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This is MXQ Pro 4k box on Amlogic S905 chip.

It is embarrassingly quiet when playing through the AV jack with some good active speakers attached. My Ubuntu laptop is able to play loud on those speakers. The MXQ Box itself is able to play loud via the HDMI when connected to a regular TV.

I suspect Android thinks it's headphones attached to the AV jack and halves the volume to save my ears. But actually it's good speakers and I want it loud.

Volume boost programs don't work. One of them - "Volume Booster GOODEV" - splashed a baloon saying something like "Loudness Enhancer Effect" is unavailable to the app.

So I went redeye and started exploring the files on the device.

/system/etc/audio_effects.conf mentions the loudness enhancer twice, the .so file is in place at the path mentioned, looks ok to my ignorant view:

libraries: {
......
  loudness_enhancer {
    path /system/lib/soundfx/libldnhncr.so
  }
}
.....
effects: {
  loudness_enhancer {
    library loudness_enhancer
    uuid fa415329-2034-4bea-b5dc-5b381c8d1e2c
  }
}

So I thought I am unable to give the Goodev app and plethora of other equalizers access to the effects, and started to dig more.

I somehow managed to add "volume steps" in the build.prop:

ro.config.media_vol_steps=16

unfortunately that didn't make the speakers any louder.

Is there a ro.config.media_vol_max_db anywhere? How do people know what magic letters to spell in the config?...

Okay, then I've googled about the mixer_paths.xml that allows people to boost the voulmes of their phones from some default 84 mystery units to 100... unfortunately, this is how my mixer_paths.xml file looks like:

<mixer>
  <!-- dummy xml conf, do nothing here -->
  <path name="speaker">
  </path>

  <path name="headphone">
  </path>

  <path name="main_mic">
  </path>

  <path name="headset-mic">
  </path>
</mixer>

Question: what should I try next?

The firmware looks a little like this if you want to really dig in

https://mega.nz/file/l1x0GLDY#p3hs8aZxIAMM5LwIOtfpyis_w7C7XPQgYYBevGxkAmc

the board looks like this

https://ds-blobs-3.cdn.devapps.ru/8413380.jpg

Add: There are some ALSA artifacts in the filesystem, too: /usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf and ../pcm/default.conf

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8
  • I haven't ever fiddled with an android box, so this may be a stupid suggestion - obviously device is rooted (seeing what you tried), so why not install ViPER4Android (V4a) on it? // Be warned that V4a installation on a normal Android phone can vary from being easy to make you pull your hair out//Google XDA and other sources for the appropriate V4a for the Android version running on the box and you can tweak not only loudness, bass etc but it is only limited by the skill you have and your taste
    – beeshyams
    Nov 5, 2021 at 10:26
  • @beeshyams, I'm trying but I'm having difficulties even finding an appropriate apk to download (nothing in Google Play, many links are dead or kinda sus)
    – fedd
    Nov 5, 2021 at 16:56
  • What is the Android version? Check on the Telegram group here (I downloaded from here for Android 12 but it may work for you too but better to ask in the group) t.me/ViPER4AndroidFX
    – beeshyams
    Nov 5, 2021 at 17:22
  • it's 5.1.1, the cpu can't bear any newer. it was collecting dust on the shelf because I gave up a couple of years ago to boost the volume... Will try the link (doesn't download from the web telegram for some reason)
    – fedd
    Nov 5, 2021 at 17:53
  • 1
    I already feel uncomfortable to borrow so much of your time for this, especially with me not really wanting to become an android hacker for just wanting to increase the volume of some chinese box. But if I dive into it (I already see the requirement to switch off the MusicFX and everything) I will ask you for some minor details in chat, thank you!
    – fedd
    Nov 6, 2021 at 8:39

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