Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories?
X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Get custom-tailored audio with Adapt Sound on the Galaxy S4

Personalize the Galaxy S4's audio output to suit your ears and get a richer, more accurate music-listening experience.

img-6673
img-6673
Sharon Profis Vice President of Content
Sharon Profis is a vice president of content.
Sharon Profis
Advertiser Disclosure
Advertiser Disclosure
This advertising widget is powered by Navi and contains advertisements that Navi may be paid for in different ways. You will not be charged for engaging with this advertisement. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, this advertising widget does not include information about every product or service that may be available to you. We make reasonable efforts to ensure that information in the featured advertisements is up to date, each advertiser featured in this widget is responsible for the accuracy and availability of its offer details. It is possible that your actual offer terms from an advertiser may be different than the offer terms in this advertising widget and the advertised offers may be subject to additional terms and conditions of the advertiser which will be presented to you prior to making a purchase. All information is presented without any warranty or guarantee to you.

Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET

Immediately, you'll be taken through what's basically a hearing test. High- and low-pitched beeps will play, and you'll confirm whether or not you hear them. It's a judgment of your hearing, but also of your headphones. (So, don't get upset if you don't always hear the beep.)

When you're finished, two graphs will appear, one for your left ear, and one for your right. Take a look at them to get a visual sense of what your hearing capabilities are like with and without Adapt Sound. The x-axis shows pitch (frequency), and the y-axis displays hearing ability.

If you're skeptical, you can preview what the sound output is like with and without the Adapt Sound adjustments. Below the graph, hit "Preview Adapt Sound" and toggle between Original and Personalized to hear the difference.

Back in the settings window, you can tell Adapt Sound when to personalize the sound output. Below that, don't forget to indicate your "frequently used side so that it can "adapt" when you've got your phone to your ear.

Revisiting the setup
As Samsung explains, the results produced from setting up Adapt Sound in a very quiet environment should let you get away with never touching the feature again. But if you want to get the most out of the feature, take the short hearing test again when you get new headphones or settle into an entirely new environment.