6 Typical Problems With Sony Headphones & Earbuds

Sony might be one of the top brands for consumer audio, but it also has its share of problems that you may encounter.

Here are some of the problems you may encounter with Sony headphones and how to fix them:

1. Headphones Won’t Pair

One of the most common problems with Bluetooth headphones, regardless of brand, is pairing.

Sony is no exception to this problem, and this problem can be resolved.

Assuming that you have disconnected other devices that may conflict and your headphones still won’t pair with your device, you first need to initialize your headphones.

Initializing your headphones resets your headphones to factory settings and wipes out the devices it recognizes from its memory.

To initialize your headphones:

• Make sure the USB cable is not connected
• Turn off the headphones
• Press and hold the power button and the noise-canceling or ambient switch until the LED indicator flashes four times.

At this point, your headphones should be reset.

You can try pairing your headphones to check. The LED indicator should be flashing red and blue, or blue twice at a time, to signify pairing mode.

If it is flashing, it means the headphones did not initialize. Repeat the steps above.

If it did not flash, your headphones might not have enough power.

2. Headphones Keep on Disconnecting on Bluetooth

Sometimes, Bluetooth connections aren’t always stable.

There will be a time that the connection drops with some light movement, then comes back, and in some cases, the connection just drops.

It isn’t very pleasant in both situations, especially if you’re in the middle of a call or just enjoying the music.

So, How do you Solve This?

The first thing to make sure of is that your Bluetooth headphones and device are within range. 

Connections drop when you are outside the range of your device, and it will continue to drop as you go farther, so make sure to stay within the range of 10 feet to be safe. 

Next, your Bluetooth headphones must have enough power.

Having low power means more unstable connections. So, if your connection still drops even when your headphones and an audio source are inches away, it means the battery is weak. 

As a safety precaution, don’t charge and use your Bluetooth headphones at the same time.

Please wait for your headphones to reach the ideal amount of power before using them. 

If it still does not work, open your device’s Bluetooth settings, look for your headphones in the list, then select forget. 

Once your headphones are no longer on the list, try pairing again. 

Lastly, if you have another device or pair of Bluetooth headphones, try pairing them. Sometimes, there may be a bug that happens, which a firmware update can remedy.

If there is no firmware update available, contact the manufacturer for support.

They can point you to any updates that your device may need.

3. Noise-Canceling is not Working

 One of the notable features of many Sony wireless headphones is the active noise canceling function.

And depending on the model of your headphones, there would be different ways of turning them on. You should check the user manual on how to turn it on.

When it’s on, you should hear a prompt for noise-canceling, but if you can turn it on through the designated button, you should check if it’s set to another function, such as Google Assistant.

Change Settings in the Sony Headphones Connect App:

The Headphones Connect app features different settings that you can use with your headphone, such as Adaptive Sound Control, which switches presets based on the activity the app detects.

For you to get the best experience with noise canceling, turn off the Adaptive Sound Control and tweak the settings of your noise-canceling or ambient sound function.

Your headphones must be paired with your smartphone to tweak these settings.

Note that not all Bluetooth headphones support this app. If your headphones don’t support the app, proceed to the next step.

Noise-canceling also falters if your headphones are not worn properly. Adjust them so that the ears are within the earpad. 

Do note that noise-canceling works best with low-frequency noise, such as noise from vehicles or your air conditioning unit. 

Not all sounds can be canceled, too. That is why you need to tweak settings to get the best results. 

4. Headphones Have no Sound

 Regardless of brand, another common problem with headphones is that sometimes the sound goes out on either one or both sides of your headphones.

For those using Bluetooth headphones, you can try initializing them and check if the sound comes back.

If you are using the XM3 Bluetooth headphones, try updating the firmware before initializing:

• Make sure your headphones are paired to your smartphone that has the Sony Headphones Connect app.
• Launch the app. The app will recognize your headphones if it’s paired.
• At the bottom of the screen, you will find any notification for firmware update availability.
• Tap on More Info and press OK to download the update.

