I adjusted a basic setting in Spotify, and as a result, I now enjoy higher-quality audio when listening to songs.

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Streaming music provides numerous advantages, such as the convenience of instantly accessing our favorite artists with a simple click. Within seconds, we can indulge in a weekend playlist or immerse ourselves in the latest album from our preferred music group. However, to fully harness its potential, we often need to navigate through configuration menus that enable a tailored experience in such applications. One crucial aspect involves adjusting the volume of songs.

By default, Spotify activates the volume normalization function, essentially maintaining consistent volume levels throughout our plays, regardless of variations in the loudness of individual songs. For music enthusiasts seeking a more personalized experience, this default setting may not deliver the desired results. Let's delve into what this adjustment entails and how we can implement it.

Volume normalization

When listening to a playlist or an album, not all songs share the same volume level. Variations in volume are common, especially across different artists or genres. To address this, Spotify employs Volume Normalization to balance softer and louder songs, creating a uniform listening experience.

The adjustment varies based on whether we're consuming an entire album or a playlist with diverse artists. In the former case, normalization occurs uniformly, without compensation from song to song. However, in the latter scenario, compensation occurs, making changes between songs by different artists more noticeable. Regardless, both cases adhere to the ITU 1770 recommendation, adjusting songs to -14 dB.

Contrary to popular belief, this adjustment not only affects volume but can also limit the dynamic range of music, significantly diminishing its quality.

How to disable this setting

Now, let's explore how to disable this setting. Understanding the potential impact on our favorite songs and groups, we can disable audio normalization from the computer version, website, or mobile app. Here, we'll guide you through the process on a mobile device, but the steps are similar across platforms. Begin by opening the app and clicking on your profile photo in the upper left corner. Navigate to "Settings and privacy" and, within this menu, select "Audio playback." Among the configurable aspects, locate and deactivate the "Activate audio normalization" option. Once disabled, you can enjoy all your songs at their originally recorded volume levels.