Modern Xiaomi Mi TV and Redmi TV are famous for their excellent value for money, offering users advanced matrixes and powerful filling. However, thin body and the desire for minimalism often cause insufficiently loud and rich sound of embedded speakers, this is especially noticeable in large rooms or when watching movies with quiet dialogue and sharp explosions, where dynamic range requires qualitative enhancement.
Fortunately, the Android TV operating system that these devices run on provides a wide range of options for customizing audio output. You don't have to go to the store immediately for an expensive soundbar, as there are a number of software and hardware methods that can significantly improve the situation. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods, from simple menu settings to connecting professional equipment.
Before we get into complex manipulations, it's important to understand that maximum volume is often limited by the manufacturer's software limits to protect speakers from overload, and exceeding those limits without due care can cause distortion or failure of the acoustic system, so we'll move from safe to more advanced methods, ensuring a balance between power and sound quality.
Basic audio setting through the TV menu
The first step is always to carefully check the standard settings, which are often ignored by users immediately after unpacking. Go to the main menu and select Settings, then go to Sound or Audio, which hides the basic audio stream control tools that allow you to adapt the sound to the acoustics of your room.
Pay special attention to the Sound Mode setting. The default is often Standard or Eco, which limits the frequency range to save energy. Switching to Movie, Sport or User modes can instantly add volume and saturation. In some Xiaomi Mi TV Stick or Box models, these settings are duplicated in a quick menu caused by a long press of the settings button on the remote.
Be sure to check the Dolby Audio or DTS function if it is available in your model. Activating these codecs not only improves volume, but often increases the overall signal power output. However, it is worth remembering that for these formats to work properly, content must also be encoded in the appropriate standard.
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A properly selected audio profile on the menu can increase the perceived volume by up to 30% without connecting additional hardware.
Use of built-in equalizer and thin compensation
The finer tuning is done through a built-in equalizer that allows you to adjust the individual frequency ranges. In the audio effects menu, find the Equalizer or Equalizer. Here you will see sliders responsible for low (bass), medium and high frequencies. To increase the overall volume and intelligibility of speech, it is recommended to slightly raise the average frequencies, and low and high leave at the middle level or slightly reduce them so that they do not “clog” the main signal.
The technology automatically adjusts the frequency response at low volume levels to make quieter sounds more audible. If you have a Night Mode or Clear Voice switch on your TV, activate it — it's specifically designed to amplify dialogue by suppressing background noise and explosions.
⚠️ Warning: Excessive lifting of all sliders of the equalizer to the maximum can cause digital distortion (clipping), which makes the sound will become hoarse and unpleasant, even if the volume grows.
If you don't like the standard set of frequencies, some advanced models allow you to download custom presets, and it's also worth experimenting with turning off all effects, since sometimes a "clean" signal without processing sounds louder and clearer than an overloaded MIUI for TV algorithm.
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Record a film fragment before and after setting the equalizer to objectively compare the result, as the hearing quickly adapts to the changes.
Connecting external acoustics: HDMI ARC and Optical
If the software methods did not give the desired result, the most effective solution will be to connect an external acoustic system. HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel, which allows you to transmit high quality sound to a soundbar or soundbar AV-receiver using the same cable as the image, or a separate cable HDMI. This ensures better synchronization and maximum volume.
To connect, perform the following actions:
- 🔌 Connect the cable. HDMI port-marked ARC on the TV and the corresponding entrance on the soundbar.
- 🔊 In the TV menu in the Sound section, select the output "External speakers" or «HDMI ARC».
- 🎛️ Turn on the function. CEC (control of one remote control) to adjust the volume of the soundbar buttons remote from TV.
- 📀 Make sure the audio output format is installed in Auto or Pass-through to transmit an uncompressed signal.
An alternative is the use of optical output. S/PDIF (Toslink. This interface also transmits digital audio, but does not support some modern formats like Dolby TrueHD, although stereo or stereo is used to increase volume. 5.1 It's a good thing that he has. S/PDIF Often you have to buy separately, as in the configuration of TVs it is rare.
☑️ Connecting the soundbar through HDMI ARC
Use of Bluetooth headphones and speakers
Android TVs have a built-in Bluetooth module, which opens up the possibility of wireless audio devices. It's a great option for nighttime viewing, when you need to increase the volume for yourself without disturbing others. You can connect wireless headphones or a portable Bluetooth speaker.
The pairing process is standard: go to Settings → Remote and Accessories (or Bluetooth), turn on device search and select your headset from the list. However, consider the latency that can be noticeable when watching videos. To minimize desynchronization, use headphones that support aptX Low Latency codecs, if the TV supports them.
When connecting a Bluetooth speaker, the volume may be lower than that of wired counterparts due to channel bandwidth limitations, in which case it is recommended to use speakers with their own amplification and volume control, twisting them to the maximum, and adjusting them with the TV remote.
Comparison of methods of connecting sound
To make it easier for you to choose the best sound enhancement option, we have prepared a comparative table of the main interfaces, each of which has its own advantages depending on your goal: maximum volume, convenience or quality.
| Interface. | Max. Volume. | Sound quality | Convenience |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI ARC | Tall. | Excellent (Lossless) | High. |
| Optical (S/PDIF) | Tall. | Good. | Average. |
| 3.5 mm Jack (AUX) | Medium | Low (Analogue) | High. |
| Bluetooth | Depends on the device. | Medium (compressed) | Average. |
As you can see from the table, HDMI ARC is the undisputed leader in the set of characteristics. If your soundbar or receiver supports this standard, it is worth giving priority to it. Analog output 3.5 mm (mini-jack) often gives the quietest and noisiest signal, so it should only be used as a last resort or to connect old active speakers with its own amplifier.
Why can Bluetooth make a quiet sound?
Secret settings and engineering menus (ADB)
For experienced users who are not afraid to experiment, there is a possibility to change the system limits of sound through debugging. ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method allows accessing hidden options that are not displayed in the usual menu, but using this method requires installing remote management applications such as Send Files to be used. TV or TV App Repo.
There is a myth about commands that unlock hidden volume, but in reality, the safest to use equalizers from the Google Play Store, such as Volume Control Plus or Bass Booster. They work on top of the system mixer and can amplify the signal programmatically.
⚠️ Note: Interference with system files through ADB or installation of untested APK-Files can lead to unstable operation of the Android system TV Use only verified applications from the official store.
If you still decide to use third-party software for amplification, be sure to monitor the temperature of the TV processor. Software signal amplification increases the load on the DAC and the processor, which in thin cases Xiaomi can cause overheating and trottling (decreased performance).
Problems with codecs and audio formats
Often the problem with silent sound is not hardware, but format incompatibility. For example, if you watch content from a flash drive or through an app that produces Dolby Digital Plus multichannel sound, and the TV is set to output stereo, automatic and incorrect downmixing can occur, which reduces the volume of the central channel (where dialogs are usually located).
In the audio settings, find Digital Output or Digital Output. Try switching from Auto to PCM. This will force the TV to decode the sound itself in stereo before sending it to external devices, which often solves the problem of quiet sound in applications like YouTube or when watching movies from torrents. PCM is an uncompressed audio that usually sounds louder and more stable.
Also worth checking out is the specific application. Player settings (like VLC or Kodi) often have their own volume amplifier that can be twisted up to 200% or 300%, which is the software amplification added up to the system amplifier, giving a significant boost.
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Switching digital output to PCM mode often solves the problem of quiet dialogue when viewing multi-channel audio content on a stereo system.