Tuning sound with the Equalizer on headphones

Is your music missing a bit of oomph? Do some sounds seem flat or washed out? Are you missing some bass? Try tweaking the Equalizer on the Sony Headphones Connect app and revitalize your music. Deliver punchy bass or boost vocals on your favorite track with a simple swipe up or down.
If customizing isn't for you, that's fine. Cycle between our many audios presets like Treble Boost or Excited etc. While they are preset, you have total freedom to adjust them if you still feel like something's missing.

Should you use Equalizer presets?

The Sony Headphones Connect app packs numerous audio presets curated by sound experts. Not everyone finds them perfect, nor are they meant to be. You can find one that suits you the most and tweak it to your preferences. Changes to the Equalizer only take a few seconds, and reward your effort with pristine sound. Remember, presets don't restrict you; instead, they're a stepping stone to hearing audio how you like it.

What are the differences between audio presets?

• Bright: The go-to for amplifying high-pitched sounds and delivering more attack.
• Excited: Makes mid and high-range sounds stand out.
• Mellow: As implied, turn things down a touch while preserving rich and warm tones.
• Relaxed: Dials things back. The go-to when you want music to play in the background.
• Vocal: Focus on the words rather than the instruments. It's a great way to hear a musician's voice with fewer distractions from other sounds.
• Treble Boost: Gives your music a brighter, airier sound.
• Bass Boost: You know it, we know it; add warmth, thump, and low-end power to your music.
• Speech: The ideal preset for boosting voices. Great for podcasts or sports commentary.
• Manual: Your space to set frequencies the way you see fit.
• Custom: Two fully customizable slots with your own presets. It's the perfect audio playground to configure settings that suit your music once you're up to the task.

Can I create my custom Equalizer preset?

Yes, the ultimate custom preset is your own. Sound is personal, and there's no right or wrong to set it up. Our first suggestion is to go with what sounds good to you.

Next, we suggest using Boosting or Cutting to find your ideal tone.

Boosting refers to increasing a specific audio frequency, like the bass intensity. Cutting involves reducing or eliminating the audio frequencies you want to hear less, like high-pitched noises.

A general rule of thumb is that Cutting is better than Boosting. Too much Boosting, and you'll introduce distortion, making your music choppy and unclear. Cutting removes or reduces sounds you don't want and highlights the ones you want while preserving that clean and clear tone. The key is to keep testing until you find the balance that works for you.

Get customizing

If you're ready to customize, it's time to head over to the Equalizer on the Sony Headphones Connect app to personalize your audio playback.

To find the Equalizer

1. Open the Sony Headphones Connect app.
2. Tap the Sound tab below your headphone model name at the top of the screen.
3. Scroll down to the Equalizer section.

Or tune your audio playback with the two custom slots available.

Create a custom preset

There are five frequencies and one Clear Bass frequency on the Sony Headphones Connect app Equalizer. Changing each frequency makes a difference to the sound output. Start by sliding all the frequencies to the middle (0) and then start Boosting or Cutting.

400K:

• Increase to add clarity to basslines, especially when listening to music at lower volumes.
• Decrease to lower the "cardboard" sound of lower-pitched drums.

1K:

• Increase for general clarity and bass punch.
• Decrease to remove dull sounds from higher-pitched instruments like lead guitars.

2.5K:

• Increase more attacks of electric/acoustic guitars, low pitched piano sounds, and increase voice clarity.
• Reduce to increase the breathy, soft sound of backing vocals and dullness from guitars.

6.3K:

• Increase to add more attack from percussion instruments like drums or amplify lower tone voices.
• Increase to add sharpness to synthesizers, rock guitars, acoustic guitars, and pianos.

16K:

• Increase to brighten vocals.
• Increase to brighten drum cymbals, string instruments, and flutes.

Clear Bass:

• Increase for more bass without distorting the music.
• Decrease for less bass while preserving all other aspects of sound.