All the headphones features you should be using — and how to use them

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Flagship headphones are billed as the absolute best portable audio experience money can buy. You’re paying top dollar for what are considered luxury tech products. Therefore, the expectation for high-end results is warranted. 

Not all the best headphones and earbuds meet this requirement. Those that do are heavily assisted by a vast feature set consisting of multiple enhancement tools. These can be customary extras like an adjustable EQ, noise cancellation, or voice activation for hands-free functionality. It can also be less-notable features you’ve either forgotten about or are completely oblivious to. I’m talking about features that upgrade your headphones for optimal performance. 

Pair your headphones to your smartphone and let’s jump right in.

Lossless playback

Several of the best headphones and earbuds come with a lossless audio codec. It is often the default on Android devices (sorry, iPhone owners), but that isn’t always the case. You should make sure to go into the Bluetooth settings of your media device to ensure that it’s enabled. Look for aptX Adaptive/Lossless or LDAC to appear next to the device name. Another option is going into your headphones’ companion app and toggling the feature.

These codecs stream music files at faster bitrates than standard codecs (e.g., AAC, SBC) and reveal more nuance from recordings.

Lossless audio can also be enjoyed via wired mode on certain headphones with a 3.5mm or USB-C port. Check online to see if your model supports the feature. If so, you won’t have to toggle any settings because the feature is automatically enabled, at least with certain devices and music services. Apple Music makes you go through the iOS/mac OS settings to turn it on.

iOS: Settings > Apps > Music > Audio Quality > Lossless Audio

macOS: Settings > Playback > Audio Quality > Lossless Audio

Reverse charging

No portable charger, no sweat.
Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Say your favorite portable charger was left at home, and your Sony WH-1000xM6 headphones are about to die before jumping on a flight. What’s the next best available option? Reverse charging. This technology works by taking power from one device and transferring some of it to another. In other words, something like your iPhone can act as a power source and recharge the headphones via USB-C cable. This works with all USB-C devices, including Android phones/tablets and most laptops. 

Shortcuts grant you access to features from your phone’s homescreen.
Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Going into your headphones’ companion app to enable special features becomes tedious after a while. The shortcut widget lets you do this on your smartphone’s homescreen. Certain companies have programmed this feature into the Android interface (usually in the notifications section) for instant access to battery level indicators and listening modes, which is great for instant personalization. Anyone with an iOS device can access the Control Center (swipe down on the top right of the screen) to extend functionality on the AirPods. 

Spatial audio (on your phone)

Turn on spatial audio for a more immersive experience.
Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

3D sound isn’t exclusive to select wireless audio products. Some smartphones (mainly Android) offer the feature for free and make it compatible with all wireless and wired headphones. Look no further than the latest Google Pixel phones. The quickest way to access spatial audio is to search for the term in the settings menu. Another way is to enter the settings menu, select Sound and Vibration, and pick Spatial Audio. Note that Google’s head-tracked Spatial Audio will only work with the Pixel Buds Pro series.

Sidenote: The latest OnePlus smartphones provide the same service for all wireless headphones.

Multipoint pairing

Multipoint pairing allows easy swapping between devices.
Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Also known as dual-pairing mode, multipoint is a common feature on modern headphones that not a lot of people know about. Being able to jump between two devices and not disconnect or unpair the headphones is a massive perk that shouldn’t be taken for granted. You can enable it in your headphones’ companion app.

Sidetone

Use this setting to improve call quality.
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Call quality can be hit or miss on headphones. The more advanced models let you adjust speaking volume during calls. That’s pretty much what the sidetone feature is. It makes your voice clearer on both ends. The best Bose headphones have it, as do the Jabra Elite 8 Active and Elite 10, which are the company’s final true wireless releases. AirPods have the voice isolation feature to emphasize vocal capture for clearer-sounding calls in loud environments.

Head gestures

A simple nod can answe an incoming phone call.
Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

This is a newer feature, and one that you’ll want to exercise frequently to avoid unwanted phone calls. Performing a side-to-side head shake on the latest AirPods or Sony headphones/earbuds will reject incoming calls, while a head nod accepts them. Apple users can enable it in the AirPods’ dedicated settings menu, and Sony users can toggle it in the Sound Connect app.