Best VLC settings for listening to music or audio. Sections go in ~/.config/vlcrc. Applies compression, an equalizer emphasizing low and high mids, volume normalization plus highest-quality sample rate conversion.

vlcrc

[compressor] # Dynamic range compressor
# RMS/peak (float)
compressor-rms-peak=0.100000
# Attack time (float)
compressor-attack=50.000000
# Release time (float)
compressor-release=250.000000
# Threshold level (float)
compressor-threshold=-20.000000
# Ratio (float)
compressor-ratio=20.000000
# Knee radius (float)
compressor-knee=1.000000
# Makeup gain (float)
compressor-makeup-gain=12.000000

[equalizer] # Equalizer with 10 bands
# Equalizer preset (string)
equalizer-preset=custom
# Bands gain (string)
equalizer-bands=2 4 2 0.0000000 0.0000000 2 6 4 2 0.0000000
# Two pass (boolean)
equalizer-2pass=0
# Use VLC frequency bands (boolean)
equalizer-vlcfreqs=1
# Global gain (float)
equalizer-preamp=8.000000

[normvol] # Volume normalizer

# Number of audio buffers (integer)
norm-buff-size=32
# Maximal volume level (float)
norm-max-level=2.000000

[soxr] # soxr

# Resampling quality (integer)
soxr-resampler-quality=4

[speex_resampler] # Speex resampler

# Resampling quality (integer)
speex-resampler-quality=10

[gain] # Gain control filter

# Gain multiplier (float)
gain-value=1.000000

[samplerate] # Secret Rabbit Code (libsamplerate) resampler

# Sample rate converter type (integer)
src-converter-type=0

[core] # core program

# Enable audio (boolean)
audio=1
# Audio gain (float)
gain=1.000000
# Audio output volume step (float)
volume-step=10.000000
# Remember the audio volume (boolean)
volume-save=1
# Force S/PDIF support (boolean)
spdif=0
# Force detection of Dolby Surround (integer)
force-dolby-surround=0
# Stereo audio output mode (integer)
stereo-mode=1
# Audio desynchronization compensation (integer)
audio-desync=0
# Replay gain mode (string)
audio-replay-gain-mode=none
# Replay preamp (float)
audio-replay-gain-preamp=0.000000
# Default replay gain (float)
audio-replay-gain-default=-7.000000
# Peak protection (boolean)
audio-replay-gain-peak-protection=1
# Enable time stretching audio (boolean)
audio-time-stretch=0
# Audio output module (string)
aout=any