How to listen to music on Xiaomi Redmi 9: settings and secrets of sound

Modern smartphones have long been universal multimedia centers, and Xiaomi’s Redmi 9 is no exception. Despite its affordable cost, it is capable of playing high-quality audio files if you configure the software part correctly. Owners often underestimate the capabilities of the built-in audio track, relying on standard settings that do not always reveal the potential of the device.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to customize the sound for maximum immersion in music, what codecs Bluetooth supports and how to use wired headphones to get Hi-Res Audio. You will learn about the hidden features of the MIUI shell that allow you to adapt the sound scene to your preferences or a particular genre of music.

Before you get to the complex settings, make sure that the basic playback settings are set correctly. Often users experience quiet sound or distortion simply because of the activation of the Absolute Volume function in the developer menu or incorrectly selected region. Let's look at the basic steps to prepare your smartphone for a high-quality sound.

Basic setup of sound effects and equalizer

The first thing to start with is the built-in graphics equalizer. Standard presets like Pop, Rock or Jazz can seem too aggressive, so for true sound connoisseurs, it's best to use manual frequency settings. To access these parameters, you need to go to the Settings menu → Sound and Vibration → Sound Effects. Here you'll find sliders for adjusting low, medium and high frequencies.

When manually adjusting, it is important to understand that the frequency characteristics of speakers and connected headphones may differ. If you use a budget headset, excessive bass raising can lead to wheezing and distortion. The optimal solution is to create a flat curve with a slight rise in the 60-100 Hz region for the warmth of sound and neatly adding "air" at frequencies above 10 kHz.

Special attention should be paid to the Dolby Atmos feature, which is often pre-installed on Xiaomi devices, which creates a virtual three-dimensional space, which is especially noticeable when listening through a stereo or high-quality headphones with open acoustics. However, for monophonic tracks or podcasts, it is better to turn it off, since artificially expanding the stage can blur the central image of the vocals.

⚠️ Note: When activating the Sound Improve feature in Bluetooth settings, you may see the audio and video streams de-synchronized on social media. If you notice that the actors' lips in the video are behind the sound, try turning this option off.

Remember that different music playback apps may have their own built-in equalizers that override system settings. For example, Spotify or YouTube Music often ignore system settings if their own signal processing is enabled. Always check the settings inside the player itself to avoid double processing and loss of quality.

Use of wired headphones and Hi-Res Audio

The 3.5mm connector on board the Redmi 9 is a real gift for audiophiles, allowing you to connect wired acoustics without losing quality during compression, typical for Bluetooth. The smartphone supports the Hi-Res Audio standard, which means the ability to play files with a sampling rate of up to 48 kHz or higher depending on the DAC (digital-analog converter) connected.

It is important to note that for Hi-Res Audio to work, your headphones must also meet this standard. Usually there is a special logo on the package or on the headphone wire. If you use a 3.5 mm USB Type-C adapter, make sure that it has its own DAC inside, as simple passive adapters may not provide the proper signal level and sound purity.

When you connect a wired headset, the system automatically switches the audio output, but sometimes this process may not work properly and the sound will continue to go through the speaker, in which case you should manually select the output device in the notification curtain or in the Music application. Also, the MIUI settings have the option "Hearphone Control", which allows you to assign actions when you connect or turn off the plug, for example, automatically start the player.

The quality of playback over the wire is directly dependent on the original file. Lost formats, such as MP3 with a bit rate of 128 kbit / s, can sound flat even on good hardware. Try to use tracks in FLAC, WAV or AAC formats with high bitrate to feel the difference between normal and high-quality sound on your device.

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Use analysis apps to check the actual sampling rate of your audio file. Often, files marked "Hi-Res" on the Internet are regular MP3s, converted to FLAC without improving quality.

Set up Bluetooth audio and codecs

Wireless remains the most popular way to listen to music, and codecs play a key role here. Redmi 9 supports basic SBC and AAC codecs, as well as more advanced aptX (depending on the firmware version and region). Codec AAC provides better compression quality for iOS devices and most Android smartphones, retaining more detail than the standard SBC.

