Yes, you read that right. The companion app is a source for customization. Whether it’s tweaking the notifications or playing with the EQ settings, this one hides several exciting features. So, here we are with some of the best settings that you should check out on your Galaxy Buds Live.
1. Customize Notifications
With the Galaxy Buds Live, Samsung allows for a granular notification control. You can control the app for which you want to receive notifications, and also have the buds read the message contents. Thankfully, the latter is an optional setting (more on that later). To enable it, open the Wearable app on your phone, tap on Read Notifications Aloud option, and toggle the switch on. Next, tap on the See All option and toggle the switch for the apps for receiving their notifications. The next time you receive a notification from the selected apps, you’ll hear the app name on your buds. And it gets even better. You can also allow the buds to read the notifications to you. While it’s a handy option to have, especially when it comes to messaging apps, there’s a slight catch. If someone sends you a long text, the buds will make sure to read till the end, and it can get quite annoying. Nevertheless, if you still want to get ahead with it, tap on the app name as shown below and select the second option.
2. Activate ANC on a Tap
It won’t be news to you if I say that the Galaxy Buds Live is one of the first truly wireless earphones from Samsung to sport Active Noise Cancellation or ANC, as it’s more commonly known. Thanks to the buds’ open design, you do not get the stuffed feeling that is usually common with most headphones with ANC. The good news is that you needn’t open the Wearable app each time you want the ANC to kick in. You can simply program the Touch Controls of the Galaxy Buds Live to do the needful. So head over to the app and tap on Touch Controls. Once done, select Active Noise Cancelling from under the Touch and Hold option, on either one of the buds. Next time you want this mode to kick in, tap and hold the buds, and you will be sorted.
3. Open Spotify like a Pro
Another nifty option is that you can remap the touch-sensitive area of your left (or right) earbud to open Spotify (see best Spotify tips and tricks) on your phone and play the last-played song. Cool, right? All you need to do is tap and hold the bud area, and that’s about it. Remapping the area is the same as the step above. In fact, that’s the current setting on my Galaxy Buds Live. While a tap-and-hold action on the left buds kickstarts the ANC, the right one makes Spotify sing. The best part? Even if you are streaming songs on different apps like YouTube Music, this action will override it.
4. Let in Ambient Sound
Ambient Sound was one of the primary features of the earlier Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Buds Plus. However, in this version, Samsung has removed it to make way for Active Noise Cancellation. The feature in question lets you stay aware of your surroundings by letting in a bit of ambient noise. Though the feature has since been removed, you can taste a ‘little’ of it in the Galaxy Buds Live. This feature is hidden under Labs. It removes the stuffed-in feeling that is usually associated with most wireless earphones. The difference is minute in the first try. However, it adds up in the long run. Do note that it doesn’t work if ANC is switched on.
5. Find Your Sound Profile
This one is not necessarily a Buds Live setting but can help you a long way in achieving an ‘almost’ perfect listening experience. However, it’s only confined to users who own a Samsung phone. Most Samsung phones have a built-in feature named Adapt Sound. This nifty feature tunes the audio of the connected headphones or earphones as per your hearing capacity. It starts by emitting a series of high and low tones and adjusts the outcome accordingly. And that results in an immersive and full audio experience. To enable it, head over to Settings > Sounds and Vibrations > Sound Quality and Effects and select Adapt Sound. Next, tap on Create Custom Profile, and the phone will walk you to the rest. All you need to do is respond to a series of questions. And hey, don’t forget to save the profile. You can also listen to the difference between the default sound and the modified one by clicking on the Cog-shaped icon.
Please Don’t Stop the Music
Though the Wearable app and the Samsung Galaxy Live gives you the option to switch between the various EQ settings, I really wish they let you save a custom EQ setting like the Jabra Elite 75T. And given that one is spending north of $169 on these earphones, I would have liked a mode that lets me play white noise or some soothing soundscapes from within the app. Well, a girl can wish. What’s the best thing that you like about your new earbuds? Let us know in the comments section below. Next up: Bought the newly launched Galaxy Watch 3? Read the following article to get the most out of it.
