Equalizers are programs that serve the main purpose of raising or lowering the volume (Decibel value) of certain frequencies of the audio output to your speakers, earphones, or headphones. If you are a music lover and an audiophile, it is impossible that you have ignored the equalizer settings for your audio output device.
Worry not as I am here with 15 best equalizer tools for your Windows 10 PC. Equalizers are the only thing that I have seen that has the most effect on the sound output quality and it is simple yet offers an extreme amount of versatility when it comes to audio adjustment.
Although most of the PCs nowadays come with an equalizer tool pre-installed by the audio chip manufacturer, many audio enthusiasts like you set out to find something more sophisticated to take your music, movies, and gaming experience to the next level.
Quick Overivew
12 Best Equalizers for Windows 10
Equalizer APO (Free)
Equalizer APO is clearly leagues above the other programs available and that’s why it deserves the first mention in this list. Having used it personally for a long time, I guarantee you that once you patiently set up and configure this tool, it works like charm with no hiccups or any bug issues.
Pros:
- Versatile graphic equalizer with 15-band, 31-band, and variable modes
- Analysis panel gives you insight on CPU usage, latency, peak gain, and much more
- Effortlessly save the configuration and also edit it in a text file
- One-click reset button in case you want to start the adjustment from scratch
Cons:
- Might be a bit tricky to use for complete beginners
- Not much audio modification in extra to the equalizer
- Only available in English and Deutsch
Viper4Windows (Free)
I think Viper4Windows (V4W) is the only free audio enhancement software that can go neck to neck with the Equalizer APO. One thing Viper4Windows dominates all other tools in this list is the number of features V4W provides and how effective they are.
Pros:
- Can raise the volume above max while providing exceptional output from speakers, earphones, headphones, HiFi System
- Haas effect provides differential sound along with VHS+ for surround effect
- Viper Clarity and XHiFi provide treble quality that is above expectations
- Other features like Ozone+, reverberation, playbackAGC, Cure-tech+, eXtra-Loud, Pure-Bass+.
Cons:
- Sometimes require a patch to work on Windows 10 depending on the version you download
- Difficult/Impossible to find the official website so you have to rely on third-party pages
FxSound Enhancer (Paid)
The FxSound Enhancer is a commercial tool but you can try it for free to see what its worth yourself. From what we have seen, FxSound Enhancer is a well-designed application with a clean and easy to use interface. The combination of simplistic UI yet loads of features makes it a software recommended by many.
Pros:
- Clean and beautiful graphical user interface
- Optimizes the sound quality for your hardware
- Increase the volume from its highest limit while keeping any imbalance or distortion at the bay
- A helpful feature known as ‘FxSound Spectrum’ for visualization of what you are listening to.
Cons:
- After purchasing the product, major updates may not be included with the purchase
- The official website is not secure (as of today) and hence raises security concerns over online payments
Boom3D (Paid)
Boom3D is a popular volume booster and equalizer software. This software is also available for iPhones and Macs, is a very popular app among music lovers. The user satisfaction offered by Boom3D is one of the few key points to notice here, this software has been deemed as very effective in providing considerably better audio quality by the ratings and reviews.
Pros:
- Boom3D captures even the minute details of the audio and provides you high-quality experience without any expensive hardware
- Immersive gaming experience with surround sound
- Free subscription to 20k+ radio stations across 120 countries
- Don’t hold back with the 31-band equalizer and unlock the full potential of your audio device
Cons:
- Only 30-day trial period
- Might be resource-heavy when compared to some other programs mentioned in this list
NCH DeskFX Audio Enhancer (Free)
Change or apply a new audio effect simultaneously with the music with DeskFX Audio Enhancer. This program gives the users plenty of features that matter the most. Also, there are some unique features in this software that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Pros:
- Virtually unlimited number of sound effects
- More than 30 presets
- Professional looking yet easy to use software
- Suppress noise with multiple filters
Cons:
- Only for non-commercial use (i.e, at your home)
- No 31-band equalizer.
Breakaway Audio Enhancer (Paid)
If you need consistent and optimal performance from your audio devices, you might like to check out Breakaway Audio Enhancer. This program is developed by Claesson Edwards Audio, the same company that is behind BreakawayOne, an award-winning software designed for professionals and creators.
