How to tune the sound in headphones on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: from bass to Dolby Atmos

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, but even its owners often face problems with sound in headphones: quiet sound, no bass or distortion. The reason is not always the headphones themselves — most often enough to set up the software part. In this article, we will analyze all the ways to improve the sound from the standard equalizer to hidden MIUI functions and third-party applications.

The Redmi Note 8 Pro features support for Dolby Atmos and the hardware amp, but by default, these features are not at full capacity, and we'll show you how to turn them on correctly, which codecs to choose for Bluetooth headphones, and what to do if the sound is lost after the upgrade, and compare the built-in tools with applications like ViPER4Android and Wavelet.

1. Basic sound tuning through system parameters

Start by checking the basic settings – often the problem is solved in 2 minutes. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the path to audio parameters depends on the version of MIUI (updates could change the menu).

Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound quality and effects

Here you will find:

• 🎧 Equator – Presets for different genres of music (rock, pop, jazz, etc.).
• 🔊 Dolby Atmos is surround sound technology (only works with wired headphones!).
• 📱 Adaptive sound is an automatic headphone-type adjustment (not always working correctly).
• 🔄 Volume normalization – aligns the sound level between tracks (useful for playlists).

Important: On the Redmi Note 8, the Pro Dolby Atmos is disabled by default to save battery power. To activate it, go to Settings → Sound → Dolby Atmos and select the Music or Movie profile. The Auto profile often gives worse results than manual settings.

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If the menu does not include “Dolby Atmos”, upgrade to MIUI 12.5+ or install the Dolby Access app from the official Xiaomi store (not available in all regions).

2. equalizer setting for bass and high frequencies

The built-in equalizer in MIUI allows you to fine-tune the sound, but many users do not know how to use it.

1. Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Equator.
2. Select a preset (such as “Bases”) or create your own by clicking on the “+” icon.
3. Move the sliders for each frequency range: 🔹 60-250 Hz bass (increase for "heavy" sound). 🔹 500-1000 Hz are medium frequencies (voice, guitars). 🔹 2-8 kHz are high frequencies (purity of sound, but don't overdo it - hissing may appear).

"My basses for EDM"

To check the result, play a track with deep bass (for example, "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes) and compare the sound before / after the changes. If the bass starts to "drum" or the sound is distorted, reduce the level by 1-2 divisions.

Set the bass (60–150 Hz. +3–+5 dB|Reduce the average frequencies (1–3 kHz -1–0 silk-bone|Raise the high (8–12 kHz +2 dB|Turn off "Adaptive Sound" in Dolby settings|Check the sound at maximum volume (no wheezing)

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3. Dolby Atmos: How to turn on and configure for headphones

Dolby Atmos on the Redmi Note 8 Pro is only supported for wired headphones (including the Type-C adapter). For Bluetooth headphones, this feature does not work – instead, use aptX or LDAC codecs (we will discuss them below).

To set up Dolby Atmos:

1. Connect the wired headphones to the 3.5mm connector.
2. Go to Settings → Sound → Dolby Atmos.
3. Select a profile: 🎵 Music is the best choice for listening to tracks. 🎬 Movie is suitable for movies and games (enhances surrounding sounds). 🎙️ Voice - improves speech intelligibility (good for podcasts).

"Virtual surround sound"

⚠️ Warning: Dolby Atmos may conflict with some music apps (e.g. Spotify or YouTube Music).If the sound is quieter after you turn it on, try disabling Dolby or using another player (e.g. Poweramp).

4. Bluetooth headphones: choosing a codec and eliminating delays

The Redmi Note 8 Pro supports several Bluetooth codecs that affect sound quality and latency, and uses SBC, the most compatible codec, but not the best, by default to change it:

1. Connect the Bluetooth headphones.
2. Open Settings → Connected devices → Settings gear next to the headphones → Sound quality.
3. Select the priority codec (in decreasing quality): 🏆 LDAC (best quality but high battery consumption). 🥈 aptX HD (good balance of quality and stability). 🥉 aptX (less latency, suitable for gaming). ⚠️ AAC (medium quality, but works with all devices). ❌ SBC (basic codec, worst of all in quality).