The app will download the firmware and transfer the updates to your headphones while it’s paired.

If this does not help, try pairing your headphones to another device and seeing any sound issues.

There could likely be a playback issue with your device. Should that be the case, restart the device you were paired to, and see if it fixes the sound issue.

For wired headphones, unplug the cable and plug it in three times, with the third time locking into place.

If it does not produce any sound, try connecting to another device, and use another headphone cable if your headphones feature detachable ones.

Should there be no sound with the other device, even after switching cables, the headphones have a problem and need to be fixed.

5. Headphones Have no Power or Won’t Charge

If you couldn’t get power into your Sony Bluetooth headphones for some reason, here’s what you can do.

Charge your headphone and check if the indicator lights up in red.

If it does not light up, you should try using another cable or recharger. If it still fails, it means the problem lies with the charging mechanism of your headphones.

To be sure, try charging another device to confirm this.

Now, if the indicator lights up, try turning it on. Normally, you probably just experienced your headphones in an empty battery state.

But if it does not work, try initializing your headphones and see if the issue is still there. 

6. Microphone Won’t Work

One of the key features of many modern, consumer-grade headphones in the market today is built-in microphones that let you take calls.

Especially in the case of the wired headphones, the microphone would be on the cable itself, so you don’t need to speak closer to your device during calls.

If you have microphone issues with your Bluetooth headphones, the only way to fix them is to initialize your headphones.

After initializing, and the problem is still there, it means a component is damaged inside and needs repair.

For those using a wired connection, give the headphone jack a quick clean by plugging and unplugging the cable three times, ensuring the plug clicks into place on the third attempt.

If it does not solve the problem, check the orientation of the cable.

There are two possible cables here: one with TRRS to TRRS plugs and TRRS to TRS plugs.

TRRS plugs have three black rings on plugs, while TRS plugs only have two rings on the plug.

If the cable is TRRS to TRRS, the position won’t matter so that you can proceed to the next step, but if the cable is TRRS to TRS, orientation is important.

In the latter’s case, the microphone is part of the cable assembly, making orientation very important.

If you plug the TRS side of the cable into your media source, you won’t be able to use the microphone since it won’t detect it.

It would be best to plug the TRRS plug into your phone, tablet, or computer while the TRS plug goes to the headphones.

If this does not fix the issue, either the cable is faulty, or the microphone built into the headphone is broken.

General Pros and Cons of Sony Headphones:

– Sony is Known for Quality

You can’t go wrong with the quality that Sony puts into its products.

The sound quality is quite good, whether you get a cheaper model or a more expensive pair.

They are built to last for a while, which makes them good as daily drivers.

And their warranty coverage is quite long, at 24 months.

– Sony Has a Wide Range of Models

Sony gives consumers all kinds of models to choose from.

If you’re looking for sports, they have true-wireless models that won’t get you tangled. For a reliable daily driver, there’s the XM3 and XM4.

When you need professional-grade, there’s the MDR 7506, which features one of the flattest voicings in the market today.

You can’t go wrong, as there’s a model meant for you.

– Sony Provides Value for Money  

Granted that Sony might not be as affordable as other brands in the market, you are sure to get your money’s worth, given the quality of the sound and the durability of their headphones.

You can expect them to last you years of regular use, provided that you regularly provide care.

But as it is, they are a great investment.  

Disadvantages of Sony Headphones

• They can be pricey for some consumers.

Final Thoughts

Most of the problems you’ll encounter with Sony headphones are not unique to the brand.

These are issues that you may encounter with other brands, such as Sennheiser and Audio-Technica.

That said, these problems are rather easy to solve, and with Sony being one of the most popular brands in the world, you are likely to find someone who can repair them when there are issues.

Sources:

Sony Headphones Troubleshooting Guide

Best Sony headphone 2021