Question 1

What changed after the Bose SoundTouch servers shut down?

Accepted Answer

The discontinued servers previously handled services including Presets, music-service browsing, and some device configuration. After a speaker restarts, some sources and functions may no longer be available through the original SoundTouch experience. Better ST provides independent internet radio and modern control. Better ST 2.0 also introduced Server Migration to restore Standard Playback Mode, physical Preset buttons, and the playback capabilities used by Mixtape.

Question 2

Can I still use the physical Preset buttons?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Restoring physical Preset buttons 1–6 requires Server Migration, which moves your SoundTouch system from the discontinued Bose server configuration to Better ST Server. After migration, save content to a Preset in Better ST. When you press that button, the speaker communicates with Better ST Server directly and starts the saved content without your phone. Presets and Recents also stay synchronized across your devices. Server Migration is included with Better ST and does not require a separate Better ST account.

Question 3

Does Server Migration support every SoundTouch series?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Server Migration supports the full SoundTouch hardware family. SoundTouch 10, 20, 30, and 300 series systems are the most straightforward. Wave and CineMate systems can require additional steps because of their hardware design. Wave systems may need to be switched to AUX or SoundTouch mode before physical Presets work. If a Wave or CineMate system behaves unexpectedly, power-cycle it first. A factory reset followed by a fresh migration is the next recovery step.

Question 4

Does playback stop when I close the app?

Accepted Answer

No. Once playback has started, you can close Better ST and the speaker continues playing. After Server Migration, a physical Preset can start playback without your phone. The speaker communicates with Better ST Server directly when you press the button.

Question 5

How do I bring back physical Preset buttons 1–6?

Accepted Answer

Open Settings in Better ST, choose your device, and start Server Migration. Complete the migration for every speaker you want to use with restored Presets. After migration, content started in Better ST can be saved to and played from the physical buttons on the speaker.

Question 6

Where do the radio stations in Better ST come from?

Accepted Answer

Better ST uses the open Radio Browser directory as an independent source for internet radio. You can explore stations from around the world and filter them by country, genre, and stream quality. Stations are maintained by the Radio Browser community, so availability and stream quality can change. You can keep favorites close and save a station to a physical Preset or Super Preset.

Question 7

How many speakers can I use in a Multi-Room group?

Accepted Answer

SoundTouch supports groups of up to 10 devices, although real-world stability depends on the quality and capacity of your network. For groups larger than four devices, connect the leader speaker by Ethernet when possible to reduce wireless network load.

Question 8

Where are the detailed speaker settings?

Accepted Answer

Long-press a device card on the Home screen. From there you can enter Standby, create a group, rename the speaker, adjust supported audio settings, manage auto-off and clock options, and check the current playback mode. Available controls vary by SoundTouch model and firmware.

Question 9

Can the iPhone or iPad volume buttons control my speaker?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While Better ST is open in the foreground, the physical volume buttons on your iPhone or iPad control the active SoundTouch speaker.

Question 10

What is a Super Preset?

Accepted Answer

A Super Preset is a reusable scene. It can remember playback content, a target speaker or Multi-Room group, and the volume for each speaker. Launch one from Better ST, a Home Screen widget, or Apple Shortcuts. You can save a complete scene or leave the target device flexible so one Super Preset works across different speakers.

Question 11

How can I use a Super Preset from my Home Screen?

Accepted Answer

Add the Better ST Super Preset widget to your iPhone or iPad Home Screen, then choose one of your saved Super Presets for the widget. Tap the widget to launch the complete scene. The selected speaker and your home network must be available when the Super Preset runs.

Question 12

How does Magic Wake work with my alarm?

Accepted Answer

Magic Wake uses Apple Shortcuts to run a saved Super Preset when your morning alarm goes off. The Super Preset determines what plays, which speaker or group is used, and the volume for each speaker. Add the prepared Magic Wake shortcut, select your morning Super Preset, run it once to grant permission, then connect it to an Alarm automation in the Shortcuts app. Magic Wake depends on Apple Shortcuts, your home network, and speaker availability. Keep the iPhone alarm sound on as a backup.

Question 13

What does Mixtape need?

Accepted Answer

Mixtape uses music from a DLNA server on your local network. Choose tracks from the server and arrange them as a virtual tape for continuous playback on SoundTouch. Mixtape requires Server Migration. The DLNA server and its media must remain available while the speaker is playing. Some DLNA servers change media identifiers when their index is rebuilt. When that happens, previously saved Mixtapes may need to be created again.

Question 14

Is Better ST a one-time purchase?

Accepted Answer

Yes. One Better ST purchase includes Server Migration and every core playback and control feature available today. The app contains no in-app ads.

Question 15

Do I need a Better ST account?

Accepted Answer

No. Better ST does not require account registration, and the App Store privacy label states that the app does not collect data. For cloud-backed features, Better ST uses an anonymous identity rather than your Apple ID or personal profile.

Question 16

Does Better ST track me or show ads?

Accepted Answer

No. Better ST does not track you, build an advertising profile, or show ads in the app. Everyday speaker discovery and control happen directly on your local network.

Question 17

Can my family use Better ST too?

Accepted Answer

Better ST supports Apple Family Sharing. Family members in the same Apple family group can download the app through shared purchases and control speakers on the same network. Super Presets, radio favorites, and Mixtapes currently sync through iCloud only between devices using the same iCloud account. Physical Preset configuration is synchronized through Better ST Server.

Question 18

Does Better ST restore Pandora, Deezer, or Amazon Music?

Accepted Answer

These commercial music services are not available as native Better ST sources because their account authorization and protected stream URLs cannot be recreated safely after the original service ended. You can still listen from a phone or tablet through Bluetooth or AirPlay on compatible SoundTouch systems.

Good answers make setup easier.