What app is needed for Sony Bluetooth speaker?

Sony makes a variety of popular Bluetooth speakers that allow you to stream music wirelessly from your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Many of Sony’s Bluetooth speakers, such as the SRS-XB13, SRS-XB23, and SRS-XB33 models, can connect to the Sony Music Center app for iOS and Android.

The Sony Music Center app lets you customize the sound settings and features of compatible Sony Bluetooth speakers. Key functions of the app include adjusting the equalizer, toggling lighting effects, updating firmware, and grouping multiple speakers together for synchronized playback. The app can greatly enhance the user experience and audio performance of Sony’s wireless speaker lineup.

In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at using the Sony Music Center app with Sony Bluetooth speakers. We’ll cover features, setup, usage tips, compatibility, alternatives, pros and cons, and frequently asked questions.

Sony Music Center App

The official app from Sony for use with their Bluetooth speakers and headphones is the Sony Music Center app. It is available as a free download for both iOS and Android devices.

The Sony Music Center app allows you to wirelessly stream music to compatible Sony Bluetooth speakers and headphones. It provides features like equalizer adjustment, surround sound options, noise cancelation, and the ability to stream high-resolution audio tracks.

With the app, you can both playback music stored locally on your device as well as access streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, and Deezer. It essentially serves as a remote control and music management app for your Sony audio hardware.

Features

The Sony Music Center app offers several useful features for getting the most out of Sony Bluetooth speakers and audio devices. Some of the key features include:

Streaming from music services – The app allows you to stream music from popular services like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer directly to your Sony speaker. You can browse playlists and recommendations from within the app and start playback on your speaker with just a tap. This makes it easy to access millions of songs on various streaming platforms without needing multiple apps.

Adjustable EQ presets – The app has preset equalizer modes like “Bright” and “Relaxed” that optimize the speaker sound profile for different listening situations. You can further customize the sound by adjusting individual frequency bands in the manual EQ setting. This allows you to tweak the speaker output to match your audio preferences.

Speaker grouping/stereo pairing – You can connect multiple Sony speakers in the same network and group them to play audio in sync. This lets you create multi-room setups or use two speakers as a wireless stereo pair. The app detects compatible speakers on the network automatically, enabling hassle-free setup.

Setup

To get started with the Sony Music Center app, first download it from the App Store if you’re an iPhone user, or Google Play if you’re on Android (1). The app is free to download. Next, turn on your Sony Bluetooth speaker and make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone. Open the Music Center app and tap the ‘+’ icon to connect to your speaker. Select your Sony speaker from the list of available Bluetooth devices to pair it with the app (2).

If you are having trouble connecting, first ensure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices, and they are within range of each other, typically 30 feet. The speaker needs to be powered on and in Bluetooth pairing mode for the app to discover it. You may need to delete old Bluetooth pairings and re-pair the devices. As a last resort, reset your speaker which clears any paired devices, and try setting up with Music Center again.

Usage

The Sony Music Center app provides an intuitive interface for streaming music and managing settings on Sony audio devices. According to the Sony website, the app allows users to “manage all your Sony audio products from one app”^[1]. The main interface displays connected Sony devices, recently played music, and quick access toggles for common settings.

To stream music, users can browse their music library or access streaming services like Spotify. Songs can be queued up and played on connected Sony speakers or headphones. The app supports high resolution and 360 Reality Audio content. Users can create and manage playlists to customize streaming.

The app also provides access to settings for Sony audio products like speakers, headphones and home theater systems. Settings like sound modes, noise cancellation, and multi-room grouping can be adjusted. More advanced configuration options are also available like adjusting EQ bands. Overall, the interface aims to provide versatile control and music management across Sony’s ecosystem of audio devices.

^[1] https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/software/00271751

Compatibility

The Sony Music Center app works with most Sony Bluetooth speakers manufactured in the last several years. According to the Sony website https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/MC000028, compatible Sony audio devices include models such as the LinkBuds, WF-1000XM3, WF-1000XM4, and many others.

