Audiophiles use a handful of common tricks to improve the audio quality of their headphones and earbuds, from using dedicated DACs to playing high-fidelity music files. However, there’s a much simpler option that will boost the detail and crispness of your favorite headphones without any external hardware, large lossless files, or uncommon audio codecs. In fact, it’s a free EQ app available on the Google Play Store, and it’s called Wavelet.
Sound quality is subjective, but the Wavelet app applies a custom equalizer to your headphones or earbuds to make them sound the best they can for most listeners. Equalizers adjust the strength of certain audio frequencies, like bass or treble ranges, to reproduce sounds in a certain way. What’s special about Wavelet is that it contains over 5,000 fine-tuned EQ profiles specific to the most popular headphone and earbud models. Here’s how it can make your headphones sound better with one tap, and why it’s crucial you use the Wavelet app with certain pairs.
How Wavelet makes your headphones sound better
It automatically adjusts them to match the gold standard of sound signatures
There’s a simple way the Wavelet app can instantly adjust the sound profile of your favorite headphones or earbuds. It uses AutoEQ integration to access preset equalizer settings for common models. These presets can either neutralize the frequency response of a pair of headphones or adjust it to match a target curve. For non-audiophiles, frequency response curves are charts that display how an audio product reproduces signals in each frequency tier. A flat line equals neutral sound, whereas curves can show enhanced or diminished frequency levels, such as low-end (bass) or high-end (treble) frequencies.
Wavelet uses AutoEQ presets to adjust your headphones’ sound signature to match the Harman Curve, which is considered the “gold standard” of frequency response graphs. It’s the ideal sound signature for most, but not all, listeners, and there’s real data to back this up. It was designed after conducting double-blind listening tests over the course of many years. Listeners didn’t know what headphones they were hearing, and gave honest feedback about the sound signature.
Harman International—the audio brand behind JBL and formerly AKG (sold to Samsung)—ran the tests, so the ideal curve earned the Harman Curve name. Now, the Harman Curve is considered a target curve, and apps like Wavelet use AutoEQ to override your headphones’ factory EQ to match it. This fan-favorite frequency response curve has elevated bass, rising mids, and a major boost in the treble range before dropping off.
Each pair of earbuds or headphones ships with a unique sound profile. Remember how old Beats headphones were known for being bass-heavy? That’s the perfect example of how an adjusted frequency response can change how your music sounds. Unique sound profiles require individualized adjustments, and that is why the Wavelet app taps into AutoEQ to offer thousands of profiles adjusted for specific models.
Tune Wavelet’s AutoEQ to match your preferences
There’s an eight-band EQ for precise manual control
After downloading the Wavelet app, setting up the AutoEQ for your preferred pair of headphones or earbuds is quick and easy. There’s a power button icon at the bottom of the app’s start page, and turning it on is the first step. You should start playing music now from your go-to player app so you can hear the changes take effect in real time. From there, flip on AutoEQ and, optionally, Graphic Equalizer. In a few seconds, you’ll hear a change in the way your music sounds.
Feel free to flip the AutoEQ mode on and off a few times to figure out whether you like the new or old sound signature better. Chances are, AutoEQ will be preferred. There’s still work to do, though. Tap the AutoEQ text (not the toggle) to set your specific headphone model. When you input the name of your headphones or earbuds, AutoEQ will apply frequency response changes specific to your pair.
Here’s the Wavelet app showing the adjusted frequency response curve for my AirPods Pro 2.
Wavelet then shows the adjusted frequency response curve, so you can see for yourself exactly what changes AutoEQ made. If you tap the graph, you’re able to adjust the strength of AutoEQ from 0% to 100% based on your preferences.
I’ve used a bunch of apps with built-in equalizers, from music players like Poweramp to headphone companion apps. The key feature for Wavelet is its AutoEQ integration, because it takes the work of building a custom equalizer profile out of your hands. However, you can do that if you’d like. After flipping on the Graphic equalizer toggle, you can tap it to open up an eight-band EQ. Here, users can create their own presets, dragging each EQ band to adjust the eight frequency response ranges up or down to their liking.
Here’s why Wavelet is an essential Android app
Certain headphones and earbuds benefit from Auto EQ more than others
Harman proved that, although great sound is subjective, there’s a science to it. Not everyone will use AutoEQ in the Wavelet app, but many will, and it can instantly change how you hear from the headphones you already own. It can be more impactful than buying an external DAC or using lossless audio files, and that’s high praise for a free app.
Wavelet isn’t a game-changer if you’re familiar with building custom equalizers and your headphones have a built-in EQ. Bose, Sony, Nothing, Samsung, and plenty of other audio brands offer companion apps with custom equalizers for their headphones and earbuds. But if your favorite pair doesn’t, like my AirPods Pro 2? You’ll need an app like Wavelet to adjust the sound quality to your liking.
Compared to standard EQ profiles like “bass boost” or “more treble,” AutoEQ in Wavelet is dynamic and a perfect match for your headphones. I’ll use Wavelet any time I need to adjust the sound signature of an audio product, and you should too.
OS
Android
Price model
Free (with in-app purchases)
Wavelet is a handy audio app for Android that uses Auto EQ technology to adjust your headphone’s sound signature to match the Harman Curve, improving sound quality instantly