Pros:
- Expect studio-quality audio enhancement with Breakaway Audio Enhancer
- Robust audio configuration – Same as used by DJs and radio-stations
- Well thought graphical user interface with a visualizer
- Floating Window and tray icon
- Professional equalizer
Cons:
- The software may feel outdated to some
- Costly software with few days of trial
EqualizerPro (Paid)
If you just want a reliable and simple Equalizer software, EqualizerPro is for you. EqualizerPro is light on your CPU and memory and provides really robust equalizing of the audio on any Windows system regardless of the specifications. This app seems like the just right amount of everything an equalizer enthusiast wants.
Pros:
- Easy to use 10 band equalizer
- Enhance the bass quality using bass boost
- Extremely handy toggle button
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer other functionality except for equalizer
- Only a 7-day free trial period
- More expensive compared to Boom3D (As of the date this article is published)
Realtek Audio Console (Free)
There’s a high chance that the PC you are using has an in-built Realtek audio chipset because it is one of the most popular audio chipsets for Windows. The good news is that Realtek also provides a really effective software known as Realtek Audio Console (or Realtek Audio Manager, formerly).
Pros:
- Comes pre-installed in most PCs
- Works very fast and is responsive
- Totally safe driver files as the files are part of Windows system
- No adware, no trialware, with a full set of useful features
Cons:
- Doesn’t have as many features as compared to other software in this list
- Cannot be installed on PCs containing different audio chip (like Conexant)
You can download the software from the manufacturer website depending on your motherboard or laptop (for example, to download Realtek Audio Console for Dell laptops/desktops, go to the official Dell site).
Ears: Bass Boost, EQ Any Audio! (Free)
If you are someone who consumes most of the audio content on internet platforms like YouTube, Netflix, Hotstar, Soundcloud or something like that which runs in the browser, you might want to check out ‘Ears’, a chrome extension that provides robust sound manipulation in real-time right in your browser. This app is completely different from others in the list as you don’t really install this in your system, rather you install it in the Chrome/Edge (New one) browser.
Pros:
- Works faster and is super flexible
- Just size of around 200 KB
- Non-intrusive
Cons:
- Cannot be used for desktop apps
- Is only available for Chrome and Edge browser
Bongiovi DPS (Paid)
Watch the music on your PC come to life with Bongiovi DPS. Yes, we also agree that the name is a bit weird considering its an audio enhancement/equalizer software, but we also doubt that you will find any more premium experience than what Bongiovi DPS offers.
Pros:
- Not only music, games, and movies, you also get instantaneous quality improvement in voice and video calls
- You don’t have to do much, the app automatically applies the best settings
- You don’t have to pay a lifetime worth of the price, as Bongiovi DPS is subscription-based.
Cons:
- You get a trial period of only a month
- Subscription service has also a negative thing that you will have to renew it every month
TDR Nova (Free)
TDR Nova is the most premium looking free software in my opinion. The application doesn’t look too flashy, has a floating window, and is really easy to get comfortable with. TDR stands for Tokyo Dawn Records which is a well-known software company for premium audio plugins.
Pros:
- The software has no limits of features being a free program
- Is available on a wide range of Windows OS
- Has an amazing graphical UI
- Multiple types of equalization and compression features
Cons:
- You might miss out on some features from more feature-rich software like Viper4Windows.
Graphic Equalizer Studio Free
The graphic equalizer studio free is developed by PAS (Programmable Analysis Software). Compared to the paid version, the free version has limited functionality but it has an indefinite use period. This software doesn’t shy away at providing an extensive set of features.
Pros:
- Detailed graphic and visuals for easy equalizing
- Change the overall tone quality using the Q-factor feature
- Octave selector can automatically calculate the band frequencies.
Cons:
- Some users may find the UI confusing and old
- Limited functionality than the shareware version
Conclusion
Frankly speaking, all of the tools mentioned above are capable in their own ways, so we leave it up to you to decide which one’s best for you. Always download software from reliable websites. Leave your suggestions and queries in the comments below or contact us.
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