However, the app may not be compatible with some older Sony Bluetooth speaker models. For example, the SRS-X11 and SRS-X77 models released over 5 years ago do not appear to be supported. In general, Sony Bluetooth speakers released before 2016 or 2017 may not work with the Music Center app due to age and technical limitations.

It’s a good idea to check the product description or manual of your specific Sony Bluetooth speaker model to confirm compatibility. The Music Center app provides the most features and customization options when paired with newer Sony speakers.

Alternatives

There are a few options for using Sony Bluetooth speakers without the official Sony Music Center app. One simple option is to just pair your phone or device directly with the speaker using Bluetooth without using any app. Most Sony speakers have Bluetooth connectivity that allows you to play audio from your device wirelessly.

Here are the steps to pair your device directly using Bluetooth:

Make sure the speaker is turned on and in Bluetooth pairing mode (the Bluetooth light may blink)
On your phone, tablet, or computer, go to Bluetooth settings and select the option to search for new devices
Select the Sony speaker when it appears in the list of available devices

Accept the pairing request on both devices and the speaker will connect

Once connected via Bluetooth, you can play, pause, and skip tracks directly from your device. Keep in mind the range may be limited to about 30 feet.

There are also some third party apps that can be used to control certain Sony Bluetooth speakers:

Fiestable – Works with some Sony speakers to control party features
JBL Connect – Can control JBL speakers including some Sony-made models
BlueTooth Speaker – General Bluetooth speaker app compatible with many devices

These third party apps may offer basic controls like play/pause, volume, etc. However, features will be limited compared to the official Sony Music Center app.

Pros and Cons of the Sony Music Center App

The Sony Music Center app provides several benefits for Sony device owners looking to get the most out of their audio equipment. According to the Sony Music Center app page on the App Store, key features of the app include:

Controlling Sony audio devices like wireless speakers, headphones, and home audio systems

Customizing sound settings and audio modes
Accessing music services like Spotify and TuneIn Radio
Viewing track information and album art

Reddit users on r/SonyXperia have praised the ability to update firmware on Sony devices through the app. The app also provides a centralized place to manage all Sony audio products from one place.

However, there are some limitations. The Sony Music Center is only available for iOS and Android devices, so it cannot be used on computers. Some users report stability and connectivity issues, especially when trying to use the app’s more advanced features like updating firmware. There is no ability to create playlists or queue songs within the app itself.

Overall, the Sony Music Center app is best suited for controlling basic functions on Sony wireless audio devices. Users looking for robust music management may need to use the Sony app in conjunction with a dedicated music player app.

FAQs

Here are some common questions and answers about using the Sony Music Center app with Sony Bluetooth speakers:

Which Sony speakers work with the Music Center app? The app is compatible with most Sony Bluetooth speakers and headphones released after 2013. Check the app’s compatibility list for your specific model. (Source 1)
How do I connect my speaker to the app? Open the Music Center app and follow the on-screen instructions to pair your Sony device. You’ll need to turn on Bluetooth pairing mode on your speaker. (Source 2)

What features does the app offer? Key features include customizing sound settings, managing multi-room playback, updating firmware, controlling music playback, and more. (Source 3)
Does the app work on iOS and Android? Yes, the Sony Music Center app can be downloaded for free from the App Store and Google Play.
Why won’t my speaker connect to the app? Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone and the speaker. Try moving the devices closer together or resetting your speaker. Also check for app updates.

Conclusion

In summary, the Sony Music Center app is the official app needed for setup and use of Sony Bluetooth speakers. It provides features like music streaming, EQ adjustment, speaker grouping, and voice assistance integration. The app has received mostly positive reviews across iOS and Android for its user-friendly interface. It is compatible with most recent Sony Bluetooth speaker models. While some users have experienced connectivity issues, overall the Sony Music Center app delivers robust functionality and is the go-to app for getting the most out of Sony Bluetooth speakers.

The Sony Music Center app is highly recommended for owners of compatible Sony Bluetooth speakers. By enabling full control and customization, the app lets you get optimal performance from Sony speakers. For managing music playback, tweaking sound, and accessing smart features on your Sony Bluetooth speaker, the Sony Music Center app is the best app to download.