Upon the advent of Apple’s inclusion of "spatial audio" into their Apple Music streaming service and AirPods lineup in 2021, it appears as though one cannot peruse discussions on audio products or services without encountering this term. In mere moments, this concept has permeated the audio landscape, sparking a myriad of misconceptions regarding its nature, functionality, and necessity for firsthand experience. People often inquire, "If Apple ushered in spatial audio, why are other companies laying claim to it as well?" The truth lies in the fact that Apple did not birth this phenomenon, and possessing Apple products is not a prerequisite for embracing spatial audio.
So, what precisely encompasses spatial audio, and how does it distinguish itself (or perhaps align) with other terms that may ring familiar, such as surround sound and Dolby Atmos? Delving into this subject reveals a realm brimming with intricacies, some of which delve into technical complexities. However, fear not, for we shall unfurl this tapestry in easily digestible terms. In a matter of moments, you will ascend to the mantle of a spatial audio sage, equipped with the knowledge necessary to embark upon this transformative trend reshaping our encounters with music and movies.
What precisely is spatial audio?
Despite the narrative spun by Apple’s vigorous marketing campaigns, it is imperative to note that spatial audio did not originate within the confines of Cupertino. Rather, it serves as a generic term denoting audio engineered to yield an immersive, 3D essence, capable of enveloping listeners in a 360-degree auditory realm. Much akin to the transition from monophonic to stereophonic sound, spatial audio has ushered in new formats. While you may be acquainted with the most prevalent spatial audio format, Dolby Atmos, other contenders such as DTS:X and Sony 360 Reality Audio also vie for attention.
Embracing these new formats necessitates the deployment of cutting-edge technology. To partake in these spatial audio formats, access to music or video content amenable to spatial audio is imperative, alongside potentially acquiring new gear designed to facilitate the playback of spatial audio.
Sources of spatial audio content
Movies were the pioneers in leveraging spatial audio, a trend that continues to hold sway. Dolby Atmos-infused movies and TV shows now abound on streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, among others. In certain instances, access to Dolby Atmos versions of these titles may entail an added premium above the basic subscription fee.
While DTS:X has yet to attain widespread usage on streaming services, Blu-ray discs frequently incorporate this spatial audio format alongside Dolby Atmos.
Conversely, music stands as the latest arena to embrace spatial audio. It is Apple, above all others, that has fervently championed the cause of spatial audio in music, thereby elevating its prominence in contemporary discourse.
Acquiring music in spatial audio necessitates subscription to one of the three music services presently streaming in spatial audio formats. Apple Music offers spatial audio through Dolby Atmos Music, while Amazon Music and Tidal extend support for both Dolby Atmos Music and Sony 360 Reality Audio.
Moreover, Dolby Atmos Music can be procured on Blu-ray discs. Possessing lossless compression, this format stands as the apogee of spatial audio quality for music. Regrettably, transferring this content to portable devices poses a challenge, rendering Blu-ray disc spatial audio music a predominantly home-listening affair for the foreseeable future.
How to listen to spatial audio
The avenue to experiencing spatial audio for movies and music is traversable through both speakers and headphones, albeit substantial disparities exist in the requisites for each.
Using speakers
Speaker-oriented spatial audio necessitates availment of the aforementioned content sources, a device equipped to decode the desired spatial audio format, amplification to fuel the speakers, and the speakers themselves.
Fortuitously, some products house all these elements in a singular entity. The ultimate choice hinges upon one’s discernment regarding sound quality and willingness to invest financially.
The sphere of spatial audio for movies presents the pinnacles of technical hurdles. For streaming purposes, alongside a subscription to a pertinent video streaming service, compatibility with the streaming service’s app, Dolby Atmos, and crucially, Dolby Atmos from your selected service are indispensable (alas, discrepancies may arise in certain instances).
Certain state-of-the-art smart TVs fulfill these prerequisites, thus obviating the need for additional purchases. Conversely, for others, an absolute necessity emerges in the form of a streaming device like the Apple TV 4K. Once more, the keys to unlocking this acoustic realm lie in the device’s Atmos compatibility congruent with your chosen app.
In the realm of physical media, a Blu-ray player compatible with Dolby Atmos or DTS:X (preferably both) becomes a prerequisite.
Subsequent in the hierarchy is the audio system at your disposal. While Dolby Atmos-capable TVs theoretically enable auditors to relish spatial audio, the experience often falls short of expectations. Ergo, a more discerning audiophile may opt for superior alternatives.
The choices encompass a complete home theater system furnished with wired speakers propelled by a Dolby Atmos AV receiver or, for a streamlined setup, a Dolby Atmos soundbar.
Regardless of the pathway traversed, both movies/TV shows and music can be experienced in spatial audio, contingent on gear compatibility with the selected streaming service or disc-based media.
Should the desire solely entail reveling in spatial audio music, an array of powered wireless speakers are now compatible with Dolby Atmos. This suite includes the Apple HomePod, Sonos Era 300, JBL Authentics 500, and Amazon’s Echo Studio.
Preceding acquisition, ascertain that your chosen speaker aligns with your favored streaming service, as certain models exhibit limited service support.
Using headphones or earbuds
Embarking upon the realm of spatial audio via headphones or earbuds proves an uncomplicated endeavor, underlined by the wizardry of science at play.
Pioneered by an iPhone or Android smartphone and one of the three spatial audio streaming apps (Apple Music, Tidal, or Amazon Music), auditory voyagers can savor spatial audio with any set of stereo headphones or earbuds compatible with their device, whether wired or wireless.
