Lossless audio is becoming more common, but many people are still unsure what the term means. In simple words, lossless audio keeps all the details from the original recording. Nothing is removed to make the file smaller, so the music sounds closer to what the artist created. Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music all support at least CD-quality sound. The one major service that still relies on compressed formats is YouTube Music.
Even if your favorite app does not offer lossless quality, you can still improve how your music sounds. Most streaming apps use default settings that focus on convenience instead of clarity. With a few quick tweaks, you can unlock richer audio without buying new gear.
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.
The web player does not always include a Normalize Volume option. If you see it under Settings → Playback, turn it off. If you do not see it, your account type or browser version does not support changing this setting on the web.
Your equalizer shapes the way your music sounds. It can highlight bass, smooth out middle tones or brighten treble. Many apps include presets. Others let you make custom profiles. If your streaming app falls short, you can try third-party EQ apps like Wavelet on Android or Boom on iOS.
Once you open the Equalizer, you will see sliders that control different parts of the sound:
You can pick a preset such as Bass Booster, Vocal Booster or Acoustic. You can also move the sliders to create your own profile. Start with a preset, then adjust each slider a little at a time until the music matches what you like.
If you do not see an Equalizer option, that is completely normal. YouTube Music does not include its own EQ on most devices. The app only shows an EQ button when your phone or tablet has a system equalizer that YouTube Music can access. Many iPhones and several Android models hide or remove access to the system EQ, so the setting never appears.
To use EQ on devices that do not support it, consider a third-party app such as Wavelet on Android or Boom on iOS.
Apple Music does not include an EQ menu inside the app. To adjust your sound profile:
Switching EQ presets is one of the fastest ways to make your music feel new again.
The Mac version of Apple Music includes its own equalizer, but it can be hard to find if you are not used to the Mac menu bar. Here's exactly what you should see:
Once the Music app is open, look at the very top of your screen, above everything else. This thin horizontal strip is the Mac menu bar. It does not sit inside the Music app window. It is always at the very top of macOS.
You should see words in the menu bar that look like this (from left to right):
As soon as you click Equalizer, a small floating window should appear with:
If the Equalizer option does not appear in the Window menu, or the EQ window does not pop up when selected, that is a known issue affecting some macOS versions in late 2025. It is not something you're doing wrong.
You can also check Window > Sound Enhancer to disable Apple's extra processing if you prefer clean sound.
Amazon Music does not include its own built-in EQ in the app. Instead, it uses your device's system equalizer.
Dolby Atmos adds a spatial effect. It makes sound feel like it is coming from around you. It is immersive but not the same as lossless quality. Many users mix these up and lose out on higher audio fidelity without realizing it.
On Apple Music, you can download songs in Dolby Atmos or in lossless quality, but not both at the same time. If Atmos is on, your downloads will not save in lossless format.
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Better sound is only a few taps away. These settings help you unlock cleaner audio, wider dynamics, and more detail without buying expensive equipment. Small changes can make your music feel richer and more immersive across every track.
What tweak made the biggest difference for your sound? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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