The 5 Best Windows Sound Equalizers

Key Points

• The most popular equalizer app for Windows 10, Equalizer APO comes with a user-friendly interface, and is compatible with a wide range of plug-ins and features.
• Considered to strike the ideal balance between simplicity and features, Equalizer Pro is also believed to be the best option for beginners. There’s its clutter-free interface and the fact that it is suitable for music and video files.
• The FXSound app enables you to automatically improve audio while it’s playing thanks to its real-time audio processing feature. It also comes with features for fidelity, ambiance, and bass boost, among others.

If you’re a PC user, there’s a good chance you’re not getting the most out of your audio set-up. Even if you have a top-of-the-line sound card and speakers, the default Windows settings are seldom ideal. To get the most out of your system, you’ll need to invest in a good sound equalizer.

So, what’s the best Windows sound equalizer, you ask? That’s a tough question because it depends on what you’re looking for in an equalizer. Do you need a ton of options and controls? Or, are you just looking for something to make your music sound better without spending too much time tweaking settings? Your personal preferences dictate which sound equalizer is right for you.

If you’re ready to improve your audio experience, we’ve put together a list of the best Windows sound equalizers to check out in 2022:

• Best Open-Source: Equalizer APO
• Best for Beginners: Equalizer Pro
• Best Interface: FXSound
• Best Budget-Friendly: Voicemeeter Banana
• Best In-Depth Customization: Viper4Windows

Best Open-Source: Equalizer APO

Equalizer APO is the most popular equalizer app for Windows 10, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s packed with features, is highly customizable, and best of all, it’s free. Equalizer APO offers many features, including support for multiple audio devices, a huge number of presets, and a sophisticated equalizer.

Besides, the Equalizer APO features fast response times and low CPU usage; thus, you can use this app with other applications. In addition, the latest version of this Windows equalizer features a user-friendly interface and supports various features and plug-ins, such as Virtual Studio Technology (VST) support.

While testing the unit, we observed that the Equalizer APO features two working modes that deliver 15 or 31 bands. The 31-band working mode ranges from 20Hz to 20kHz and allows you to configure multiple profiles for different applications.

Despite all these handy features, the drawback of the Equalizer APO is that its sound application programming interfaces (APIs), including Audio Stream (ASIO) and WASAPI, are incompatible.

Overall, the Equalizer APO is one of the best Windows equalizers out there and works well with the latest Windows versions.

Best for Beginners: Equalizer Pro

Equalizer Pro is worth considering if you’re looking for a sound equalizer that strikes the perfect balance between features and simplicity. This app offers a 10-band equalizer, which should be more than enough for most people. The interface is clean and clutter-free, making it easy to use.

And if you’re not satisfied with the default presets, you can create your own custom presets.

Moreover, Equalizer Pro also supports multiple audio formats, so you can use it with your music files, video files, and even streaming services.

Equalizer Pro is a great option if you’re looking for a comprehensive equalizer app. It features 20 presets along with a system-wide bass boost function, and gives you the ability to save your equalizer settings and profiles. Moreover, this equalizer also offers a preamp volume control, which means you can adjust a single band to boost low tones without individually adjusting each band.

In terms of downsides, the app is not free, but there is a 7-day free trial. Similarly, we found its controls a bit complicated, but when you get used to it, the Equalizer Pro is a powerful Windows-compatible equalizer for customizing your audio.

Best Interface: FXSound

What’s the sound of one hand clapping? If you’re using the FXSound app, it’s probably pretty good. This app is two tools in one, and it can help make your audio sound better in several ways.

First, it comes with 10 bands that cover a wide range of frequencies, and you can customize the sliders to get the perfect sound. There are also handy features for fidelity, ambiance, surround sound, dynamic boost, and bass boost.

In addition to the equalizer, the FXSound app also features real-time audio processing. This means that it can automatically improve the sound quality of your audio as you’re listening to it. Whether you’re listening to music or watching a movie, the FXSound app can help you get the most out of your audio experience.

Furthermore, FXSound uses a 32-bit processor to automatically improve the audio’s fidelity, ambiance, and surround sound, then converts it into 16-bit. This allows the equalizer to significantly enhance the theoretical limits of the traditional 16-bit output.

So if you’re tired of listening to crappy internet audio, give FXSound a try.

Best Budget-Friendly: Voicemeeter Banana

If you’ve ever recorded yourself speaking or singing into a microphone, you know that it can be difficult to get the sound just right. The echo of your voice in the room can throw off the recording, and, if you’re not careful, your computer’s built-in microphone can pick up the unwanted background noise.

That’s where Voicemeeter Banana comes in. The app’s main feature is the advanced audio mixer, which gives you complete control over your computer’s audio input and output.

