If you’ve got a pair of Sony headphones, they may possess a useful feature that you’ve never heard of before.
This feature is available on a number of models, including the old but gold Sony WH-1000XM4, the sleek-looking Sony WH-1000XM5, and the wonderful Sony WH-1000XM6, which we consider to be the best headphones you can buy overall.
So, what exactly is this mysterious feature I’m speaking of? It’s called Quick Attention, and has been a total game-changer for me when using my Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones out in public. Here’s how it works, and what makes it so useful.
Attention, please!
OK, so what is Quick Attention exactly? Essentially, it’s a mode on Sony headphones that enables you to have a better measure of your surroundings in a pinch.
Simply place your hand over your headphones’ right earcup, and transparency mode will be triggered. This will drastically reduce the volume of any media playing, and help you to hear the world around you. When you’re ready to get immersed in your music again, just remove your hand, and you can go back to listening normally.
I’ve found Quick Attention to be incredibly useful in the office – whenever anyone wants to talk to me, I can cover the right earcup and chime into a conversation, without having to take my headphones off. Similarly, I’ll use this feature when I’m in a store and need to talk to the cashier or if I’m on public transport and need to tune into an announcement – it’s quick, easy, and convenient.
Sure, there are similar features out there, including Sony’s own Speak-to-Chat option. This has a very similar function, but instead of placing your hand over your headphones’ right earcup, you just talk, and they enter into transparency mode.
However, this approach is much less reliable in my experience. If I’m singing along to my favorite tracks or even if I cough, Speak-to-Chat will often be activated. Also, I have to wait a set time for my music to return to normal – which can be set in the Sony SoundConnect app.
Quick Attention gives me so much more agency. Transparency mode can be enabled exactly when I need it, with no accidental activations. Also, as soon as I’m done chatting, my music comes back without delay, making for a much more seamless user experience.
So, if you’ve got some Sony headphones, I highly recommend trying Quick Attention out – it’s been a game-changer for me, and it could be for you too.
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