Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where expensive wireless headphones sound worse than wired counterparts or headsets connected to other devices.This is not always the fault of the accessories manufacturer; often the problem lies in the software limitations of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, which by default use compressed codecs to save traffic and battery power. Standard system settings can artificially lower bitrate, turning detailed sound into a metallic-tinted "porridge."
Fortunately, the Android operating system that Xiaomi devices run on has powerful tools to fine-tune the audio stream: Turning off unnecessary effects, activating advanced codecs like LDAC or aptX Adaptive, and using third-party apps can dramatically change the way you experience music. You don't need to be an audiophile with an oscilloscope to notice the difference after applying the right settings.
In this guide, we will break down all the available methods, from basic menu switches to working with engineering menus and third-party software. Deep customization will allow you to squeeze the most out of your equipment, whether it is on a budget. TWS-The key is to act consistently and check the result on your favorite track.
Basic sound settings in MIUI and HyperOS
Before you get into the wilds of system parameters, you need to set up the standard interface correctly. Many users ignore the built-in equalizer, relying on flat sound, but the right calibration can remove sharp frequencies. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound quality and effects. This is the main control lever.
In the "Mi Sound" or "Visualizer" section, you often have a default mode activated that doesn't match the type of headphones you have. If you have a headphone insert and you have a "Office" profile, the frequency balance will be disrupted. Select "Hearphones" and, if possible, click "Autodetermination" or manually specify the model if it's on the list. This action calibrates the frequency response to a specific speaker design.
⚠️ Warning: Turning on the Sound Enhancement feature in some firmware versions may cause artificial volume to rise with loss of high frequency detail.
Don't forget to check Dolby Atmos settings if your smartphone supports this technology. For music, the Dynamic or Movie profile is best, as Automatic often misidentifies content and applies inappropriate filters. Dolby Atmos expands the stereobase to create the illusion of surround sound, which is especially noticeable when listening to live recordings.
Selection and activation of Bluetooth codecs
The codec is an algorithm for compressing and transmitting audio data wirelessly. The standard SBC codec, which is used by default on all devices, has a low bitrate and compresses the stream strongly. To improve quality, you need to force the smartphone to more advanced data standards, such as AAC, aptX or LDAC.
To access codec management, you need to activate the developer menu. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI or HyperOS seven times until the notification “You’ve become a developer” appears. Then, in the “Additional” menu, find the “Developers” option.
Inside the developer menu, scroll to the Net or Bluetooth section. Find the Bluetooth Audio Codec. When you click on it, you'll see a list of available codecs. If your headphones support LDAC or aptX HD, select them. Sony's LDAC allows you to transfer data at up to 990 kbps, which is three times faster than a standard SBC.
⚠️ Note: Use of high resolution codecs (LDAC, aptX Adaptive) significantly increases the battery consumption of both headphones and smartphones.
If only SBC and AAC are available on the list, your smartphone or headphones don’t physically support more advanced standards, and you can’t programmatically raise bitrates above the hardware limit, but even switching from SBC to AAC on Apple and Android devices can give you a noticeable boost in sound purity.
Set-up Developer Parameters for Audio
The developer menu hides not only the choice of the codec, but also other important parameters that affect the stability and quality of the connection. Here you can find settings that change the priorities of the system when processing sound.
By default, the system often chooses 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. If your hardware allows, try setting 96 kHz. This will increase the sampling rate, making the sound more detailed and "airy." However, remember that not all tracks are recorded in high resolution, and upscale (artificial quality enhancement) may not give the expected effect.
Also worth paying attention to the option "Absolute volume level." If you notice that the volume of the headphones and the phone is not synchronized (for example, on the phone at most, and in the headphones is quiet), turning on or off this option can solve the problem.
Use of third-party equalizers and players
Android is good, but third-party apps often offer more flexible audio processing algorithms, and apps like Poweramp, Neutron Music Player, or system equalizers like Wavelet can do wonders, allowing you to create your own profiles for each pair of headphones.
Wavelet, for example, has a huge AutoEQ database for hundreds of headphone models, and it analyzes the frequency response of your model and aligns it to the Harman reference curve, making it sound more natural and balanced, removing the bass bulge or the sharpness of the tops.
| Annex | Type | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wavelet | System equalizer | AutoEQ database for specific models | Low. |
| Poweramp | Audioplayer | Powerful sound processing engine | Medium |
| Lesser AudioSwitch | Utility. | Forced codec switching | Tall. |
| Bluetooth Codec Changer | Utility. | Change codecs without a developer menu | Medium |
It's important not to overdo it with bass or high frequencies. Overprocessing leads to digital distortions (clipping) that spoil the sound more than no equalizer. Harmonic distortions make the music unpleasant to hear during long-term listening.
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Use the Auto Equalizer feature in apps like Wavelet, which automatically adjusts the settings for the music genre so you don’t manually switch profiles.
Hidden commands and engineering menus
For advanced users, you can access the engineering menu through a special code. Enter ##6484## or #3646633## in the call (codes may vary depending on the MediaTek or Snapdragon processor). Here you can find the Audio section where you can configure the levels (amplifications) for different scenarios.
In the Audio → Debug Info or Audio → Function section, you can see the current connection status and codec used in real time. This is useful for diagnosis: if you set an LDAC, but SBC is burning, then the connection is unstable or the headphones do not support the format.
⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu (especially in the Gain and Volume sections) can overload the speakers and cause them to be physically damaged. Change only the values you are sure of, or remember the original numbers.
Some users are trying to change the value of digital gain to make the sound louder, which is extremely risky, and it is better to use external amplifiers or more sensitive headphones than to "scream" at the speaker, distorting the signal.
Effects of interference and physical environment
Bluetooth operates at 2.4 GHz, which is also busy with Wi-Fi routers, microwaves and neighboring gadgets. If you're near a powerful radiation source, the sound quality will inevitably fall due to the loss of data packets, and the system will try to compensate for this by reducing bitrate on the fly.
Try switching Wi-Fi to 5GHz if your router is dual-band, which will free up the ether for Bluetooth connectivity, and it also matters where your smartphone is: if it's in the back pocket of your jeans and the headphones are in your ears, your body acts as a screen that blocks the signal.
To minimize delays and artifacts, try to keep your smartphone in your chest pocket or hand. Direct visibility of the device's antennas and headset provides the best channel bandwidth. In public transport, interference is almost inevitable, so even LDAC can work unstable there.