Recommendations for loudness equalization utility for Realtek USB audio

larc919 · Jun 28, 2025

Realtek USB audio driver packages lack an Enhancements tab, which includes a loudness equalization function. I watch YouTube quite a bit and find that volume ranges from barely audible to uncomfortably loud as I switch among videos. Is anything available that works? There are registry tweaks that add the Enhancement tab to audio devices that aren't showing it, but I'm looking for something a little simpler than that.

spapakons · Jun 28, 2025

If you have VLC you can enable volume normalization there. Then you can copy the YouTube URL (link) and open it with VLC. You should see the video without ads and normalized. I prefer MPC-HC. You can download it standalone or as part of K-Lite codec pack. Then you must download yt-dlp (aka YouTube downloader plus) and copy the files to the MPC-HC folder. Then you copy the video URL and open it with MPC-HC. It will call yt-dlp and open the video at the maximum offered quality.

FreeBooter · Jun 28, 2025

Try FxSound utility.

Download FxSound - Boost Your Sound On Windows

Download the new FxSound for free. The best sound booster for Windows. We also have download links to DFX and FxSound Premium.

www.fxsound.com

larc919 · Jun 29, 2025

Thanks for the suggestions, spapakons and FreeBooter, but still not the Enhancements replacement for total audio that I'm looking for. FxSound does balance the audio a little better, but it still doesn't provide loudness equalization even though users have been asking for it. Starting to think I may be forced to dive into the dreaded registry tweaks.

spapakons · Jun 29, 2025

I downloaded FxSound and installed it. I does have a normalize option in Settings, but I haven't tested it yet. I saw that another sound output device is added FxSound Speakers. Obviously you must set this as default in order for any settings to take effect. Also if you right-click on FxSound icon in the notification area (near the clock on the taskbar) there is a list of options. Make sure you select your speakers as the output device in FxSound.

Winuser · Jun 30, 2025

spapakons said:
I downloaded FxSound and installed it. I does have a normalize option in Settings, but I haven't tested it yet. I saw that another sound output device is added FxSound Speakers.

I wonder why you have the FxSound Speaker listed on your computer. I have FxSound installed on my computers and don't have the FxSound Speakers listed. On my Powerspec B746 desktop I have three outputs listed. One for each HDMI monitor and one for the Realtek audio card (defaultT. I have four listed when I plug in my external Bluetooth transmitter/reciever. On my older PowerSpec I have three outputs listed. They are the Realtek audio card, The HDMI output to my monitor and the USB speakers(default).

GCG1000 · Jun 30, 2025

Hi-
I am using: Equalizer APO to handle my audio requirements. It is quite flexible and works well with my PC/audio rack. You might find it worthwhile.

larc919 · Jun 30, 2025

spapakons said:
I downloaded FxSound and installed it. I does have a normalize option in Settings, but I haven't tested it yet. I saw that another sound output device is added FxSound Speakers. Obviously you must set this as default in order for any settings to take effect. Also if you right-click on FxSound icon in the notification area (near the clock on the taskbar) there is a list of options. Make sure you select your speakers as the output device in FxSound.

Thanks. I had somehow missed that setting. Turned it on and will see if it works.

spapakons · Jul 1, 2025

I noticed that the default setting is not a flat line. Change that if you prefer a neutral sound and only want to equalize the volume level.

Fabler2 · Jul 1, 2025

Make sure you select the correct speaker output using the notification area then in FX Sound. Use the Dynamic Boost setting for your loudness needs.

spapakons · Jul 1, 2025

It's rather annoying when you want to watch an episode of your favorite series and the volume is less than 20% of the available range. At the comfort of your computer you may turn up the volume. What about when watching in a noisy environment such as your train to work? I had to also install an equalizer on my smartphone. When I contacted the TV station about it, they promised to fix it, of course they never did. Even me that I am not professional, I make sure the audio level of a sound recording or video capture is as high as possible without distortion. They just don't care, just press record, press play on the VCR and that's it. Of course the default audio level of a line out is less than the middle. It needs some gain. They don't even bother to normalize it before uploading. Needless to say the clearer audio and best quality is to adjust the level at recording, not normalizing later. Compare shooting at 1080p vs shooting at standard definition, deinterlacing and upscaling to 1080p.

larc919 · Jul 2, 2025

Fabler2 said:
Make sure you select the correct speaker output using the notification area then in FX Sound. Use the Dynamic Boost setting for your loudness needs.

My sound setup is a bit different, which I probably should have outlined in my initial post. It's USB out of my computer into a DAC that feeds via RCA cables into a receiver. The output I'm using is FxSound Speakers with settings linking the preferred output as Speakers (SMSL USB DAC). Also in FxSound settings, Normalize Volume is checked. There is a slider that goes from 1 to 4, but I can't hear any difference wherever that is set.

Fabler2 · Jul 3, 2025

larc919 said:
My sound setup is a bit different, which I probably should have outlined in my initial post. It's USB out of my computer into a DAC that feeds via RCA cables into a receiver. The output I'm using is FxSound Speakers with settings linking the preferred output as Speakers (SMSL USB DAC). Also in FxSound settings, Normalize Volume is checked. There is a slider that goes from 1 to 4, but I can't hear any difference wherever that is set.

Not used DAC etc just simple connections so no experiences with such devices. I asked ChatGPT (please scroll to beginning) I hope it will help

;

https://chatgpt.com/share/68665b3d-8b14-800b-acc3-3cf0428bc94c

larc919 · Jul 3, 2025

Fabler2 said:
Not used DAC etc just simple connections so no experiences with such devices. I asked ChatGPT (please scroll to beginning) I hope it will help ;

https://chatgpt.com/share/68665b3d-8b14-800b-acc3-3cf0428bc94c

Thanks, Fabler2. That's the way mine is set up. The sound works well, but not so much the loudness equalization. I'm thinking that may require an output from the computer audio rather than USB. Or maybe the Normalize Volume function just isn't ready for prime time yet. Anyway, I'll switch from USB to optical from the computer to the DAC later today and see if that makes a difference.

Recommendations for loudness equalization utility for Realtek USB audio

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