Imagine being able to simply download an app which makes your speakers louder than their normal maximum volume? Some of you may be more familiar with the more modern Iteration of Boom for Mac, but until last week I had no idea this existed for PowerPC Macs, too.
.

.
Not only can you push your speakers beyond their maximum volume with this app, but it also has a system-wide equalizer as well.

Setting it up

System Requirements

• Mac OS X 10.5.8 Leopard or later
  .
• A PowerPC G4 or G5 CPU.
  .
• Version 1.1.0 is the last known universal version.

On your Mac

• 1. Download the file and Unzip, then drag the app into your Applications folder.
  .
• Download: boom_110.dmg_.zip (LEM Software Repository, 10 MB)

• 2. When you first launch the app, it will prompt you to install some software.

3. For now this is Trialware, and you can more or less only purchase licenses for the newer version of the app from the website. I believe you might be able to uninstall and reinstall this every 7 days, unsure.

4. Once installed, it will show up in your menu bar like it would on a newer Mac. You can control your volume with a volume slider.

.

A sound booster and system-wide equalizer

If you’re less interested in making your speakers louder and instead want to change the effect/type of the sound coming through your speakers, this app may be for you, as well.

• Tip: If your Mac speakers sound blown out or rattly like the ones on my Hi-Res PowerBook G4 15″, a “Soft” Equalizer preset can mitigate much of the rattle and make the sound quality better.
  .

Seeing it in action

See for yourself how this app works! Sometimes there is a 1-2 second delay between switching on and off, but it actually works!

App Preferences

• Start Boom at login
  .
• Turn off notification sounds
  .
• Add “boosted” files to amplify certain sound files.
  .
• Change your hotkey for the Boom volume sound, which is different from system volume.
  .
• Uninstall, if need be.

Some pluses and some drawbacks

Testing this on a few PowerPC Macs, it really amplifies quieter internal speakers like the ones on a PowerBook G4, and makes YouTube a more watchable experience. It makes the speakers on my eMac concerningly loud, but unfortunately it’s not amplifying the bluetooth line-in audio while it’s boosting system volume at the same time. The bluetooth adapter I bought for the eMac is loud enough to get the job done but passes through rather quietly on the line-in. I was hoping Boom for Mac would do this as well.

On the flip side, this is the real deal. You install it, and.. well.. boom. Louder speakers! Or system-wide equalizer, your choice. In the meantime, I’m excited this even exists for PowerPC Macs.