Linux Audio for the hard of hearing

kapqa · 2026-01-08 20:02:34

Hello ,

have noticed since long that the Linux experience on Laptop is bit hard to swallow;

the problem is with office lapòtop of various kind
that use randomly;

now this Laptop has dual-boot Windows 10 - Devuan 7.0

and it functions reasonalby well;

however , the audio is still subpar;

whenever listen to various podcast, sometime cannot grasp the meaning of spoken word, since volume is too low.

Understand that the Windows 10 has dedicated drivers (Atmos enabled?) and sound very much better;
but does the Linux Audio really need to sound that thin?

It is a good experience to sharpen the listening curve,
but sometimes it is overwhelming;

now with program like
vlc > can boost to 200%
mpv > can boost to 130%

however, with normal audio being played throught browser or social media app, there is not much space left.

the linux is already alsa-only enabled, and volume is 100%.

Is there an easy way to "boost" the volume on Linux or what can be done to enhance the experience (badly needed on LInux desktop).

Thank you very much.

https://ibb.co/S7NCYnkD

rations · 2026-01-13 12:37:01

Not sure about software but a cheap bluetooth speaker with volume controls helps.

greenjeans · 2026-01-13 16:47:31

You've probably already done this, but on my laptop when you open the alsamixer, there is a "main" volume control, and there is also a "speaker" volume control which is the laptop speaker volume specifically. If both are not at 100% then I won't get full volume on my machine.

igorzwx · 2026-01-15 16:11:40

kapqa wrote:

this Laptop has dual-boot Windows 10 - Devuan 7.0
...Understand that the Windows 10 has dedicated drivers (Atmos enabled?) and sound very much better;
but does the Linux Audio really need to sound that thin?

One might tentatively suggest that the operating system one uses could, in a rather modest sort of way, have a slight influence on how one thinks — nothing dramatic, mind you, just a small tendency to shape habits, decision-making, and the odd worldview. It’s not as if the thing actively reprograms you, of course. More like it gently nudges one’s approach to problems, file organisation, and the occasional existential crisis over software updates. Entirely unremarkable, really.

Of course. One might observe, with only mild amusement, that when a Windows user encounters a spot of bother with Linux, they often struggle to explain quite what they did — let alone articulate the nature of the problem in a way that makes the faintest bit of sense to anyone trying to help. It’s not their fault, really. They’re simply used to the machine telling them what’s wrong, in that passive-aggressive Windows fashion — “Something happened. We’ll fix it. Probably.” — rather than being expected to read a log file or, heaven forbid, recall what they actually did.

So they’ll say, “It’s broken,” with the same level of detail one might expect from a damp biscuit. No error message, no command entered, just… broken. As if the system itself has taken a turn for the worse and needs a lie down with a cool cloth.

Still, one must be charitable. It’s not their operating system’s fault if it’s never taught them to think.

Last edited by igorzwx (2026-01-15 16:14:06)

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#1 2026-01-08 20:02:34

Linux Audio for the hard of hearing

#2 2026-01-13 12:37:01

Re: Linux Audio for the hard of hearing

#3 2026-01-13 16:47:31

Re: Linux Audio for the hard of hearing

#4 2026-01-15 16:11:40

Re: Linux Audio for the hard of hearing

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