Michal Ždanský The internal speakers of MacBooks are undoubtedly among the best, but they are far from the top. When listening without headphones or external speakers, we may experience a lack of bass or insufficient volume, especially with Internet media content. That's why the Boom app is here.
There have probably been times when you were playing videos on YouTube or having a video call on Skype, for example, and you wished you could turn up the volume on your computer. Sure, there's an option to use headphones, but it's not always the best solution for the given situation, like when multiple people are watching the video. Then of course there are other ways, such as portable compact speakers like the Jawbone Jambox or Logitech Mini Boombox UE. Even without external accessories, Boom can not only increase the volume, but also partially improve the sound.
Boom is a small utility that sits in the top bar after installation, adding a second volume slider. It works independently of the system volume. By default, when the pointer is at zero, Boom is turned off, moving the slider up will give you that volume boost. You can see what this increase looks like in practice on the recording below. The first part is the recorded sound of the song at the maximum volume of the MacBook Pro, the second part is then increased to the maximum by the Boom application.
[soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/jablickar/boom-for-mac” comments=”true” auto_play=”false” color=”ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”81″]
How does Boom achieve this? It uses a proprietary algorithm that can allegedly increase the sound by up to 400% without noticeable sound distortion. Another interesting function is the equalizer that works across the system, which in itself is a function for a separate application. On a Mac, you normally can't adjust the EQ globally, only in iTunes or in individual apps that have their own EQ. In Boom, you can adjust the sliders of individual frequencies within the entire system and de facto improve the sound of your MacBook. If you don't feel like custom settings, the app also includes some presets.
The last function is the ability to increase the volume of any audio files. In the corresponding window, you insert the songs you want to increase the volume and Boom then passes them through its own algorithm and saves their copies in the specified place, optionally adding them to iTunes under the playlist boom. This can be useful for music players, for example, when some tracks are too quiet for some reason.
If you often listen to audio from your MacBook without using headphones or external speakers, Boom can be a useful utility to increase the volume or improve the sound when needed. It is currently on sale in the Mac App Store for €3,59.
[app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/boom/id415312377?mt=12″]
I use it myself and I am extremely satisfied ;).
There's nothing better than damaging the speakers in your MacBook, so be it.
A good "upgrade" of the sound, the main thing is not to overdo it with the volume and not to destroy your speakers! Otherwise thumbs up! :-)
Great app. I just missed it. Although I have an external BT speaker at work, through which I play internet radio (ASF-Atlantic Sound Factory) all day long, but when traveling, for example at a hotel, I really didn't like the sound. Now it's quite listenable, I satisfied. Thanks and type.
What is it about when I have to download some utility on my laptop for 1500€ in order to have sufficient volume. Sick isn't it???
Maybe about the fact that the laptop simply has a small speaker. It is a computer designed to be carried, moved, and the speaker is a marginal item there, because most people have an external speaker on their desk at work or at home. However, in Macbook and Air, the built-in speakers are still very good compared to others. And to make their sound even better on the road, for example, many like to invest the ridiculous $4, including me.
So I agree that if you don't put decent speakers in the netbook for that kind of money (presumably because of space), then the utility could be part of the OS ;-).
No.
I've been using it for about a month...great app