Sony | Music Center Reviews

by Beantown-G

In today’s market, customer experience *is* the brand, even more than features or price. Sony used to know that. I bought the STR-DN1050 because I could control it with my phone. After a quick “Update all” on iPhone apps and SongPal was useless. I have a degree in computer science and know it’s not rocket science to support multiple interfaces for backward compatibility, *especially* for an army of loyal customers. Sony, you think this is going to push us to purchase new receivers? LOL. Your influence in consumer electronics is shrinking and this is just another example of the acceleration downward. I’m exhausted being screwed by companies selling products that don’t work as marketed - or sneaky/aggressive product support decisions. Good riddance.

by Macbaine1

Checking in almost a year after first purchase. App is still garbage. Basic functions continue to fail. No idea what all these monthly updates are for, literally nothing has gotten better. App still crashes every other time I try to connect to a device. Forget party chain. If you ever get it working, which is rare, leave SonyMusicCenter and don’t return, or it will crash. If SonyMusicCenter represents Sony, they have fallen a long, long way. I would never have bought these speakers if I knew SonyMusicCenter was required. Their failure to address major problems in over a year shows they just don’t care.

UPDATE: Another year gone, and SonyMusicCenter continues to get worse. I have no idea what updates they are making, but they obviously don’t read these reviews or bother to test their app in the least. I can almost never pair speakers correctly, and when they do pair, the volume on each gets reset after each song. Most of the time SonyMusicCenter just fails to work properly so it doesn’t matter. I have 3 speakers, all of which are great individually, but SonyMusicCenter is so, so, so terrible. Any 2+ star reviews are either from company employees or people who haven’t actually used SonyMusicCenter.

by Jclary6

SonyMusicCenter is ridiculously broken, you'd think that with a company like Sony they'd be able to make a decent functioning app for their products that cost in the triple digits. I Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they had some college student design SonyMusicCenter. How many updates has SonyMusicCenter had? Yet how does it still not work? And why is the interface so poor? Sony, you are on the NYSE. You're one of tech's giants, yet somehow in 2019 you can't manage a simple app. I'd leave zero stars if I could. please fix the bugs and redo the entire interface. nobody that has a phone capable of installing apps needs to access their library or streaming platforms via SonyMusicCenter --please remove this the entire aspect is pointless. if somebody is going to download your app, it's to customize the settings, not to play music on apps that they ALREADY have installed. SonyMusicCenter doesn't have to do much. Just fix the issue where the settings you select won't stay permanent! They only work when SonyMusicCenter is open or recently used. Like I said, there are issues present in SonyMusicCenter that it's like they assigned this to an intern. Sorry to the intern that made SonyMusicCenter, but I'd leave zero stars if I could. 5/5 stars for the product though.

by Targosh

My god SonyMusicCenter is atrociously broken. I’m trying to party chain two of my speakers and it’s a nightmare doing so. It’s a 5 minute process trying to find the other speaker (which is connect leas that 10 feet away) and it has trouble doing that. After that, some unknown error happens and the process restarts all over again.
Then when the group is even made (which as a heads up, you apparently got to make the group again EVERY TIME you use SonyMusicCenter ), the speakers will either play static, disconnect, or even sync the music so badly one of the speakers is a second slower than the other.
You would think that a big name like Sony would be competent enough to make a working music app, all their competitors have no problem doing so.
Whoever made SonyMusicCenter this bad should be thrown over a cliff for making something more broken than Sonic 06.

by Ilikeverizonbut

My new Sony SRS-XB21 Extra Bass wireless speakers are fantastic. Sony knows great sound better than anyone.

SonyMusicCenter that controls them however, is atrociously bad. Bought 3 of these speakers specifically for a party I hosted and SonyMusicCenter alone almost ruined the whole night.

Extremely clumsy and complicated to add other identical sony wireless speakers to it, called a “party chain” which takes at least ten minutes, and multiple dead ends through SonyMusicCenter . Once they’re connected, all is good. But then try doing the same thing hours later, with the exact same speakers and the exact same app and you have to go through the whole process again, from scratch, which is insane. Also SonyMusicCenter won’t let you “rename” the speakers (e.g. “living room,” “kitchen” “dining room”, etc), so if you buy 3 or 4 wireless speakers and they’re the same color, they’re all labeled “SRS-XB21” in your phone so you have no idea which is in what room. Also you can’t control volume of individual speakers through SonyMusicCenter (like Sonos), you have to manually control the volume on individual speakers.

Had to uninstall and reinstall SonyMusicCenter it each time I had to set them up (3 total times) which was the only fix that worked.

