What Is the Sony Headphones Connect App?

Overview: What the App Does

Sony’s Headphones Connect app (now known as Sony | Sound Connect) is something we at BestTechRadar have used daily while testing Sony’s top wireless headphones. Whether it’s customizing sound on the WH-1000XM5 or checking battery stats on the LinkBuds S, the app has become an essential part of the Sony experience.

Available on both Android and iOS, it acts as the control center for most recent Sony wireless headphones. You’ll use it to fine-tune your equalizer, switch between ambient and noise-cancelling modes, and even push firmware updates directly to your headphones. And honestly, once you get used to it, it’s hard to imagine using Sony headphones without it.

Key Features & Functions

One of the biggest reasons we use the app in testing is its custom EQ settings. You can build your own sound profile from scratch or choose from presets like “Relaxed,” “Treble Boost,” or “Vocal.” These profiles aren’t just gimmicks we’ve found real differences when switching between music genres or gaming sessions.

The Adaptive Sound Control feature is also worth highlighting. It uses your phone’s sensors and location data to switch sound modes depending on what you’re doing. For instance, when commuting to work, the app automatically switches to a quieter profile with more ambient noise allowed in helpful when you’re crossing streets or riding public transport.

There’s also Noise Cancelling Optimizer, which we’ve used often while wearing glasses or even with a hoodie on. It adjusts the ANC based on your ear shape and how the headphones are sitting. It’s not something you’ll notice immediately, but the difference becomes clear in consistently noisy environments.

Other useful features include:

• Real-time battery level display
• Bluetooth codec info (LDAC, AAC, SBC)
• Sound pressure notifications based on WHO safe listening levels
• Easy firmware updates, usually taking just a few minutes
• Speak-to-Chat toggle, which pauses audio when you start talking

Some of our team members use the app purely for firmware updates and codec switching, while others have their EQ profiles dialed in for specific headphones. If you use more than one Sony model, the app remembers separate settings for each a small touch that makes a big difference.

How to Use the App

Setup is simple. Just install the app, power on your headphones, and pair them through Bluetooth. The app will recognize the model instantly, and you’ll get a pop-up to connect. No sign-in is required to use basic features, though some deeper tracking (like listening history) does ask for a Sony account.

Once connected, you can do everything from:

• Adjusting ANC levels and ambient sound passthrough
• Managing Bluetooth priority (sound quality vs. connection stability)
• Toggling Speak-to-Chat, DSEE Extreme, or 360 Reality Audio (on supported models)

Creating location-based sound profiles also works surprisingly well. One editor here set up different modes for the gym, commute, and work desk and the app switches between them without needing to open it.

Gamers’ and Users’ Experiences

While Sony doesn’t market this app specifically for gamers, we’ve tested it with several PlayStation and PC setups especially using the WH-1000XM4 and XM5. The low-latency LDAC codec (when available) makes a noticeable difference in reaction-based games, though we still wouldn’t call these headphones “gaming-first.”

That said, having access to detailed EQ control helps tailor your sound for specific titles. We created a custom profile with toned-down bass and boosted mids to better catch footsteps and reloads in Call of Duty Warzone and Valorant. In that setup, audio cues were cleaner, and we didn’t feel the need for a dedicated gaming headset.

User feedback online is mostly positive, though some pain points come up often. On Reddit, users mention loving the battery percentage readout and Speak-to-Chat toggle, but there are complaints about occasional freezing, especially after firmware updates. One comment we found said:

“I love the features but it gets a bit bloated. Sometimes it just lags when switching settings mid-playback. Still wouldn’t use my XM5s without it though.” – Reddit user /audioobsessive

We’ve had similar moments, particularly on older Android phones, where the app took a second or two longer to respond. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something to be aware of if you’re not using a recent device.

For users who just want plug-and-play Bluetooth headphones, the app isn’t strictly necessary. But if you care about customization, firmware updates, or managing noise cancelling, it really becomes part of the experience.

Modern Updates & App Changes

In October 2024, Sony rolled out a full rebrand, changing the app’s name from Headphones Connect to Sound Connect. The idea was to bring it in line with Sony’s broader push into unified audio ecosystems. Along with the new name came a UI refresh, which we found to be more responsive and better organized overall.

One feature we liked in the June 2025 update was Listening History. This logs your daily use and even shows volume averages, helping users stay within WHO-recommended safe levels. If you listen for extended hours each day (like some of us on the team do), this can be a helpful nudge to lower the volume from time to time.

Sony also added a Bluetooth Quality setting. It lets you prioritize sound fidelity (great for LDAC) or shift to a more stable connection mode when walking through high-interference areas. We tested both and found that while sound quality definitely improved on “Priority on Sound,” the “Stable Connection” setting helped when using public transport where signal interference is common.

Final Take: Should You Use It?

After weeks of using the app across multiple devices and headphone models, we’d say this: if you own mid-range or flagship Sony headphones, you absolutely should be using the app. It unlocks the full potential of features like ANC tuning, EQ adjustments, and firmware updates things that make these headphones worth the price in the first place.

For gamers or power users, the ability to tweak soundstage and optimize codecs is a huge plus. For casual users, it might be more than you need but even then, it’s worth having on standby for battery info and the occasional update.

As we at BestTechRadar see it, Sony Sound Connect isn’t just an app it’s part of the product. Without it, you’re only getting half the experience.

FAQs About the App