Three easy, free ways to improve your headphones

New headphone models arrive regularly, but the novelty often fades faster than with other gadgets. Headphones can last for years, so try simple tweaks before buying a new pair. Updating firmware can fix a surprising number of problems. Firmware updates to the digital signal processing can improve frequency response, noise cancellation, Bluetooth stability, microphone quality, transparency mode and power management; they usually require opening the companion app.

Using the same EQ across all media can make sound feel flat. Tinkering with a five- or six-band equalizer can reveal new details in music or make podcasts clearer, and those changes can be more impactful than spending on new headphones for many listeners. If you keep thinking about a new pair, give your current headphones focused attention.

Sit down, adjust the headband and positioning, and listen intently — a refreshed listening session or different settings may restore your enjoyment.

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