SRS-XB21 Extra Bass speakers themselves: 5 stars

Sony Music Center App: Zero stars

by Idaho Fly Boy

I purchase a really nice Sony deck for my car and have regretted it every day because of this ap. I made that purchase almost two years ago and I am astounded by the lack of attention Sony has given to improving SonyMusicCenter and making it functional. Every time I turn the car off and restart it I have manually connect my phone with SonyMusicCenter . There is no way to do this automatically and it drives me nuts. I have purchased a different brand of deck for two other vehicles and they work perfectly and automatically connect. With the requirement to drive and use hands free calling I am going to replace my Sony deck and get a third deck from “other brand”. Not going to ever look at a Sony deck again. You had your chance and two years later I am not waiting any longer for you to realize that customer experiences matter. Good bye.

by T Man Tom

I just tried to use SonyMusicCenter to set my equalizer after updating the software in my speaker the equalizer does not seem to adjust and save the settings it will adjust and make sound but when closing out everything goes back to default instead of saving it in the speaker like the extra base slider up to 100% it’ll stay that way long as the apps open but the moment you close SonyMusicCenter everything fails I will give this Apple one star rating for now hopefully in the future if Sony updates it makes a better it could possibly be a five star rating really love the speaker I do not like SonyMusicCenter at all App needs 100% better updates and I don’t like the fact that you have to use SonyMusicCenter just to set Dj affects her sounds I feel there should’ve been extra buttons on the speaker itself for that instead of happened to download SonyMusicCenter and use it I do not like SonyMusicCenter at all it’s not saving settings at all in the speaker itself i’m just going to go back to using the speaker in default and delete SonyMusicCenter I had my base sounding good until I close SonyMusicCenter out then it went back to default which was the speaker default setting that it came with automatically out of the box I’m just gonna use it like that and I’m gonna forget SonyMusicCenter all together and delete it from my phone I don’t want to mess my speaker up

by Squiresmj

I’ve been able to get the speakers to painter and a part in chain mode as they said you can do. I bought an XB 20 and an XB 21 they will not party chain together one shuts off the other one turns on then the other one shuts off and the other one turns on it constantly disconnects from one and reconnect to the other but never plays the two together I have read the instructions several times I have looked online to try and find a way to make them work together as they are described because even on Sony‘s website it says that they are fully compatible together and even gives instructions of how to connect an XP 21 to another XP 21 and I was not even able to do that do not buy the Sony speakers and do not get SonyMusicCenter, unless you only buy one speaker in which case one speaker works fine all by itself.

by ThisIsAnUnusedNickNameIHope

SonyMusicCenter is so bad that I’m considering returning both of my Sony GTK-XB60 speakers because of it. It somewhat works if you have only one speaker, but it will drive you absolutely mad when trying to group for stereo use. EVERY time you leave the premises and Bluetooth disconnects, the speakers don’t reconnect as a stereo group or even remember their previous settings. The speakers revert back to an annoying default of Rave mode lighting, which will send you into a 1970s disco epileptic seizure. Then when you go in, try to reconnect, the regroup fails 9 times out of 10 times after taking 10 minutes of hour glass wait times to get to the appropriate screen. If anyone should write a functional app for these speakers please let me know. I will gladly buy it!!

by ListenLynda

The speakers are so good but the way SonyMusicCenter functions makes the experience not worth it. Every time you want to use the speakers it always goes back to default settings and have to set up the sub treb and others again and then SonyMusicCenter ... SonyMusicCenter won’t even recognize my speakers 90 percent of the time, maybe even 95 percent . Literally playing my music through Bluetooth on the speakers and SonyMusicCenter still will not recognize the speakers. Good thing the speakers come with a remote, although it doesn’t have all the buttons for settings... if it didn’t the speakers would just be a big paper weight -_- And there isn’t even have web version. SonyMusicCenter’S ONLY FUNCTION IS TO CONTROL THE SETTINGS OF THE SPEAKERS

by Thehomiefromtheokc

I just bought the srs xb31 for $150, I love the speaker but you must have SonyMusicCenter running and Bluetoothed in order to use any extra features.... ok that’s ok if it actually would work 1/4 if the time. It’s always losing its sync and goes to default. There’s a party mode where you can bang on the speaker to play drums and stuff and I love it! Gives you something to tap while listening to music but half 75% of the time SonyMusicCenter doesn’t recognize the device even when I’m still playing music, so I have to close SonyMusicCenter , turn bt off and on, reconnect because it doesn’t try to automatically, then go into SonyMusicCenter crossing my fingers, and half the time it shows 3 extra speakers saying “need to be setup” but still doesn’t connect to mine.... so repeat. Finally have it working and your settings ready to go!? Well have fun when you lock your phone and go back into SonyMusicCenter because it’s unsynced again... and just a helpful tip, don’t lock your phone while in SonyMusicCenter , eventually you’ll have to restart your phone to even get it to work because it bugs out.... the quality of the speaker is what I expected with Sony but SonyMusicCenter really ruins their reputation with me if I see “extra features in app”. Recommend the speaker if you just want good sound and bass, but don’t recommend it if you was wanting to use the extra features of the speaker and if that’s you deciding factor between $150 and another good speaker with as good quality for $60...