To activate support for high-quality codecs, go to the developer menu. To open it, you need to click on the build number several times in the About section. Then, in the advanced settings, find the Bluetooth Audio Codec and select the available option with the highest bitrate, which will allow you to transfer a denser audio stream to compatible headphones.

Consider that using high-resolution codecs such as LDAC or aptX HD (if supported by your particular firmware version) can increase power consumption and cause small delays. Low-latency mode is better for watching videos or games, even if it sacrifices a portion of the frequency range.

The stability of the Bluetooth connection also depends on distance and interference. If the sound is interrupted or compression artifacts appear, try to move away from sources of strong radio interference, such as Wi-Fi routers or microwave ovens. Also make sure that the headphones and smartphone have the latest version of the software installed, as updates often contain patches for the Bluetooth stack.

Third-party audio players and their advantages

Xiaomi’s standard Music app is functional, but third-party players often offer more subtle audio management tools. Apps like Poweramp, Neutron Music Player or USB Audio Player PRO can bypass the Android system mixer by sending a signal directly to the audio driver, which allows you to get the sound without additional processing and distortion by the operating system.

One of the main advantages of third-party players is that they support a huge number of file and tag formats, they can correctly display album covers, lyrics and sort the library according to complex criteria, and many of them have their own, more powerful equalizers with support for parametric correction, which gives professionals full control over the timbre.

When using a third-party player, it is important to adjust the output correctly. In the application settings, find the Audi or Output section and select Direct Output or Hi-Res Output mode. This will disable the system volume and sampling frequency restrictions, allowing the player to control the DAC directly. However, in this mode, the volume adjustment with the phone buttons may stop working or work stepwise.

Some advanced players also support plugins that extend functionality, such as adding support for streaming services, improving network storage (NAS) or adding visualization, making the smartphone a full-fledged network player that can meet the demands of the most demanding listener.

Comparison of popular audio file formats

Understanding the difference between file formats is critical to producing sound quality. Not all files are created the same, and storing music in compressed format on a device with a good DAC makes no sense. Below is a table comparing the main formats you might encounter when downloading or buying music.

Format FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec is the gold standard for storing music on a smartphone. It compresses a file without losing data, taking up approximately one piece of music. 50-60% original-size WAV-For Redmi, the file. 9 This is the best choice, as it balances between quality and the space occupied in the memory of the device.

Loss formats like MP3 and AAC remove some of the audio that the human ear hears the worst. At high bitrates (256-320 kbps), the difference in c formats on conventional consumer acoustics can be barely noticeable. However, on quality headphones and with careful listening, compression artifacts such as floating high frequencies become apparent.

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For everyday listening in noisy transport, a high-quality AAC or MP3 320 kbit/s. Lossless formats (FLAC) only make sense when using good wired or high-end Bluetooth acoustics in a quiet environment.

Resolving Sound Problems and Quiet Playback

Sometimes users experience a situation where the sound on Redmi 9 becomes too quiet or hoarse. One of the common reasons is regional setting of the smartphone. In some regions (for example, India or Europe), legislation limits the maximum volume of speakers to protect hearing. Changing the region in settings (Settings → Additional settings → Region) to Singapore or the United States often removes this software restriction.

Another common problem is that there's an application conflict, and if you have multiple players or memory cleaner apps installed, they can interfere with the audio driver, try clearing the Music app cache, or resetting the audio settings to factory settings, and check if Mono-audio is included in the special features section, which can lower the overall volume and bring the stereo into one channel.

⚠️ Attention: Using third-party audio amplifiers (Volume Booster) can overload speakers and physically fail them.Be careful if you turn up the volume above 100%.

If the sound is hoarse even at medium volume, check the speaker for dust and dirt. Clean the speaker grid carefully with a soft dry brush. In rare cases, the problem may be a software glitch after updating the firmware. In this case, resetting the phone to factory settings can help, but make sure to back up the data before doing so.

And let's not forget about the physical damage, because if the phone falls or gets wet, the audio track could get damaged, and then the software settings won't work, and you'll need a diagnostic at the service center, but 90 percent of the time, the problem is solved by setting the equalizer right, choosing a quality sound source, and checking for regional constraints.