Quiet Headphones? 5 Ways to Make Headphones Louder

1. Cleaning Your Headphones

Cleaning your headphones is as important as cleaning your guitar’s fretboard. If your headphones are quieter than they used to be, sometimes all you need to do is clean them to get them back to their original state.

Whenever you are using your headphones, you are increasing the heat in your ear canal. When this happens, it can lead to more wax and oil. When these oils or wax get to your headphones or earphones, they may block the mesh screens causing the sound to fade off and also expose your ears to bacteria.

Cleaning headphones | Source: CNet

To prevent dust, wax, or oil build-up on your earbuds, I would recommend cleaning them regularly. Cleaning your headphones regularly will also prevent your headphones from disconnecting on their own.

Most headphones can be cleaned easily using either soapy water or hydrogen peroxide. Other things you might need to clean your headphones include cleaning cloths, paper towels, and a dry and clean toothbrush.

Before cleaning your headphones, you should also check your headphones manual for special cleaning instructions if any. Below are simple easy to follow instructions on how to clean your headphones.

1. Remove and clean the ear tips.

First, remove the ear tips and soak them in warm soapy water for about five minutes. Using Q-tips/cotton buds, clean the inner parts of the ear tips to remove any wax that might have accumulated. Afterward, Use hydrogen peroxide with a soft cloth to wipe them and leave them to dry.

2. Clean the Earbuds.

Hold your headphones with the mesh facing downwards. Using a dry toothbrush, gently brush the mesh screens of the earbuds to dislodge any debris on them. After brushing the ear bud’s mesh, dampen a piece of cloth with hydrogen peroxide and wipe the earbuds. From there, use the paper towel to dry them.

Other substitutes you can use in place of hydrogen peroxide are alcohol or hand sanitizer.

You should not soak wet the cloth as it may damage your headphones. Always use a damp cloth to wipe the earbuds, especially the mesh area.

3. Reassemble your Headphones

After your headphones are completely dry, reassemble your earbuds. Put back the ear tips once everything is dry. Your headphones should be now clean and ready to use.

2. Removing Volume limits on your Device

Sometimes it is just as simple as removing the volume limit on your device.

Here in the United States, laws have set the volume limit on MP3 players and smartphones to 120 decibels in comparison to Europe that has its law limit the volume to 85 decibels.

However, it is possible to get up to 100 decibels on your android device if you are residing in Europe by disabling the volume warning bar that pops up when you try maximizing your phone’s volume.

On windows pc, you can follow the steps outlined on Mywindowshub to set a maximum volume limit.

3. Using Volume Boosting Apps

You have tried removing the volume limit, but the headphones are still quiet; Why not try volume-boosting apps?

Whether you use Android, iPhone, or Windows, there are volume-boosting apps you can get to give the sound output from your device a little kick.

Here are some of the best volume booster apps for each operating system.

4. Using an Amplifier

Just like a home speaker can improve its sound when paired with a great amplifier, a headphone can also benefit from being paired with a headphone amp.

Power from the amp inside your phone, tablet, or laptop might not be sufficient to drive your headphones to their full potential. With an external headphone amp, you will not only get your headsets to sound louder but you also be astonished by the in-depth music detail, better dynamic range, and improved clarity you will be able to hear.

A pair of headphones’ impedence (measured in ohms) can provide some information on whether a headphone amp is needed.

With most in-ear headphones and earbuds, you are decidedly less likely to benefit from an amp. However, with larger on-ear and over-ear headphones, you will get better results using an amp. There are many headphone amplifiers you can buy in the market, for an entry priced amp the FiiO E10K USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier is a great portable amp you can buy.

You can also check out our list of the best headphone amps under 100.

Meze 99 Classics are a great pair of headphones that don’t require an amp to be loud.

5. Getting yourself a Pair of New Louder Sounding Headphones

If you have tried all of the steps outlined above but still your headphones are not loud enough, it is time you get yourself a pair of new headphones.

The experience of buying a new pair of headphones can be like buying another electronic product: full of misinformation, overwhelming and you could get ripped off if you are not careful enough. With uncountable headphone models from different brands, finding one with the specs you desire can be a tough and lengthy search.

Beyond just making the sound, headphones come with different kinds of features like Bluetooth connectivity, inline mic, noise isolation to mention but a few.

There are different headphones you can choose from, but before that, read our headphones buying guide to make sure you make an informed decision.

You can also check our list of the best-sounding headphones in the market and don’t forget to burn in your new pair of headphones.