How to improve your Bluetooth sound on Xiaomi: settings and codecs

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO have powerful hardware, but standard airborne audio settings often leave much to be desired. Many users complain about quiet sound, lack of bass or audio dissynchronization when watching videos. The problem lies not only in the headphones themselves, but also in the software restrictions that Xiaomi imposes to save battery power.

However, knowing the hidden capabilities of the operating system MIUI And HyperOS, you can make the most of your wireless connection. In this article, we'll look at engineering menus, developer settings, and custom codecs that will transform your regular codecs. TWS-headphones in a high-quality acoustic system.

Basic setting of Bluetooth module in MIUI

Before you go into deep settings, you need to eliminate trivial software failures. Often the communication module “hangs” or runs in power saving mode, which critically affects the bitrate of the transmitted audio. The first thing you need to do is complete reset network settings, which will not delete your personal data, but return the modules to factory parameters.

To do this, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Once the device is restarted, the system will re-scan the air and select the freest channel for data transmission, this is especially true in apartment buildings, where the air is filled with router signals.

Also worth paying attention to the Absolute Volume feature: If the volume on the phone and headset is not synchronized when you connect the headphones, the sound may be quiet or distorted. Turn on or off this setting in the developer menu to check which mode gives a cleaner sound on your model.

⚠️ Note: After resetting your network settings, you will have to re-enter passwords from Wi-Fi networks and re-pair all Bluetooth devices.

Don’t ignore the firmware updates of the headphones themselves. Accessories manufacturers like QCY, Haylou or Xiaomi Buds regularly release updates that fix connection bugs. Use the Xiaomi Earbuds or Mi Wear app to check the relevance of the headset software.

Activation and selection of audio codecs

Sound quality is directly dependent on the chosen codec, the compression and transmission algorithm of the audio stream. Standard SBC codec provides basic quality, but strongly compresses the file, cutting high frequencies. Hi-Res audio requires more advanced formats, such as aptX, aptX HD, LDAC or proprietary codec LHDC, which is actively promoted by Xiaomi.

To force support for high-quality codecs, you need to activate the developer menu. Click 7 times on the MIUI version in About Phone. Then go to Advanced Settings → For developers and find the Bluetooth Audio Codec section.

From the list of available codecs, choose the one that supports your headset. If you choose an unsupported codec, the sound just won't go or will crack. Usually the system itself offers the best option, but manually choosing LDAC or LHDC can greatly improve the detailing of tracks, if the Android version allows.

• 🎧 SBC: Basic codec, everywhere, low quality, high compatibility.
• 🎵 Qualcomm standard, good quality and low latency, suitable for Android.
• 🎼 LDAC: Sony’s development transmits 3 times more data than SBC, It requires support from headphones.
• 🔊 LHDC: Analogue LDAC, It is often found in Xiaomi flagships and headphones of brands like Edifier.

It is worth remembering that the inclusion of high-resolution (HD) codecs increases energy consumption. the Bluetooth module begins to work in a strengthened mode, which can reduce the battery life of the smartphone by 10-15%.

Secrets of the developer menu for audiophiles

Inside the hidden developer menu, you have parameters that can change the sound, so you can adjust not only the type of codec, but also the sampling rate, and the bitrate of transmission, and these settings affect how much information is transmitted per second from the processor to the speakers.

Find Bluetooth audio bit and set the maximum available value (usually 24 bits). It's also worth experimenting with sampling frequency. For most modern tracks, 48 kHz is enough, but if you have Hi-Res files, try 96 kHz or higher if the headset allows it.

Way: Settings → Advanced settings → For developers → Bluetooth Audio

Another important parameter is to turn off absolute volume. If you hear a hiss or a sound that's too quiet when you connect your headphones, try changing the status of that switch. Sometimes the conflict of volume levels between the OS and the headset creates digital distortions.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the bitrate to the maximum can lead to interruption of sound if the smartphone processor does not cope with real-time coding.

Don't forget to also check the Bluetooth Audio Codec Sample Rate setting. Auto mode sometimes gets it wrong and chooses a low frequency to save resources. Forced installation of 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz often solves the problem of "metallic" hue in the vocalist's voice.

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If the sound is gone after changing the codec, just turn off and reconnect the Bluetooth headphones in the notification curtain without restarting the phone.

Use of System Equalizer and Dolby Atmos

Xiaomi is incorporating Dolby Atmos and its own sound engine into its shells, which allow not only timbre change but also virtual surround sound, which is critical for stereo headphones. Proper calibration can add missing depth to bass.

Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound Effects. You should turn on Dolby Atmos and select Automatic Adaptive or Music mode. In manual equalizer mode, try to raise low frequencies (60-250 Hz) and slightly add air on high (10 kHz+).

Many users forget about the Mi Sound Enhancer feature, which optimizes the output of sound for a specific model of connected headphones. If your model is not on the list, choose Universal Headphones or try a profile from a similar brand, for example, JBL or Sony.

• 🎚️ Graphic equalizer: Fine frequency adjustment manually.
• 🌌 Dolby Atmos: Creating a surround sound effect.
• 🎧 Mi Sound: Presets for specific brands of headphones.
• 📢 Mono-audio: Channel mixing (useful for podcasts).

However, turning on all effects at once can overload the audio track and cause wheezing at maximum volume, and it is recommended to use either a Dolby or a manual equalizer, but not all at once.

Third-party applications for fine-tuning

Staff funds are sometimes not enough, especially if you want to get a specific sound or use advanced features hidden by the manufacturer.The Google Play store offers a variety of utilities that run on top of the Android system audio engine.

One of the most powerful tools is the Poweramp Equalizer app, which allows you to control sound at the core level by offering a parametric equalizer, a bass amplifier, and support for Viper4Android plugins. Some features may require special permissions through ADB to work.

Another popular solution is Wavelet, which automatically determines the model of your headphones and applies the ready-made correction profile (AutoEQ), aligning the frequency response to the reference, which is the best way to make budget earphones sound like top models.

When using third-party equalizers, it is important to monitor the level (amplifications).If you raise the overall volume level in the application, this can cause digital clipping (distortion of signal peaks), which will lead to wheezing.

⚠️ Warning: Some sound enhancement apps may conflict with the Dolby Atmos system.If the sound is gone or deaf, turn off the third-party equalizer.

Solving delay and interruption problems

Latency is a wireless scourge, especially noticeable in games and video, and if actors' lips don't hit the beat of their voices or shooter shots are heard late, the problem is buffering or the codec they choose.

To minimize delay, use aptX Low Latency or aptX Adaptive codecs. If your headset doesn’t support them, try turning off the “Allow Bluetooth AVRCP passthrough” option in the developer menu or, conversely, turning it on, as this works differently on different versions of MIUI.

Sound interruptions are often caused by interference from Wi-Fi networks operating in the 2.4 GHz band. Bluetooth also operates at 2.4 GHz. Switching a router to 5 GHz or using USB 3.0 (which also creates interference) can significantly improve connection stability.

It’s also worth checking whether the smartphone is not worth the “Do Not Disturb” or “Energy Saving” mode, which can limit the background operation of the Bluetooth process, causing micro-gaps in the data stream.

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The stability of Bluetooth-singer on Xiaomi depends on the absence of interference in the 2.4 GHz band and the correct codec with low latency.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions