Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

AmpMe, an app that turns smartphones into portable sound systems, raises $10M

The latest advertisement for up-and-coming app AmpMe doesn’t actually say “Let’s all download AmpMe and get Orange Mocha Frappucinos!” explicitly, but with staged pillow fights, perfectly diverse pool parties, and more smiles than have been exhibited by today’s young adults in their lifetime, it does feel eerily reminiscent to a scene cut from Zoolander.

Corny ad aside, the creators behind AmpMe — an app that allows multiple cell phone users to sync up their phones’ audio playback for a better on-the-go music experience — are definitely on to something.

Recommended Videos

A Montreal-based startup, the company has now raised more than $10 million in funding after a recent $8 million series A round, and is gaining serious headway with those who are tired of putting their phone in a cup to boost its volume.

Currently available for free on iOS and Android, the service has Soundcloud, YouTube (as of Thursday), and MP3 playback integration, making it a great choice to spread the sonic love. AmpMe has more than 2 million downloads on both platforms so far, and is most popular with young people between the ages of 15 and 24, who often listen to tunes together at school or while hanging out together.

Monetization of the service, according to founder Martin-Luc Archambault, will eventually come through ads — though hopefully not ones like their own — but the company intends to keep its popular app advertisement-free for the next year at least.

“We consider ourselves a portable version of Sonos,” said Archambault in an interview with Variety. “Music is meant to be enjoyed together.”

While AmpMe might not have the seriously amazing sound of portable bluetooth speakers like the Bowers & Wilkins T7, or the various Sonos options, it does offer less-than-affluent young people a free option that’s better than that aforementioned cup. Plus, given that nearly everyone carries a smartphone these days, it means that big speaker systems can easily be had anywhere.

Download for iOS

Download for Android

Parker Hall
Former Senior Writer, Home Theater/Music
Parker Hall is a writer and musician from Portland, OR. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin…
How to download music from SoundCloud on desktop and mobile
Soundcloud Interface on a Macbook.

If you're a die-hard music fan, you probably keep a curated library of playlists packed with your favorite artists and albums on Spotify, Apple Music, or whatever your favorite music streaming app is. But how do you discover the best indie artists today? Some music-streaming platforms are better than others at celebrating the ‘unsung gem’ acts, but one of the most reliable forums for new, off-the-grid tunes is SoundCloud.

Founded in 2007, SoundCloud has always prioritized music that’s a bit under the radar. With over 320 million tracks in its library, the platform will even let you download a majority of its songs and albums.

Read more
The best kids headphones of 2025: for fun, safety, and sound
Two kids using the Puro Sound PuroQuiet Plus to watch something on a tablet.

Kid-friendly consumer tech is all the rage these days, so it’s no surprise that there’s an entire market of headphones designed exclusively for young ones. But when we think “kid-friendly,” sometimes we imagine products that are built to be a bit more throwaway than their adult counterparts. That’s not the case with the products on our list of the best headphones for kids, though.

We want our child-tailored headphones to include parental-controlled volume limiters, to ensure our children aren’t harming their eardrums. Pretty much every entry on our list checks this vital box, but we also wanted to point you and yours toward products that offer exceptional noise-canceling, built-in mics for phone and video calls, and long-lasting batteries for schooldays or a long flight.

Read more
How to master your equalizer settings for the perfect sound
An equalizer from eqMac.

Casual listeners might boot up Spotify or turn on the radio to listen to music without giving the balance or sound stage much thought. Audiophiles on the other hand like to dig a bit deeper and customize their experience. One common way to tinker with how music sounds is adjustments to the equalizer, which offers the freedom to tweak every aspect of the sound booming out of headphones or speakers. Even some streaming services now have built-in EQs, giving you more ways than ever to play with your music and find something that best fits your ears.

Shaping the equalizer to your preferences can be daunting to newcomers, as there are tons of cryptic settings you can manipulate. And if you mess with the wrong one, your sound quality might take a nasty hit. Thankfully, learning the basics isn't too difficult.

Read more