Boom 2 is a volume booster and stereo audio equalizer for macOS. It processes sound across the Mac, letting you adjust the level and tonal balance of music, videos and other application audio before it reaches your speakers or headphones. It also has a separate file-boosting tool that saves louder copies of audio and video files for playback elsewhere.
Boom 2 is paid software with a trial. Its six-month, yearly and lifetime purchase options provide the same basic and premium functions; the difference is the period of access.
Boom 2’s 31-band equalizer
The 31-band equalizer divides sound into frequency bands with a 20 dB adjustment range. Each band changes a particular part of the spectrum, so you can adjust low-frequency weight, the middle frequencies occupied by many instruments and voices, or the higher frequencies without changing every part of the sound equally.
Genre presets provide starting curves for jazz, pop, classical, rock and other listening styles. Moving the bands creates a custom curve that you can name and save, or use to replace an existing preset. The preset selector keeps those saved adjustments available alongside the supplied choices.
Frequency Constrain links related bands so that moving one node shifts other frequencies in the same bass, midrange or treble group proportionally. A separate slider moves the entire equalizer curve up or down.
Stereo image, effects and volume boost
Boom 2 includes stereo-width adjustment and left-right balance. Width changes the spread of the stereo image, while balance changes the relative level of the two channels. An output sample-rate control is also available for configuring the audio output.
Its effects address different parts of playback:
- Ambience: adds simulated sound reflections.
- Spatial: changes the perceived distance between sound sources.
- Fidelity: raises weaker frequency bands.
- Night Mode: reduces harsher passages and brings quieter material, such as voices, forward, reducing the contrast between loud effects and softer dialogue.
- Pitch: changes the pitch of music when matching it to an instrument or singing along.
The volume booster increases system output beyond the ordinary level, with Controlled Boost providing an adjustable output control. Boom 2 supports headphones, AirPods and wired or wireless speakers. Audio enhancement does not operate while FaceTime or AirPlay is active.
File Boost
File Boost changes the saved media rather than just the Mac’s current playback. You can add individual audio or video files, or process a batch, to produce louder copies that can then be used on phones, music players and other devices.
Boom 2 analyzes an added file and presents a recommended boost level on a slider before processing. You can accept that recommendation or override it with a custom level. Output options let you choose the destination folder and the suffix used for the boosted files, keeping the resulting copies identifiable. Processing continues in the background even when the main window is closed.
Boom Remote
The separate Boom Remote app for iOS controls Boom 2 from another device on the same Wi-Fi network. It provides access to the Mac’s volume and Boom 2 functions, as well as playback controls for Spotify, iTunes, VLC and QuickTime. Bluetooth connections are not supported for the remote.