At the core of experiencing the equivalent of a full-fledged 7.1.4 home theater configuration through conventional headphones lies the employment of a technique known as binaural rendering.
Imagine being blindfolded, with an individual positioned 10 feet away, clapping vigorously. In a heartbeat, you discern the precise direction of the sound, almost instinctively identifying its distance from you. This innate ability stems from our brains’ sensitivity to a spectrum of auditory nuances, encompassing volume, pitch, and the minutest differentials in sound timing perceived by our ears.
These auditory cues can be replicated, courtesy of the realm of psychoacoustics. Henceforth, audio customized for each ear within a standard stereo headphone can recreate our brain’s perception of real-world sound occurrences.
Harnessing the potent mechanisms of psychoacoustics, binaural rendering assimilates a spatial audio format like Dolby Atmos, simulating the experience akin to being ensconced within a studio or home theater bedecked with all-encompassing surround sound speakers, inclusive of overhead height channel speakers.
The Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music apps contain binaural rendering engines, removing the necessity for supplementary hardware or software.
Our ears and heads wield significant influence in sculpting our auditory perception. Indeed, the unique contours of our ears exert an impact, compelling entities like Apple and Sony to beckon users to furnish images of their ears for inclusion within their apps. Fortified with this supplemental data, binaural rendering can impart spatial audio with an unparalleled sense of realism.
Dubbed "personalized spatial audio" by Apple, this feature currently finds exclusive solace within AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation), Beats Fit Pro, or Beats Studio Pro devices. Furthermore, your iPhone’s front-facing camera must support TrueDepth technology, facilitating a precise scan of your ears (applicable to iPhone X or subsequent iterations, excluding SE models).
Do you need access to a spatial audio format like Dolby Atmos to savor spatial audio?
Certain audio products boast the capability to "upmix" stereo or alternative non-spatial audio formats into a rendition akin to authentic spatial audio formats like Dolby Atmos.
Although this feature is less prevalent in smart TVs, virtually all Dolby Atmos-compatible AV receivers and soundbars can implement Dolby’s upmixing mechanism on any audio source, rendering it akin to spatial audio quality by utilizing all speaker components within the system.
Several non-Dolby Atmos soundbars integrate a reminiscent technology termed DTS Virtual:X, delivering parallel outcomes, whereas select brands amalgamate Dolby’s technology with their unique upmixing technology like Sony’s Immersive AE and Sennheiser’s Ambeo.
This functionality extends to specific wireless headphones and earbuds. Apple’s AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and third-gen AirPods embody this feature, alongside Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, and Ultra Open Earbuds. Similarly, options abound from Soundcore, Jabra, and 1More.
What about head tracking?
Pioneered by Apple, head tracking integrates an array of motion sensors within wireless headphones or earbuds, engendering an enriched sense of spatial audio realism.
Typically, with headphones-based spatial audio, the simulation immerses auditors within a 7.1.4-channel home theater environment. Notably, sans head tracking, any motion of the head results in the entire home theater setup adapting in tandem, instantaneously orienting itself with the individual’s facial orientation.
Conversely, with head tracking activated, the ‘room’ (and its ‘speakers’) retain a static positioning, irregardless of the head’s movements. Consequently, pivoting the head replicates an experience verbatim to being within the simulated environment. Sounds originating from the frontal auditory zone, such as dialogue or lead vocals, remain steadfast in their allocated space. Shift the head leftward, and the auditory apparatus veers rightward. Alternatively, turning right prompts the sound to shift leftward.
Whilst the impact of head tracking on the music listening experience remains under scrutiny, the cinematic experience potentially attains sublimity sans comparison, underscored by the seamless integration of head tracking.
Head tracking synergizes optimally with a binaurally rendered spatial audio format like Dolby Atmos, although it garners efficacy with upmixed audio content as well.
Spatial audio buying advice: beware the hype
The ubiquity of spatial audio as a buzzword has prompted numerous companies to christen their products with this moniker, particularly within the realm of headphones. As consumers, exercising prudent discernment is paramount to sidestepping potential pitfalls.
Firstly, recollect that all stereo headphones are competent in interacting with spatial audio music. There exists no mandate dictating that headphones must proclaim allegiance to "spatial audio," "Dolby Audio," or "Dolby Atmos." So long as spatial audio content is accessible via a streaming app on your smartphone, no additional prerequisites stand in your path.
Likewise, mere endorsement of spatial audio by a product does not guarantee an encompassing array of advanced features such as spatial audio upmixing or head tracking. Should these components hold significance for you, delving into the product specifications ensures alignment with your expectations.
A case in point, Beats may assert that their Beats Studio Buds+ and Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds espouse spatial audio support, yet unveiled within these assertions are vastly divergent experiences. While the Beats Studio Buds+ herald "immersive music surrounding you – delivering a surround sound encounter that transcends spatial dimensions," the Beats Fit Pro ensconce users within a multiplex realm highlighted by "Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking for immersive music, movies, and games. Leveraging gyroscopes and accelerometers, dynamic head tracking adapts sound akin to real-life shifts in orientation, inducing a multidimensional sensation of immersion."
Secondly, while the allure of spatial audio may prove irresistible, it may not resonate with all. Especially concerning headphones or earbuds, it is prudent to sample features like head tracking prior to investing a premium in a product merely to access this facet.
In selecting soundbars, it is vital to acknowledge substantial disparities in spatial audio performance. A $200, 2.1-channel soundbar may flaunt Dolby Atmos compatibility, albeit failing to deliver the immersive experience furnished by a $1,000, 7.1.2-channel soundbar.
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