To get better sound quality from wireless headphones, these are the eight settings I change

Whether you have bat-like ears and audiophile taste or you’re starting to notice a decline in hearing and feel like you’re missing a beat, your headphones more than meet the ear right out of the box. You may need to dig around a bit in your headphone app or your phone’s audio settings, but this can lead to a treasure trove of auditory goodies you didn’t know you couldn’t live without.

Boost your sound

Coding software Determine the quality, stability and efficiency of the audio signal between headphones and phone. It is the “language” transmitted via Bluetooth wireless connection. Apple devices (iPhone, AirPods, etc.) prefer AAC, which works well for most listeners, though it’s not compatible with high-resolution or lossless audio — despite Apple Music’s lossless audio streams. The Android audience has access to potentially better codecs such as LDAC, LC3, and aptX Lossless, which can significantly enhance audio quality over the default SBC codec.

Changing codecs in Android can vary a little depending on the manufacturer, but the general idea is to go to Settings > About phone and tap the build number seven times until you see Developer options. There, you will see Bluetooth audio codec options and you can choose the one you want. Audiophiles will need LDAC or aptX Lossless (not available on all models), while gamers and video enthusiasts will appreciate the low latency of LC3 (also not yet universal). In the Samsung ecosystem, the Galaxy Wearable app offers advanced quality options in sound quality and effects settings, giving you access to high-resolution audio streaming.

Keep in mind that whichever codec you choose, both the source device and your headphones must support it, and increasing the quality of the audio stream can affect audio/video sync and battery life. Additionally, higher bitrate codecs such as LDAC may reduce the range you can access from your phone before the audio drops out.

The quiet part is loud

Genres of vocal music from jazz to classical tend to have a wide dynamic range, which means that soft sounds such as the whispering piano/bass intro of Miles Davis’ “So What” or the piano outro of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 can disappear, especially when listening in noisy environments. On iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Sound & Visual > Headphone Accommodations, scroll down just below the Sound Adjust section, and move the slider to enhance soft sounds.

Android users can do this via Google’s Sound Amplifier app, which comes pre-installed on many devices and can be easily downloaded for others. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Open Speaker and use the “Boost quiet sounds” slider to hear low-volume clips better.

Listen near and far

Many wireless earbuds and headphones offer a conversation recognition (or detection) mode, which pauses or lowers the media volume when you start talking to someone. But Apple’s Conversation Boost feature takes it to the next level by using the AirPods’ head-tracking capabilities to specifically know who you’re talking to and boost their voice. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual and activate Headphone Accommodations. Then select Transparency mode, and turn on Conversation Boost. (Note that this only works with Apple headphones.)

Live Listen is another nifty Apple feature that lets you use your iPhone’s microphone to capture audio and route it to your AirPods or Beats headphones. This could be useful in large lecture halls with below average amplification, or as a baby monitor in a small house or apartment, or even if you’re spying on people – but who would do that? Just go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & visual > Live Listen > then tap Start Live Listen. Android users can emulate this feature by opening the Speaker app or going to Settings > Accessibility > Speaker > Open Speaker. Then tap on the Phone Mic option and press Play.

Samsung Neck Extension Reminders

Although it’s not audio-related, Samsung’s “Neck Stretch Reminders” feature available in the Galaxy Buds Pro lineup detects if your head is bent down for more than 10 minutes. Enable it in the Galaxy Wearable app by going to Earbuds Settings > Neck Stretch Reminders. It requires a brief, targeted calibration, but it can make a huge difference to your overall health and should be a standard feature on all headphones.

Voice, personality

Most adults experience some level of age-related hearing loss, which begins with high-frequency sounds such as sibilance (hissing-type noise). This can make it difficult to distinguish sounds in a noisy room or movie dialogue, and can also make the music a bit dull. Apple users can go to Settings > AirPods > Get a hearing test. Once you complete the test, you’ll get a custom audio profile that boosts specific frequencies for clearer music, calls, and surround sound. It also syncs your hearing data with the Apple Health app and can tell you if you need hearing aids.

If you’re on iOS but don’t have AirPods, you can also download a file Hearing test memea free app that scans your ears and dynamically adjusts the sound to suit your ears. Check out the Hear the Difference feature to see uh hear what you missed. This doesn’t work with all earbuds, but recent models from Bose, JBL, Skullcandy, Sony, and others are supported.

The Adapt Sound feature in the Galaxy Wearable app does essentially the same thing – just go to Earbuds Settings > Accessibility > Adapt Sound. You can select a pre-defined age profile or take a personalized hearing test to customize the sound to suit your hearing.