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ZDNET Highlights
- Adaptive Sound Control is one of Sony’s best personal audio features.
- You can create listening profiles based on activity and location.
- The more you work with this feature, the more it will do for you.
Your everyday headphones and earbuds are more than just music playing utensils; They’re your workout buddy, your do not disturb sign at the office, and your travel companion. Intelligent features like heart rate monitoring, AI-powered noise cancellation, and live translation are in high demand as consumers expect more from their personal audio devices.
However, these features may be useless to consumers if they are too much of a hassle to access. Apple’s friction increases once you leave its ecosystem, and Bose’s friction increases once your environment becomes too dynamic for the capabilities of its headphones.
Also: I’ve tested dozens of Sony headphones – these 4 tweaks get me the best sound quality
For me, headphones that understand exactly what I want them to do and when are a valuable feature. This kind of simplicity is what sets Sony apart, and why its Adaptive Sound Control might be the best feature you’re overlooking.
think less, listen more
I typically encounter friction with my headphones when I’m transitioning between dynamic environments, like a busy street in Atlanta to a quiet coffee shop; I end up listening to my surroundings or engaging with them to talk to the barista.
Sony’s Adaptive Sound Control adjusts your headphones’ audio mode based on your behavior, such as sitting, walking, or running, and your location, such as the office or gym. I keep this feature on while wearing my WH-1000XM6 Headphones. As a result, the headphones will automatically deploy noise cancellation when they detect I’m sitting, and activate transparency mode when they detect I’m walking.
With this feature on, I don’t have to take out my phone or fiddle with buttons on the headphones to change audio settings. In comparison, when wearing my AirPods, I either have to press and hold the stem to cycle through the audio modes or open my iPhone’s Command Center to directly toggle to the correct audio mode.
Also: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2: How would I justify spending $300 more for headphones
In addition to toggling ANC and transparency based on your movement or location, you can also set specific ambient sound levels, EQ settings, and speak-to-chat. These settings are tailored to a specific listening area so you can add stronger ANC, a bass-heavy EQ, and no speak-to-chat in the gym, or weaker ANC, a balanced EQ, and speak-to-chat in the office.
These features are tied to your Sony account, so your location and activity-based settings apply to all compatible headphones and earbuds you register in the Sony Sound Connect app.
Compared to Apple and Bose, Sony reacts to user behavior rather than physical input from headphones or your smartphone’s buttons. Like all of Sony’s best features, Adaptive Sound Control takes some time to set up with your preferred modes and locations.
However, once everything is set up, the headphones let these decisions fade into the background. Not being able to toggle these audio modes yourself is something you don’t realize until you have it.
Also: I listened to flagship headphones from Sony, Bose, and Apple — and this pair leads the pack
Here, Sony shows that the headphones and earbuds should go beyond the limits described on the spec sheet. Headphones and earbuds are daily companions, and they should have features that easily fit into your daily routine without drawing your attention. Although Sony’s Adaptive Sound Control has been around for years, it was ahead of its time; Hopefully, competitors will follow suit.