by EricaJanine

A lot of these reviews are the same—speakers are great but SonyMusicCenter is not. I agree. I have xb31 and xb32s—using party chain became a challenge because of the chain got broken, I had to disconnect all the speakers, forget them, then repair—even if the party chain worked with the same speakers. Once I got it fully working, I kept having to relevel the volumes on the speakers after a while—the leveling out didn’t work at all. Luckily I only had 4 to maintain during a party and not more or it could have caused the music to fail altogether.

The speakers are phenomenal. SonyMusicCenter is almost a dealbreaker because it makes them seem glitchy. These speakers have been marketed with this feature and it just doesn’t work well enough to be reliable. I hope that Sony fixes this soon—it’s enough to cause me to question the brand.

by Main Apple

Instead of just repeating what everyone else wrote about SonyMusicCenter (which is all true), let me tell you the steps to put XB21 (and similar?) speakers into double or stereo mode.

#1) Do not follow their instructions.

#2) Download SonyMusicCenter but do not open.

#3) Take the first speaker and turn it on.

#4) Press and Hold Power Button. The Bluetooth icon will flash quickly.

#5) Go to your General Settings, click Bluetooth (will show SRS-XB21 at the bottom), and wait until it has connected. The speaker will also give you a 2-tone beep. Note, other Sony speakers may have a Bluetooth button.

#6) Click on the blue ‘i’ circle beside the connected speaker (on your Bluetooth settings on your phone) and disconnect it.

#7) Follow steps #3-5 to add additional speaker. Disconnect from bluetooth additional speaker you just added and click connect on first speaker.

#8) Go to SonyMusicCenter . Agree to their terms of service, etc.

#9) You should see a speaker at top. Click to Edit Speaker Group. It will take you to another screen and should show you the second speaker you added.

#10) Click to Add speakers. This will link them into double mode. From there you can change them to Stereo if you want via the Edit Group button.

by I Only Review When Needed.

Just got the Sony GTX-XB7 and it’s amazing. However app is very poorly made. Dj effects only allow one effect to be used at a time (flanger, isolates, wah). Also those are the only 3 options. On Sony’s website the picture of the dj effects is different than on my iPhone. It seems on there website you can have multiple effects in one menu and can use them all. Other than these effects there is no reason for SonyMusicCenter besides connecting your speaker to your phone, which u can do anyways in Bluetooth settings. App is in great need for an update to make customers happy with available options that are on there website but not on SonyMusicCenter .

by LucasR86

I bought the GTKXB60 and the settings on SonyMusicCenter are just disappointing. The speakers great but SonyMusicCenter and the fiestable app are just childish. Make these a little more advanced and not so crappy. Also, PLEASE make the lighting options better. Both these apps are just trash compared to the speaker. Also, just a heads up but if you change the light settings on either app you’re stuck with those options. I personally thought the factory light settings were great, but you can’t change back to those if you change any light settings in the apps. Even tried resetting the speaker multiple times and multiple ways.

by MussSyke

Could you please make it so that SonyMusicCenter does not instantly turn my receiver on? Sometimes I forget to close SonyMusicCenter and if I bring SonyMusicCenter to the front, then it turns on my stereo which I want to stay off.

Also, you need to improve connectivity. I am not usually much of a phone/app guy, but for my whole house audio system which is a few remotely controlled stereos, the Yamaha has you far beat because it always sees the stereo with no delay. I’ve always loved Sony, but this is an important fix you need to make if you want my next stereo (s) to be Sony.

by Manimalthefarmer

I have an STR-DN106 A/V receiver that I bought a number of years ago and didn't even know there was an app I could use until a little over a year ago. At first SonyMusicCenter was useless, would consistently drop connection when it would connect which was only about 1/4 of the time. I started using it recently again and it has been a lot better. The receiver controls sound in multiple rooms and sits in a cabinet so it’s nice to have such easy access to the controls. I would have been much more frustrated if SonyMusicCenter was required for the options. It’s come a long way but there’s still room for improvement. SonyMusicCenter has the potential to be a great value added to Sony products but only if they’re able to improve its quality.

by Adrian2003

Using app with an srs-xb30. It's works great. Lights and strobe can be easily adjusted. Also like that the equalizer can be adjusted with SonyMusicCenter because the speaker had the bass just a bit too high, but adjusting with SonyMusicCenter made the sound even better. Would give a 5 star review but I don't like having to pair everytime I'm trying to use the speaker. It would be nice if they put a battery display on SonyMusicCenter so I don't have to push the button on the speaker to check the remaining battery charge.

by SithlordsoupOfYoutube

Recently purchased XB21. Amazing speaker, especially in live mode. I don’t know how it manages to throw sound behind you but it does.

