To pair a phone with the Sony STR-DH590, press BLUETOOTH PAIRING on the remote (or BLUETOOTH on the receiver). “PAIRING” appears on the display and the BLUETOOTH light flashes quickly. Within 5 minutes, open your phone’s Bluetooth settings and tap “STR-DH590.” When the light stops flashing and stays on, you’re connected.
This works for phones, tablets, and computers that can stream Bluetooth audio. Keep the device within about 3 feet (1 meter) of the receiver while you pair. One limit to know before you start: the STR-DH590 only receives Bluetooth audio. It can’t send sound out to Bluetooth headphones or a Bluetooth speaker.
What you need to know first
| Item | STR-DH590 detail |
|---|---|
| Name shown on your phone | STR-DH590 |
| Passkey (if asked) | 0000 |
| Time to finish pairing | 5 minutes after pairing mode starts |
| Devices it remembers | Up to 10. An 11th replaces the one used least recently. |
| Devices connected at once | One |
| Working range | About 33 feet (10 meters) with nothing in the way |
| Bluetooth version and profiles | Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP (audio), AVRCP (play/pause and volume control) |
How to pair a phone or tablet for the first time
- Turn on the receiver and your speakers. Turn the volume down a little so the first song doesn’t blast.
- Bring your phone within about 3 feet (1 meter) of the receiver.
- Press BLUETOOTH PAIRING on the remote. If the remote isn’t handy, press BLUETOOTH on the receiver instead. “PAIRING” appears on the display and the BLUETOOTH indicator on the front panel flashes quickly.
- On your phone, open the Bluetooth settings and make sure Bluetooth is on.
- Wait for “STR-DH590” to show up in the list of available devices, then tap it. You have 5 minutes. After that, pairing mode ends and you have to go back to step 3.
- If the phone asks for a passkey, PIN, or password, enter 0000.
- Check the receiver. When pairing works, the BLUETOOTH indicator stops flashing and stays lit, and your device’s name appears on the display.
- Start playing music on your phone.
- Turn up the volume on your phone first, then use the receiver’s volume to set the final level.
If “STR-DH590” never shows up, start over at step 2. To stop pairing mode early, switch the receiver to any input other than BT.
Pairing a Windows PC, Mac, or laptop
A computer pairs the same way. Put the receiver in pairing mode, then add a new Bluetooth device in the computer’s Bluetooth settings and choose “STR-DH590.” Once connected, make sure the computer’s sound output is set to the receiver. If you don’t hear anything, check the computer’s sound or output settings. Some computers don’t switch outputs on their own.
What the BLUETOOTH indicator is telling you
| Indicator | What it means |
|---|---|
| Flashing quickly | Pairing mode. The receiver is waiting for a new device. |
| Flashing slowly | The receiver is trying to connect to a device. |
| Lit steadily | Connected. Audio will play from that device. |
To see more details, press DISPLAY a few times. The display cycles through the Bluetooth status, the connected device’s name, its address, the sound field, and the volume level.
Reconnecting a device you’ve already paired
You only pair a device once. After that, reconnecting is quicker:
- From the receiver: Press BLUETOOTH on the receiver. It switches to the BT input and connects to the last device it was connected to.
- From your phone: Switch the receiver to the BT input, then tap “STR-DH590” in your phone’s Bluetooth list.
Switching to a different phone
The receiver plays from one device at a time. While a device is connected, other phones can’t see the receiver at all. To switch, disconnect the first phone in its Bluetooth settings (or turn its Bluetooth off). Then connect the second phone. If the second phone has never been paired, put the receiver in pairing mode first.
Can I use Bluetooth headphones or a Bluetooth speaker?
No. Sony describes the STR-DH590’s Bluetooth as a way to receive audio from phones, tablets, and music players. Its profiles are for receiving and remote control only. There’s no setting to send sound out to Bluetooth headphones, earbuds, or a speaker. For private listening, plug wired headphones into the PHONES jack on the front panel. Keep in mind that plugging in headphones silences the speakers.
Three Bluetooth settings worth knowing
All three are in the display-panel menu. Press AMP MENU, use the up and down arrows to go to “<BT>,” press Enter, then choose the setting.
- “BT POWER” (“BT ON” or “BT OFF”) turns the receiver’s Bluetooth on or off. If it’s off, phones won’t find the receiver. You can’t change it while the BT input is selected, so switch to another input first.
- “BT STBY” (“STBY ON” or “STBY OFF”) lets a paired device turn the receiver on when it’s off, so you can start music from your phone. It only appears after you’ve paired a device. With it on, the power light glows red while the receiver is off.
- “BT AAC” (“AAC ON” or “AAC OFF”) lets the receiver use AAC audio when your device supports it. You can’t change it while a device is connected, and the change applies the next time you connect.
Fixing common Bluetooth problems
“STR-DH590” doesn’t show up on the phone
- Make sure the display shows “PAIRING” and the light is flashing quickly. If 5 minutes have passed, press BLUETOOTH PAIRING again.
- Check that no other device is connected. While one is connected, the receiver is hidden from everything else.
- Check that “BT POWER” is set to “BT ON.”
- Move the phone closer. Pairing goes best within about 3 feet.
- Turn off other nearby Bluetooth devices. Sony notes they can prevent pairing.
It says connected, but there’s no sound
- Make sure the receiver is on the BT input.
- Turn up the phone’s volume first, then the receiver’s.
- Make sure the receiver isn’t muted and no headphones are plugged into the PHONES jack.
- On a computer, set the sound output to “STR-DH590.”
The phone paired before but won’t connect now
The receiver may have lost its pairing record. This happens after a factory reset, or when an 11th device pushes an older one out of memory. In your phone’s Bluetooth settings, choose to forget or remove “STR-DH590.” Then pair again from step 1. Also note that devices without the A2DP audio profile can’t connect at all.
Sound cuts out, skips, or drops the connection
- Move the phone closer. Stay well inside the 33-foot range.
- Clear obstacles between the phone and the receiver. The inside of a cabinet or a phone in a back pocket can be enough to cause dropouts.
- Move the receiver or phone away from Wi-Fi routers, microwave ovens, and other Bluetooth gear.
You hear humming or noise
Turn the phone’s volume down a bit and use the receiver’s volume instead. The same distance and interference tips above apply here too.
Music plays, but the bass seems thin
This usually has nothing to do with Bluetooth. With stereo music, the sound field you choose and your speaker settings decide whether the subwoofer plays. In “2ch Stereo,” for example, the subwoofer stays silent. Our guide to getting sound from the STR-DH590’s subwoofer explains which settings to change.
For Sony’s own wording, see the Help Guide pages on the pairing operation and compatible Bluetooth versions and profiles.