This means that you can reduce or eliminate echo, adjust the volume of your microphone, and even add special effects like reverb. Best of all, Voicemeeter Banana is easy to use, even if you’re not a tech expert. With its equalizer, you can adjust both audio input and output, making cleaning up any sound deficiencies easy.

Whether casting your screen on Twitch, talking to family on Zoom, or recording a podcast, the Voicemeeter Banana can help you make your sound crisp without distortion. And since the app’s equalizer settings are located in the Master Section, you can easily get to them and experiment with different settings until you find the perfect sound for your needs.

So, if you want to take your audio game to the next level, the Voicemeeter Banana is the perfect tool.

Best for In-Depth Customization: Viper4Windows

If you’re looking for a powerful sound equalizer for Windows 11, look no further than Viper4Windows. This nifty little program can be loaded onto your sound card as an audio processing object, and it can also be saved onto audio-enhancing hardware.

You’ll love Viper4Windows because it gives you the freedom to choose target output devices and allows you to create custom sound presets for different scenarios.

For example, if you’re a fan of rock music, you can create a preset that enhances the bass frequencies. Or, if you prefer jazz music, you can create a preset that emphasizes the treble frequencies. No matter what your musical preferences are, Viper4Windows has you covered.

Windows has always been behind in the audio department compared to Mac. They had generic stock audio that did not stand out and was not customizable. However, with Viper4Windows, that is all changed. You can now use 18 bands, ranging between 120dB and 13dB. This is a significant difference as you can accommodate small, mid-size, large, and even larger rooms.

If you are looking for an equalizer that is better than Windows’s stock, look no further than Viper4Windows.

How To Pick The Best Windows Equalizer

So you’ve just finished recording your latest masterpiece, and you’re looking for a way to make the final product sound even better. You’ve heard that using an equalizer can help, but there are so many different ones out there that it’s hard to know which one is right for you.

Some vital factors to keep in mind when buying the best windows equalizer are: 

• Compatibility
• Decibels
• Presets
• Number Of Bands

Compatibility

With so many sound equalizers for Windows on the market, it can be tough to know which one to choose. One of the most important things to consider is compatibility. Make sure that the sound equalizer you select is compatible with the latest version of Windows.

Otherwise, you may find it doesn’t work as well as you’d hoped. If you want to use the equalizer for different media types, such as music and movies, then look for one with multiple presets.

That way, you can easily switch between different settings to get the best sound quality for whatever you’re listening to.

Decibels

Equalizers are one of the most misunderstood features of audio equipment. Many people think that they can just crank up the bass or treble to make their music sound better, but that’s not really what an equalizer does. An equalizer lets you adjust the loudness of specific frequencies, which can help to improve the overall sound quality of your music.

For example, if you find that your music sounds a bit muddy, you can use an equalizer to increase the volume of the higher frequencies. Or, if you want to add some extra punch to the bass, you can decrease the volume of the lower frequencies.

A good sound equalizer allows you to fine-tune the sound of your music as per your own personal taste. So check out the decibels before buying any Windows equalizer, and don’t be afraid to experiment—who knows, you might just end up with a new favorite sound!

Presets

The right EQ can make all the difference in how your favorite tracks sound. But, if you’re new to the world of audio equalizers, adjusting all those different frequency levels can be daunting. That’s where presets come in.

Many EQs come with presets for different music genres, so you can get a rough idea of what frequencies to adjust without too much guesswork.

And while these presets won’t give you the exact sound you might be looking for, they can be a great starting point for newbies who are still getting accustomed to their EQ.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all those frequency levels, take a deep breath and try out some presets—they just might be your new best friend.

Number Of Bands

If you want to enhance your audio experience, an equalizer can be a helpful tool. Equalizers allow you to adjust the frequencies of sound, which can be useful for compensating for deficiencies in your speakers or just fine-tuning the sound to your liking.

When shopping for an equalizer, you’ll want to consider the number of bands it offers. The more bands, the more specific you can be in your adjustments. You’ll also want to look at the range of frequencies each band covers.

A wider range will give you more flexibility in how you shape the sound. And lastly, don’t forget about the EQ’s controls. Look for buttons or knobs that will let you easily adjust the level of each band.

With a little trial and experiment, you can easily find an equalizer that helps take your audio experience to the next level.

Using The Best Windows Sound Equalizers: What It’s Like

We did a lot of research and rigorous testing to find the best Windows equalizers. Many factors were taken into consideration, including ease of use, price, and performance. We also tested them for popular music genres. We test these equalizers with an expert listening panel to conceal the identities and remove bias so you can get the best possible advice when purchasing your next Windows equalizer.

We found that the best Windows equalizer is the one that offers the most features for the least amount of money. It should also be easy to use and have great performance. We also found that the best equalizers are those that offer a variety of presets for different types of music.

If you’re looking for the best Windows equalizer, make sure to check out our top five picks. You won’t be disappointed!

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