then sign into your PlayStation account.

As soon as that's finished, you should automatically be redirected to the gameplay interface. In portrait mode, you'll see all of the regular PlayStation controls on the bottom half of the screen, and you can use these to navigate your PS4's interface and play games.

[1] Portrait interface (PS4 home screen). [2] Gameplay with virtual joystick in use.

If you rotate your device into landscape mode, these same controls will be overlaid on top of a full screen view of your game. If you're not interacting with the screen, these controls will automatically hide after a few seconds, but they can be brought back up by tapping anywhere on the screen.

Full screen landscape mode with virtual buttons shown.

Step 4: Pair a PS4 Controller with Your Android Device (Optional)

Since the official DualShock controller pairing solution does not work in this version of the app, you might want to pair a controller manually. To begin, press and hold the "PS" and "Share" buttons on your controller, then wait until the light on the back begins blinking.

From here, make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on your Android device, then head to the Bluetooth settings menu. Tap the "Refresh" button at the top of the screen to perform a search for nearby devices, then select the "Wireless Controller" option when it comes up. Wait until the controller shows up in your "Paired devices" list, then you'll be able to use your Remote Play games with a DualShock controller.

For more information on this topic, including how to customize gameplay settings for your PS4 controller on Android, be sure to check out Neil's detailed guide.

Step 5: Modify APN Settings to Play on Mobile Data (Optional)

This version of Remote Play can be used over mobile data to play games from anywhere in the world, but it does require a bit of setup.

To begin, head to your phone or tablet's Settings menu, then search for "Access Point Names" and tap the top result. From here, tap the settings icon next to your existing APN entry, then write down all of the information in this list. To make things easier, you may want to take a couple of screenshots of the APN settings for reference.

Next, head back to the main Access Point Names menu, then tap the "Add" button. From here, enter all of the information from your existing APN with the exception of two fields—in the "Name" category, type "PS4" instead, and for the "APN protocol" option, select IPv4 rather than IPv6. When you're done there, head back out to the main APN screen, then select your "PS4" profile and reboot.

At this point, you'll be able to play any of your PS4 games over mobile data—even if you're thousands of miles away from your home and your console.

Follow Android Hacks over on Facebook and Twitter, or Gadget Hacks over on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter, for more Android tips.

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