Three ways to fix the sound quality on your TWS for free
No matter how expensive or cheap your wireless earbuds are - these tips always work!
If you're unhappy with the sound coming out of your wireless earphones, try these three free tips to improve your sound.
On Scarbir.com, I've tested and reviewed over 130 different affordable wireless earphones (also called TWS - True Wireless Stereo earphones), ranging from only $25 to $150.
All earbuds have the same tricks and tips to improve sound quality. Follow these tricks in this order, to improve your sound!
1. Try different sizes of ear tips
There are two types of wireless earphones:
There are Apple AirPods-style earpieces which you 'hang' in your ears. These are called half-in-ears.
Most wireless earbuds on the market, however, are regular in-ears. They come with a rubber ear tip on the end of the earpiece, which goes in your ears.
This first tip is for everyone with regular in-ear earbuds.
The $40 Bomaker Sifi II comes with six sizes of rubber ear tips
All in-ear wireless earbuds come with different sizes of rubber ear tips. Most earbuds are delivered with three sets of ear tips right in the box, but some models come with even more different sizes and styles.
This trick seems like a no-brainer, but many people don't do this. Always try the different sizes of rubber ear tips that come with your earphone! Changing the ear tips makes a huge difference in sound quality.
Selecting the best ear tip for your TWS:
Swapping the rubber ear tips is easy. Don't be afraid to damage your earphones - it's nearly impossible to do so while changing tips. All you have to do is pull the current rubber tip off and put another on it.
You know when you have the right-sized ear tip when it's comfortable for you, and you hear a noticeably better sound.
When you have the right size, you can feel the bass a bit. This means you have a perfect seal, which in turn unlocks way better sound quality from the earphones.
The bass will gain power, and higher notes will become less harsh - the sound will be warmer and better overall.
Minimal effort, maximum difference!
2. Select the highest sound quality in Spotify, Google Music, Deezer
When you've got the right size of ear tips, you've got the basics covered. Now, it's time to take the next step and maximize the sound quality of the music streaming service you listen to.
Most music streaming services, like Spotify, Deezer, and Google Music, standard select 'Normal' or 'Automatic' music quality. This is understandable, as it will cost the streaming service and yourself fewer data to stream music. It isn't a success for sound quality, however.
By changing the audio setting from normal to the highest available quality, you unlock more dynamics, refinement, and more spaciousness in the music. You may hear a ton more detail!
How to select the highest audio quality in Spotify/ Deezer/ Google Play Music:
Spotify (iPhone):
Select the Home tab
Tap the settings button in the top right
Tap Sound quality
Select the highest audio quality for both streaming and downloading
Spotify (Android)
Select the Home tab
Tap the settings button in the top right
Scroll to Sound quality
Select the highest audio quality for both streaming and downloading
Deezer (iPhone/ Android)
On the music player screen, go to Audio settings in the left corner
Under 'Audio quality', select 'Personalized'
Select 'High quality (HQ)' for all four settings
Google Play Music (Android/ iPhone)
Press the menu button in the top-left corner
Tap 'Settings'
Scroll to 'Play' or 'Playback'
Select the 'Always high' setting for both mobile and wifi-network
Take note: you may need a paying subscription to get the highest audio quality setting.
After switching the sound quality, the music streaming service may need time to update your existing music downloads or refresh the music on your waiting list. You will soon enjoy music playback in higher quality - and better sound in general!
3. Try different codecs on Android
Most wireless earphones come with different codecs. Some of them might work better for your phone, while the codec isn't activated straight away. While the sound of the earbuds itself and the previous two steps are way more important to improve the sound quality, you may further enhance the sound by selecting a codec on Android manually.
How to change the codec on Android devices (if supported by your device):
Go to the Bluetooth settings
Find your currently connected wireless earbuds
Tap the Settings-wheel next to the earbuds
If it shows a codec-slider (for example AAC or HD-audio), activate it to see if the sound changes
This setting isn't available on iPhone and perhaps even most Android phones. If it is possible, listen back and forth between the codec settings to see if the sound improves - you may just be lucky.
Bonus tip: Try ear tips of other earphones you have!
By now, you've already tried the different rubber ear tips that come with your pair of wireless earbuds, right? If not - try step 1 first.
If the sound is still not to your liking, you can try to optimize the sound further by trying rubber ear tips of other earphones you still have around. Not all ear tips will fit all earbuds - this is heavily dependent on the size of the nozzle on your earbuds. However: if you can pull another set of ear tips over the nozzle of your new wireless earphones, it's always fun to see how they alter the comfort and the sound quality for you.
How to change the sound with different ear tips:
Do you want more bass in the sound? Generally, you will unlock it by using ear tips with a wide opening (bore).
Do you want less bass? Generally, you will achieve this by using ear tips with a smaller opening (bore).
Do you want more spaciousness in the sound? Sometimes, longer ear tips may give you a slightly more airy sound.
Do you want the tightest fit you can have? Try foam tips. Press them until they're compact before you put them in your ears. They will grow in your ears and adjust to your ear canal. They may provide less bass than the best rubber-tips, buy may give you the best fit.
There is no guarantee other ear tips will improve the sound of your wireless earphones. Most manufacturers provide ear tips with their earbuds that complement the sound of the earbuds. There are exceptions, however, so it's worth tip-swapping as much as you like.
Did this guide help?
I hope these free tips help you in acquiring better music quality. If so, please leave a comment - or share this guide with your friends/ colleagues/ on social media!
Didn't get the sound you like? There are dozens of FANTASTIC sounding wireless earbuds under $100, to as low as $25.
See all my wireless earbuds ratings and reviews here or browse the top recommendations below!
- Scarbir