If you don't have LDAC or aptX on the list, your headphones don't support them. Check the model specifications on the manufacturer's website. For example, Sony WH-1000XM4 works with LDAC, and AirPods only works with AAC.

⚠️ Warning: When using LDAC at maximum bitrate (990 kbps), there may be noise interruptions (metro, crowded areas). In such cases, switch to aptX or lower the bitrate LDAC to 660 kbps in the codec settings.

5.Sound problems: quiet sound, wheezing, lack of sound in headphones

If the sound in the headphones has become quiet, disappears or distorted, the reasons can be both software and hardware.

🔇 Silent sound in headphones

• 🔊 Check volume limit in Settings → Sound → Safe Volume (turn off limit).
• 🎧 Clean the 3.5mm connector of dust (use a toothpick or compressed air).
• 🔄 Reinstall the sound driver: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three points → Show system → Media Output → Clear the cache.
• 📱 Update the firmware — older versions MIUI had a volume-limiting bug for some headphone models.

🔊 Wheezing and distortion

• 🎛️ Reset the equalizer settings to standard.
• 🔌 Try other headphones — if the problem persists, the jack or amp is faulty.
• 🔄 Turn off Dolby Atmos and hardware effects in the audio settings.

🚫 Sound disappears after headphones are connected

• 🔧 Reboot your phone – often helps when the audio driver crashes.
• 🔍 Check the headphones on another device (possibly the problem is in them).
• 📲 Reset Settings → System → Reset Settings → Network Settings Reset (this won’t delete your data, but will reset Bluetooth and Wi-Fi).

6. Third-party applications for improving sound

If built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, try specialized apps.The best options for the Redmi Note 8 Pro are:

🎛️ ViPER4Android (requires root or Magisk)

The most powerful audiophile solution, but the most difficult to set up.

• 🎧 Set up a multi-band equalizer (up to 10 bands).
• 🔊 Apply Convolver effects (simulation of concert hall acoustics).
• 🎵 Use XHiFi to improve bitrate.

Installation:

1. Download ViPER4Android with XDA Developers.
2. Install the driver via Magisk Module (instructions are available on the forum).
3. Set up a profile for your headphones (we recommend starting with the preset "Clear Bass").

🔄 Wavelet (no root)

A simpler alternative to ViPER4Android with automatic headphone detection:

• 🎧 Supports over 3,000 headphone models (automatically matching the equalizer).
• 🔊 Includes LDAC/aptX even if they are not in the system settings.
• 🎵 There's a built-in volume normalizer.

You can download it from Google Play (free version with restrictions).

🎵 Poweramp (Equalizer Music Player)

If you’re listening to music in local memory, Poweramp suggests:

• 🎛️ 10-band equalizer with presets.
• 🔊 Support for formats FLAC, WAV, DSD.
• 🎧 Adjustment of balance between left/right earphone.

⚠️ Warning: Apps like ViPER4Android may conflict with the built-in Dolby Atmos. If the sound gets worse after installation, turn off Dolby in the system settings.

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For most users, a combination of the built-in equalizer + Dolby Atmos is enough. Third-party applications are only needed if you use high-quality headphones (from 10,000 ₽) or listen to music in lossless formats.

7 Hardware problems: when a workshop is needed

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be the hardware.Typical hardware faults of the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

Before visiting the workshop:

1. Check the headphones on another device.
2. Reset your phone to factory settings (possibly the fault of the software).
3. Make sure the problem isn’t with the firmware – install the latest stable version of MIUI via the Mi Flash Tool.

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If the phone is warranty, do not open it yourself - this will void the warranty Xiaomi. Official service centers are in most major cities (list on the website mi.com).

FAQ: Frequent Sound Questions on Redmi Note 8 Pro