Why is the Audible app volume too low on my iPhone? It can be frustrating when your Audible is so quiet, even when your iPhone's volume is maxed out. If you're struggling to hear Audible playback on your device, you're not alone.
Whether it's due to low narration levels, limited device volume, or playback settings, Audible can sometimes sound quieter than expected. Fortunately, there are practical solutions to make Audible louder on any device, iPhone, Android, desktop, and even Amazon Echo. This guide provides several simple, step-by-step methods to boost your audiobook listening volume effectively.
Part 1. Why Is Audible So Quiet?
Before you buy new headphones or assume your hearing is fading, it is important to understand that the "quietness" of audiobooks is not a bug; it is an industry standard. If you switch from Spotify to Audible and the volume seems to drop by 50%, you are experiencing the technical difference between music mastering and spoken word mastering.
1. The Loudness Gap (The Numbers)
In the audio engineering world, "loudness" is measured in LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale). This measures the average volume over time, not just the loudest peak.
- Modern Music (Spotify/Apple Music): Typically mastered at 14 LUFS. Pop and EDM tracks are often even louder, compressed heavily so that every second of the song punches at near-maximum volume.
- Audible (ACX Standards): Amazon requires all audiobooks to be mastered between 23dB and -18dB RMS.
2. The "Dynamic Range" Dilemma
Music is often "brick-walled, meaning the quiet parts are boosted to match the loud parts. This ensures you hear the bass guitar just as clearly as the lead singer, even on a noisy subway.
Audiobooks, however, prioritize Dynamic Range. A narrator needs to whisper during a suspenseful scene and shout during an argument. To prevent the "shouts" from distorting (clipping) your speakers, the audio engineer must keep the average volume lower to leave "headroom" for those loud peaks.
Part 2. Basic Fixes to Make Audible Louder on Any Device
Before diving into complex settings, we need to rule out the "ghost" issues, simple setting conflicts that silently throttle your audio. Let's see easy common ways to make Audible louder on your device.
Way 1. Adjust Your Device's Volume
Smartphone volume buttons are context-sensitive. If you adjust the volume while on the home screen, you might only be turning up your ringtone, not your media. Fixing the Audible volume too low is often just a matter of checking the right settings. Follow these straightforward methods to immediately adjust and optimize your Audible playback volume on your device.
On Android/iPhone:
Open Audible and hit Play first. Press and hold the 'volume up' button on the left or right side of your phone. Then you can increase volume and make Audible louder on iPhone and Android phone.
On Windows Computer:
Find and touch the 'speaker' icon at the bottom right corner on the screen. Then you can drag the volume bar to the right to get Audible volume boost. Or, right-click on the 'speaker' icon and then head to the 'Sound' settings window to adjust volume.
On Mac Computer:
Hit on the 'sound control' option in the menu bar or 'Control' center on your Mac computer. Then you can head to adjust your computer's volume to listen to Audible audiobooks louder.
Way 2. Sync Bluetooth Device's Volume
If you are using Bluetooth headphones, speakers, or a car adapter, you are dealing with two separate volume controls: the phone's volume and the device's volume. You can turn up the Bluetooth device's volume via physical buttons to listen to Audible louder.
Step 1. Turn your phone volume to about 80%.
Step 2. Use the physical buttons on your headphones, speakers, or car stereo to increase the volume to the desired level.
Step 3. If the Audible volume is still too quiet, max out the phone volume.
Note:
If the volume remains low even after syncing your current Bluetooth device, the issue could be with the listening accessory. You can temporarily connect a wired pair of headphones or pair a different Bluetooth speaker to see if the volume improves.
Part 3. How to Fix Audible Volume Too Low via Audible App
If adjusting your device's volume settings didn't solve the problem, the next step is to explore the dedicated options within the Audible application itself. The Audible app provides internal controls, such as checking the download format, volume control, or adjusting the playback quality, that can significantly affect the listening volume.
Way 3. Increase Audible Volume on App
The Audible app provides specific playback options for connected Bluetooth devices that can significantly increase the volume and clarity of the narration. Here's how to access and increase volume on the Audible app to make Audible louder via Bluetooth speaker devices and headphones.
Turn Up Volume for Smart Speakers:
Step 1. Power on your smart speaker like Sonos, Amazon Echo, Google Home, or else.
Step 2. Open the Audible app on your mobile phone or tablet.
Step 3. Start playing an audiobook and head to the 'Now Playing' screen.
Step 4. Hit the 'Connect to a Device' button, and it will show you a window.
Step 5. Now, pick up and connect to your smart speaker to stream audiobooks.
Step 6. Once your speaker begins playing, you can turn up the volume on your device to increase the Audible volume.
Turn Up Volume for Headphones:
Step 1. Connect your headphones to your phone via Bluetooth connection.
Step 2. Launch the Audible app and play an audiobook.
Step 3. Then you can control the Audible volume up and down you want on your phone or headphones.
Way 4. Change Download Quality to High
While the Audible app doesn't have a "boost" button, changing the file quality can drastically improve clarity, which increases perceived loudness. Audible defaults to "Standard" quality to save data, but this compresses the audio, making voices sound muddier and harder to hear over background noise. "High" quality (64 kbps) provides crisper audio, making the narrator's voice cut through the noise better.
