--- title: "Sony Headphones on Mac: Guides" description: "Pair Sony headphones with a Mac, fix connection, sound and microphone problems, set up the equalizer and meetings, and learn what each 1000X control does." url: https://opensoundconnect.app/guides language: en --- # Sony headphones on your Mac, explained Setup, connection problems, sound, calls and controls, with the fix first and the app where it helps. ## Setup - [Connect Sony headphones to a Mac](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/connect-sony-headphones-to-mac): Pairing mode for each 1000X model, the macOS steps, choosing the sound output, and what to do next. - [Sony headphones with Mac and iPhone](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-mac-iphone): Multipoint by model, how playback moves between the two, pinning it to the Mac, and switching older models by hand. ## Connection problems - [Sony headphones not connecting to Mac](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-not-connecting-mac): Pairing mode, a competing device, a stale pairing, the Mac's Bluetooth and resetting each model, in order. - [Connected, but no sound](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-connected-no-sound-mac): When the Mac says Connected but nothing plays: the output device, app settings, volume, other devices and reconnecting. - [Sony headphones keep disconnecting](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-disconnecting-mac): Range and interference, a second device, sleep, automatic power off and settings that reconnect, then the pairing itself. - [Stuttering or crackling on a Mac](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-stuttering-mac): Find out whether it's range, interference, the connection setting or the call mode, and fix it step by step. - [Sony headphones too quiet on a Mac](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-low-volume-mac): Low volume on a Mac: the system and app volume, the headphones' own control, balance, the equalizer and safe listening. ## Sound and equalizer - [Settings for music on a Mac](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-music-settings-mac): A short checklist for listening to Spotify or Apple Music on a Mac with Sony headphones. - [WH-1000XM3 EQ settings](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/wh-1000xm3-eq-settings): Four starting curves for the XM3's five bands and Clear Bass, what each slider does, and how to set them from a Mac. - [WH-1000XM4 EQ settings](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/wh-1000xm4-eq-settings): Five starting curves for the XM4, what to raise or lower for the sound you want, and how to set them on a Mac. - [WH-1000XM5 EQ settings](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/wh-1000xm5-eq-settings): Starting curves for the XM5's five bands and Clear Bass, how to build your own, and how to set it from a Mac. - [WH-1000XM6 EQ settings](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/wh-1000xm6-eq-settings): Five starting curves for the XM6's ten-band equalizer, what each band does, and how to set it from a Mac. - [Do EQ settings carry over?](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-eq-settings-carry-over): Why the EQ you set on your phone also plays on your Mac, what stays behind, and how to change it from the Mac. - [DSEE on a Mac](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-dsee-mac): DSEE HX, Extreme and Ultimate by model, when each one is active on a Mac, and where to turn it on. ## Calls and meetings - [Meetings: Zoom, Teams, Meet, Discord](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-meetings-mac): Speaker and microphone settings for Zoom, Teams, Meet and Discord, plus a scene that sets up your headphones for calls. - [Microphone not working on a Mac](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-microphone-not-working-mac): Fix a Sony headphone mic that doesn't work on a Mac: input, permissions, the meeting app and the cable. - [Bad sound on calls](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-bad-call-audio-mac): Why audio turns muffled when the headphones' mic is in use, and how to keep the good sound on calls. ## Controls and automation - [Keyboard shortcuts](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-keyboard-shortcuts): Every shortcut for noise control, scenes and pages in Open Sound Connect, and how the menu bar panel fits in. - [Headphones keep pausing](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-pausing-mac): Find out why music pauses by itself: Speak-to-Chat, wearing detection, the touch panel, a second device or macOS. - [Touch controls on a Mac](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-touch-controls-mac): Turn the touch panel on or off, change what the button does, and fix gestures that don't respond on a Mac. - [Automatic power off](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-auto-power-off-mac): Why Sony headphones switch themselves off, and how to change Automatic Power Off from your Mac. ## How it works - [LDAC, AAC and lossless on a Mac](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-ldac-aac-lossless-mac): Which Bluetooth codecs a Mac uses with Sony headphones, why lossless needs a cable, and what an app can't change. - [USB-C and wired listening](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphones-usb-c-wired-mac): Why USB-C doesn't carry audio, how to use the 3.5 mm cable with a Mac, and what changes when you do. - [Firmware updates and your Mac](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/sony-headphone-firmware-mac): Why Sony firmware updates need the phone app, how each 1000X model updates, and how to check your version on a Mac. - [How headphone control works](https://opensoundconnect.app/guides/how-sony-headphone-control-works-mac): The audio connection, the separate control channel, what the app sends and what stays local. ## Features - [Equalizer and Clear Bass](https://opensoundconnect.app/features/equalizer): Sony's presets, your own band curve and Clear Bass, set in the headphones from your Mac. - [Noise canceling and ambient sound](https://opensoundconnect.app/features/noise-cancelling): Switch noise canceling, ambient sound and off from the menu bar or keyboard, with the ambient level and Focus on Voice. - [Speak-to-Chat](https://opensoundconnect.app/features/speak-to-chat): Turn Speak-to-Chat off or tune it from your Mac, on the headphones or in Sony's app, and why it comes back on. - [Battery level on your Mac](https://opensoundconnect.app/features/battery): Your headphones' battery percentage in the menu bar and the app, with warnings you choose. - [Scenes and automation](https://opensoundconnect.app/features/scenes): Save your settings as scenes and apply them with a click, a shortcut, on connect, on a schedule or by app. ## Tools and comparisons - [Sony headphone apps for Mac](https://opensoundconnect.app/compare/sony-headphone-apps-mac): Sony's phone app, Open Sound Connect, SonyBridge and Overhead side by side: price, models, signing and features. - [Sony EQ vs eqMac](https://opensoundconnect.app/compare/sony-eq-vs-eqmac): Headphone EQ versus a system-wide Mac equalizer: where each runs, what it affects and when to use which. - [Mac troubleshooter](https://opensoundconnect.app/troubleshooter): Choose a symptom and get the checks to try, in order, with a link to the full guide. - [EQ preset library](https://opensoundconnect.app/presets): Six starting curves with exact values for the five-band models and the ten-band WH-1000XM6. ## App support - [Allow Bluetooth access](https://opensoundconnect.app/support/bluetooth-permission): The one macOS permission the app needs, how to turn it back on, and how to reset it. - [Licenses and activation](https://opensoundconnect.app/support/licenses): Activate with your key, manage two installations, move to a new Mac and use the app offline. - [Headphones connected but not detected](https://opensoundconnect.app/support/headphones-not-detected): Audio works, but the app shows no headphones: permission, the control connection and what each screen means. --- Open Sound Connect is independent software. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony. Sony, DSEE, DSEE Extreme and LDAC are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Group Corporation or its affiliates. Apple, Mac, macOS, Finder, Safari, Xcode and App Store are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. The Bluetooth® word mark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Other names are trademarks of their respective owners.