What is the "Audio Equalizer and Amplifier" extension and how does it work?

Audio Equalizer and Amplifier lets you control and enhance all sound playing in your browser. It provides a global volume booster (pre-amp) that can push audio louder than a player's own maximum, plus a 10-band graphic equalizer (60 Hz to 16 kHz – same bands as VLC). It includes ready-made presets like Classical, Rock, Pop, Full Bass, Club, Live, and more, plus a flat "Default" preset for volume-only control and a "Custom" preset that saves your manual adjustments. All settings are saved per profile, so you can create and switch between unlimited custom setups instantly.

I'm a heavy YouTube user and only want the equalizer to affect YouTube. Can I restrict it to YouTube only?

Starting from version 0.2.0 you can tie any profile to a specific site. Just name the profile with "@hostname" at the end (e.g., "My YT [email protected]" or "Loud [email protected]"). That profile will only activate on the matching domain. For normal browsing or other sites, switch back to your Default profile (or any profile without "@"). You can even create one profile for both YouTube and YouTube Music by using "@youtube.com".

What's new in this version?

Please check the Logs section.

Can I create multiple custom equalizer presets?

Click the "Add" button next to the profile dropdown to create a new profile (give it a unique name). It starts as a copy of the current one, then tweak the frequency bands, pre-amp, or load any preset you like. No save button needed—changes are saved automatically. Switch profiles anytime, and if the extension is enabled, your new settings instantly apply to all active media players.

What's the difference between leaving the extension enabled with the "Default" (flat) profile selected, and fully disabling the extension in the popup?

• Fully disabled (switch off in the popup): The extension stops listening to page loads entirely. No script is injected into any tab → zero performance impact and no audio control at all.
• Enabled + Default profile selected: The script is injected into tabs (tiny overhead), but since the equalizer is flat, it does nothing to frequencies. You still get global volume control via the pre-amp slider, and changes apply instantly without refreshing.

So, disable completely for zero overhead when you want no control; keep enabled with Default profile when you only want the extra volume boost.

Should I turn the extension completely off in the popup when I'm not using it, or leave it enabled with the flat Default profile?

• Turn it fully off if you don't mind refreshing tabs when you want control again: zero background activity, zero CPU/memory use (the extension isn't even watching page loads).
• Leave it enabled + Default profile if you want instant global volume adjustments without ever refreshing tabs (the tiny script stays injected but does nothing to sound quality).

Choose based on whether you value absolute zero overhead or instant no-refresh volume control more.

Can I use this extension alongside another global audio equalizer or volume booster?

No. The Web Audio API allows only one extension to connect to each media element at a time. If another equalizer or audio-processing addon (or even the website itself) has already taken control of the audio node, this extension cannot interfere. Only one global audio controller can be active per tab.

Why doesn't the extension work on some websites?

It fails in two situations:

1. Another audio-processing extension (or the page itself) has already connected its own AudioNode to the media element first—only one node can take control, so the first one wins.
2. The website itself uses the Web Audio API and locks the audio pipeline (common on Spotify Web, Apple Music, some streaming services, etc.).

In both cases, this extension can't attach its processor because the slot is already taken.

What does the "Persist" checkbox in the popup do?

When checked, the extension stays enabled (and keeps your last profile active) even after you close and reopen the browser. If unchecked, the extension automatically turns itself off on every browser restart.

Can I completely disable the equalizer on specific websites?

Yes (from v0.2.2 onward). Create a new profile and include ".disabled" in its name followed by @hostname (e.g., "[email protected]" or "[email protected]"). This fully blocks the extension—including pre-amp volume control—on that domain. To re-enable, simply delete the profile.