Step 1. Open the Audible app and go to your 'Profile'.
Step 2. Tap the 'Settings' (gear icon) in the top right corner.
Step 3. Select the 'Data & Storage' option. Under "Download Quality," toggle the setting to 'High'.
Note:
You will need to delete and re-download your current book for this change to take effect.
Part 4. How to Increase Volume on Audible Web Player via Extension
If you listen to Audible audiobooks via the Audible cloud player, then you can use the Audible Audio Control Chrome extension to make Audible louder. Besides, as there is no Audible app for Windows, it is better to enjoy Audible audiobooks on Windows via its web player.
Way 5. How to Turn On Audible Web Player's Volume
Step 1. Search for 'Audible Audio Control' in the Google web browser. Then, head to add it to the Chrome extension.
Step 2. Start the Audible web player and go to 'Library' > 'Listen Now' to play an audiobook.
Step 3. Then you can drag the volume slider to adjust volume on the Audible web player.
Part 5. Advanced Fixes to Make Audible Louder on iPhone/iPad/Android
This is where we go beyond standard volume controls to unlock significant volume gains by overriding system safety limits and utilizing hidden accessibility tools. These fixes are particularly useful when connecting to accessories like car stereos or external speakers that require higher input volume.
Way 6. Disable Headphone Safety on iPhone (iOS)
Your iPhone or iPad may be automatically limiting the volume to protect your hearing. Disabling this feature can often provide a substantial volume increase, especially when using speakers.
Step 1. Go to the 'Settings' app and select 'Sounds & Haptics'.
Step 2. Tap on 'Headphone Safety'.
Step 3. Toggle the switch for 'Reduce Loud Audio' to 'OFF'.
Way 7. Disable Absolute Bluetooth Volume on Android
This setting attempts to synchronize your phone's volume with your Bluetooth device's volume. While helpful, it often leads to volume glitches, prematurely capping the maximum output.
Step 1. Enable Developer Options by going to 'Settings' > 'About Phone' and tapping 'Build Number' 7 times.
Step 2. Go to 'System' > 'Developer Options'.
Step 3. Scroll down to the Networking section and toggle ON 'Disable Absolute Volume'.
Step 4. Restart your phone for the changes to apply.
Part 6. How to Make Audible Louder - Best Way
In this part, we will introduce the best way for you to increase the Audible volume. That's to use DRmare Audible Converter, which is available for both Windows and macOS computers. It can convert protected Audible audiobooks to plain audio files with ease. Also, it allows you to adjust output volume, pitch, and so on to let you get a better listening quality.
Besides, it supports converting Audible AA/AAX to MP3, WAV, FLAC, and more for better compatibility. And it will keep the original quality and full metadata of Audible audiobooks. What's more, you can split large Audible files by chapters within the app. After the conversion, you will get the local Audible audiobooks on your computer with high volume for playing on any device you want.
Way 8. How to Download and Play Audible Louder
- Step 1Launch DRmare Audible Converter
Install DRmare Audible Converter on your computer and then start it once installed. Then click on the 'add files' button to import downloaded Audible audiobooks to DRmare program.
- Step 2Reset Audible audiobooks output audio parameters and adjust volume
Now, click on the 'Format' icon on the screen of the DRmare tool. Then you can start to alter the output audio format and more parameters for Audible audiobooks. Besides, to make Audible louder, please hit the 'edit' icon on the track. Then you can begin to increase volume on Audible. After that, click on 'OK'.
- Step 4Convert Audible audiobooks to fix the Audible low volume issue
Find and touch the 'Convert' button on the DRmare tool, and it will start the conversion process. A while later, hit on the 'Converted' icon to check the converted Audible audiobooks on your computer. Then you can listen to Audible audiobooks louder on any device and platform you want.
Part 7. FAQs about Audible Volume Too Low
Is there a volume control on Audible?
No. Audible relies on your device's system volume. But it has a volume control slider when clicking the 'Connect to a Device' button on the Now Playing screen. You can adjust the volume to affect the connected devices.
Why is Audible quieter than music?
Audiobooks are dynamic. Music is compressed to be loud constantly, while narrators have quiet whispers and loud exclamations. To keep the loud parts from hurting your ears, the overall average volume is kept lower.
Does Audible have a built-in equalizer?
No, the Audible app currently does not feature a native equalizer. You must use your phone's system-wide settings or accessibility features to adjust the sound profile.
Will downloading in "High Quality" use more data?
Yes. High-quality files are roughly double the size (approx. 60MB per hour of audio vs. 30MB), but the clarity improvement often helps perceived volume.
How can I make Audible louder on the speaker in my car?
Use the car stereo volume and EQ settings and ensure media volume is maxed on your phone before connecting.
Part 8. In Conclusion
Having low volume on Audible, especially on an iPhone, can be frustrating, but it's usually fixable. From simple volume adjustments and Bluetooth syncing to tweaking iOS settings like Headphone Safety or switching your Audible downloads to High Quality, there are several effective ways to make Audible louder. If you need even more control, tools like DRmare Audible Converter let you customize volume at the file level. No matter what device you use, these practical tips will help you enjoy your audiobooks clearly and comfortably.
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