As for SonyMusicCenter , I feel like it was halfway developed or isn’t syncd up to the latest demands of the newest phone OS updates. The steps are clear and concise for setting up but won’t let you continue on to the next step until the current process is done..which is weird because you can’t even finish step 2.

After trying a few setups it finally budged and paired with the phone.

by Matt Damon Reviews

I run 4 SRS x99 speakers, 1 SRS x88 and a couple SRS HG1s with SonyMusicCenter. I can play music on them all at the same time. I prefer to stream over WiFi to the speakers for the full wireless room experience. I can not only control the volume and EQ of each speaker individually, but I can also play a different song on each speaker at the same time or group speakers together. Right now I am listening to the same song through the entire house. If you want a wireless multi room experience, this is it. You can play high resolution files on it and it will tell you if the file high resolution.

by Allycat7551

I’ve been able to get the speakers to painter and a part in chain mode as they said you can do. I bought an XB 20 and an XB 21 they will not party chain together one shuts off the other one turns on then the other one shuts off and the other one turns on it constantly disconnects from one and reconnect to the other but never plays the two together I have read the instructions several times I have looked online to try and find a way to make them work together as they are described because even on Sony‘s website it says that they are fully compatible together and even gives instructions of how to connect an XP 21 to another XP 21 and I was not even able to do that do not buy the Sony speakers and do not get SonyMusicCenter, unless you only buy one speaker in which case one speaker works fine all by itself.

by Danny_Bob

It would be great if SonyMusicCenter would show the “Display” button info (LPCM, number of audio channels, kHz, etc.) for the ST5000. When viewing content in 4K with Enhanced format HDMI, the Display and Options buttons don’t work because the soundbar is unable to overlay the on screen display while in that mode. Getting access to that information in SonyMusicCenter would be a great workaround. I currently use SonyMusicCenter to adjust the a/v sync settings while in Enhanced format HDMI because that setting is not accessible from the soundbar itself unless I switch back to Standard format HDMI.

by Illeism

I have two xb-20 speakers and for the most part work as intended with SonyMusicCenter - however - occasionally the speakers will lose their sync - usually if I turn them on and don’t play music within 2 to 3 minutes - then I have to remove them from Bluetooth , delete SonyMusicCenter , reset the speakers to default and then add everything again - rarely, when trying to put them in a group again SonyMusicCenter goes haywire and can’t figure out how to group the speakers so i have to remove them from Bluetooth etc...

by Bish Give Me A Nickname

I got a brand new SRS-XB22 for Christmas. The thing works wonderfully and I love it (even though it lists nowhere that the sound volume is reduced when at low battery, nor is there a way to disable that). My issues start with SonyMusicCenter. I have my speaker hooked up to my phone, and I use SonyMusicCenter to change the light settings so I don’t need to get up and do it manually on the speaker. That’s only IF I don’t need to disconnect the speaker in my settings and reconnect them because SonyMusicCenter tells me it “needs setup”, and then makes me do the above in Settings (SonyMusicCenter never does automatically continue to the next step after I do what it says. It doesn’t does jack sh*t. I always have to arrow back out of it). SonyMusicCenter has times where it works as smoothly as I need it, and times where I can’t do anything with it.

For the most part, it’s an app with a simple, easy-to-use layout whenever it’s not being useless. If you don’t need anything other than sound, you probably don’t need (or want) SonyMusicCenter.

by Redrexx

I've used SonyMusicCenter for a while now and so far, I haven't had much issues with it. Tho for a short while, the Bluetooth kept disconnecting. They've seem to work out that kink. I like how I'm able to control everything. If there's anything left to add, is that there should be volume control in every page. It's a bit annoying having to back out all the way to adjust volume after making speak level changes. I know there's a shortcut button to home page a more accesible volume would be nice.

by SnowMyst630

I had the same problem at first with not being able to check mark the privacy button. But since I have had allot of Sony products and software, I knew that they expect you to read the entire privacy policy in total. Even after I read it in total, I still had to give it several more tries before it worked. They must have a timer on it. I hope this helps everyone to get SonyMusicCenter up and running. Thanks