Windows system audio enhancers

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#1 Post by **Midas** » Fri Jan 23, 2026 7:52 am

Been meaning to post something on this subject for a while now (ever since ViPER4Windows apparently went missing), so I guess today is the day...

Please be aware that all the software mentioned in this post, although free, requires deep integration with your Windows system and thus it isn't by any means portable -- hence my posting it here at "Resources & Links".

1.

[FxSound is a] Free open-source software to boost sound quality, volume, and bass. Including an equalizer, effects, and presets for customized audio. Especially if you're using quiet laptop speakers or other low quality audio hardware, FxSound is the best free software to boost volume, bass, and sound quality. And no free EQ for Windows is easier to use than FxSound.

@ https://www.fxsound.com/

FxSound is currently at v1.2.5.0 released 2025-12-27 (changes and downloads at https://github.com/fxsound2/fxsound-app/releases).

2.

Equalizer APO is a parametric/graphic equalizer for Windows. It is implemented
as an Audio Processing Object (APO) for the system effect infrastructure introduced with Windows Vista. [NOTE!] Applications must not bypass the system effect infrastructure (APIs like ASIO or WASAPI exclusive mode can't be used).

@ https://equalizerapo.sourceforge.io/

Equalizer APO is currently v1.4.2 released 2025-03-21 (changes and downloads at https://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/files/).

Now, Equalizer APO is quite an intricate and advanced piece of software, so most people will want to interact with it via a simplified(?) GUI, which fortunately exists and is also free: enter Peter's Equalizer APO Configuration Extension AKA PEACE...

Peace equalizer is a Windows PC interface for Equalizer APO. Besides an system-wide audio equalizer on your Windows PC, Peace has an effects panel for balance, cross-feeding, delay, etc., a graph window and much more.

@ https://peace-equalizer-apo-extension.sourceforge.io/

Peace is currently v1.6.9.11released 2025-11-02 (changes and downloads at https://sourceforge.net/projects/peace-equalizer-apo-extension/files/).

Finally, if you're a headphone user and want to get the most out of your headgear, the AutoEq site contains a vast database of (user-generated) hardware sound profiles that can be used to fine tune your Equalizer APO or ViPER4Android(§) setup:

https://autoeq.app/

§) That's what I've used it with the most and am pretty satisfied. YMMV.

Please remember to DYOR and happy listening...