SMPlayer 17.9 gives the possibility to change the search method for finding subtitles on opensubtitles.org. SMPlayer has always used in the past the “hash” method, now it’s possible to search by filename.

This is an explanation of both methods:

• Hash: SMPlayer calculates a hash key from the video file and uses that hash, along with the file size, to search on opensubtitles. This is the most accurate method because it will return subtitles for your video, even if you rename the video file. On the other hand opensubtitles must have the hash in its database in order this method to work.
• Filename: SMPlayer will search for subtitles just using the filename. This may return more results than the previous method but some of the subtitles may not be suitable for your video.

In order to change it, click on the Options button in the Find Subtitles window.

SMPlayer 17.8 brings a new audio filter which makes the audio easier to listen to on headphones. You can find it in the menu Audio -> Filters.

This is the ffmpeg earwax filter. From the ffmpeg documentation:

This filter adds ‘cues’ to 44.1kHz stereo (i.e. audio CD format) audio so that when listened to on headphones the stereo image is moved from inside your head (standard for headphones) to outside and in front of the listener (standard for speakers).