Have you ever noticed that your Xiaomi music sounds different in headphones and speakers? Or that the voice of the person on the call suddenly became too bassist? All this works thanks to sound effects presets — pre-configured profiles that optimize the sound for specific tasks. But most users do not even know about their existence, and in vain: the right preset can dramatically improve the experience of listening to music, watching movies or playing games.
In this article, we will understand what presets are in Xiaomi smartphones, where to look for them in the settings, and how to choose the best option for your needs. Not all of it!), how to reset to factory settings, and why it's sometimes best to turn off all improvements altogether, and also reveal the secret mode "Mi Dirac", which is hidden in the engineering menu and is only available on the flagships of the Mi series. 12/13/14.
What is a stop to sound effects and why it is needed
Preset is a preset set of audio parameters that is automatically applied to the audio stream. In Xiaomi smartphones, these settings adjust:
- 🎛️ Equalizer – frequency distribution (bass, middle, high)
- 🔊 Amplification of speakers – loudness and clarity at maximum levels
- 🎧 Headphone processing – spatial sound (e.g. Dolby Atmos)
- 🎵 Environmental effects – imitation of a concert hall, studio, etc.
By default, MIUI has 5-7 basic presets (depending on the model), but flagships can have up to 12, including proprietary developments Xiaomi and Dirac. The main feature of presets is that they adapt to content: one is optimized for rock music, another for podcasts, the third for games with surround sound.
Example: If you listen to hip-hop through the Bassy+ preset, the system will automatically amplify the low frequencies, and when watching a movie with the preset, the Cinema will activate a virtual subwoofer for explosions and special effects.
Where to find presets of sound in the phone Xiaomi
The path to settings depends on the MIUI version and the smartphone model. In most cases, presets are hidden in the audio menu, but on some devices (for example, the Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5) they were moved to a separate application.
- Through the basic settings: Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound Quality and Effects. On some firmware, the item may be called Sound Effects or Dirac Sound.
- Through the notification panel: Unfold the notification curtain, find the Sound icon (or Speaker), hold it for 2 seconds - a quick menu with presets will open.
- Through the Music app: In the official Mi Music player, tap three dots in the upper right corner → Sound settings → Effects.
If you POCO or Black Shark, look for the Game Turbo section – there may be separate previews for games with support 3D-sound.
How to return old presets after updating MIUI?
Top.-5 Presets in Xiaomi: what is needed for
Not all presets are equally useful. We tested them on Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and POCO F5 — here are the honest recommendations:
| preset | What's the point? | Features | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass+ | Hip-hop, electronic music, action films | Increases frequencies below 100 Hz, adds "heavy" | Can "boom" on cheap headphones. |
| Voice. | Podcasts, audiobooks, calls | Suppresses noise, emits medium frequencies (2-5 kHz) | The music sounds flat. |
| Cinema theater | Movies, TV shows, YouTube | Activates 5.1 virtualization and enhances dialogue | It requires high-quality speakers. |
| Dirac HD Sound | Classics, jazz, high-bitrate music | Expands stereo, improves detail | It only works with certified headphones. |
| Game. | Shooters, MMORPGs, mobile games | Increases the sounds of footsteps, shots, surroundings | It can interfere with strategies (too much bass) |
⚠️ Attention: Preset Dirac HD Sound is only available on flagships (Mi). 11/12/13, Mix 4) It requires activation in the engineering menu. 10A, POCO M4) It is not even after manual activation.
Open any track in the player|Switch presets and listen to the changes|Try to turn on/off effects in the settings|Compare the sound with the disabled improvements-->
How to create your own preset: manual equalizer setting
If you don't like the presets, MIUI has a built-in 10-band equalizer to turn on:
- Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound Quality and Effects.
- Slip on the Equalizer (or User).
- Move the sliders for each frequency (60Hz to 16kHz).
- Save the setting as a new preset (Save button in the upper right corner).
Advice for setting up:
- 🎸 For guitar music: Lift 250 Hz (heat) and 4 kHz (string clarity).
- 🥁 For electronic music: amplify 60–80 Hz (bass drum) and 10 kHz (high hats).
- 🎤 For vocals: mute 100-200 Hz (so that the voice does not "bubble").
⚠️ Note: On models with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro) Equalizer works only with wired headphones. Bluetooth requires third-party software like Wavelet to be installed.
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If the sound gets worse after manual adjustment, try resetting the equalizer to a flat line (all sliders are 0 dB) and starting over. Often users lift the bass too high, which leads to distortion.
Hidden Presets and Engineering Menu: How to Turn Dirac On
Xiaomi's flagship models have a hidden Dirac Sound mode, a spatial sound technology that the manufacturer doesn't advertise.
- Open the Phone app and type ##3646633##.
- Go to Hardware Testing → Audio → Dirac.
- Select Enable Dirac and restart your phone.
- After the reboot, a new Dirac Power Sound section will appear in the audio settings.
There are 3 additional presets available on this menu:
- 🎧 Stereo Widening – Expands Stereo Headphones.
- 🔊 Dynamic Range – Automatically adjusts volume.
- 🎚️ Custom – Advanced equalizer with Q-factor setting.
⚠️ Note: Enabling Dirac on non-certified devices (e.g. Redmi) K50 Custom firmware may cause a loss of warranty, and the manufacturer blocks access to these settings on models without a Dirac Technologies license.
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The engineering menu allows you to include presets that are not in the standard settings, but it is not recommended to change the parameters without understanding - this can lead to a distortion of the sound or an audio driver failure.
Preset problems: why the sound is distorted or lost
Sometimes, after a change of preset, the sound begins to wheez, the bass disappears, or one speaker completely shuts down.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The sound became quieter after the change of preset | Volume limiter (Displayer protection) activated | Turn off the Safe Volume Level in the Sound Settings |
| Wheezing at high volume | Preset too amplified by low frequencies for weak speakers | Choose Preset Normal or Reduce Bass by Hand |
| Presets do not work in Bluetooth headphones | SBC codec does not support sound processing | Switch to AAC or aptX in Bluetooth settings |
| Presets disappeared after update | Resetting the sound settings in the new version of MIUI | Restore backup of settings or reconfigure |
If the problem is not solved, try:
- Clear the cache of the application Sound Settings (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Sound Settings → Clear the cache).
- Remove the MIUI update (if the problem has occurred after the update).
- Reset all settings to factory (Settings → About phone → Reset settings).
Best Apps for Advanced Sound Effects
The standard MIUI presets are limited by the processor and drivers, and there are third-party applications with advanced settings for real audiophiles:
- 🎛️ Wavelet – supports equalizer for Bluetooth, autonormalization volume, virtual surround.
- 🔊 ViPER4Android — Legendary module for rooted devices with support for Dirac, Dolby and Sony ClearAudio+.
- 🎧 Poweramp Equalizer – works with any player, has a 16-band equalizer.
- 🎵 Neutron Music Player – professional player with support for Hi-Res audio and DSP-effects.
⚠️ Attention: Apps like ViPER4Android They require root rights and can conflict with system sound drivers, POCO M3) They often cause a stuttering sound.
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Before installing a third-party equalizer, turn off all system effects in Settings → Sound → Sound Quality → Off.. Dual sound processing leads to distortion.