We’ve already covered how you can turn on Spatial Audio on AirPods Pro for an immersive listening experience. Now we will show you how to enable Spatial Audio (3D Audio in Microsoft language) on your Windows 11 computer. As part of our effort to provide you with additional information on improving the audio experience on your PC, we will guide you on how to enable ‘Advanced Audio’ in Windows 11.
Enable Spatial Audio and Enhance Audio in Windows 11 (2021)
Spatial Audio offers a more immersive audio experience across your devices, while Enhance Audio lets you configure specific audio settings for enhanced performance. Netflix recently rolled out Spatial Audio support for iPhone and iPad, and Apple launched Apple Music worldwide earlier this year. Without further ado, let’s see how you can enable Spatial Audio and Audio Enhancement on your Windows 11 computer.
What is Spatial Audio in Windows 11?
spatial sound a “Advanced immersive audio experience in three-dimensional virtual space where sounds can flow around you, including overhead.” This feature lets you experience more immersive audio with the flip of a switch. According to Microsoft, this “It provides an enhanced atmosphere that traditional surround sound formats cannot provide.”
With spatial audio, movies and games sound better on your Windows 11 PC, especially those that offer native support for this feature. However, native support provides the highest levels of audio immersion and location accuracy, while technology can also amplify traditional surround sound To provide an overall better audio experience.
What Spatial Audio Formats Does Windows 11 Support?
Windows supports multiple spatial audio formats, including: Windows Sonic for Headphones, Dolby Atmos for Headphones, Dolby Atmos for home theater, DTS:X and DTS Headphone:X for Home Theater. Windows Sonic is Microsoft’s in-house technology built into Windows 11 and supported in all headsets and headsets. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support need to be purchased separately.
You must purchase a license for Dolby Atmos using the Dolby Access app (free) and DTS Sound Unbound app (free), respectively. You will get a 30-day free trial and then you will have to pay $14.99 for a Dolby Atmos license to continue enjoying a spatial audio experience.
note: For more detailed information on the different surround sound formats, check out our detailed article on DTS:X vs Dolby Atmos. To learn more about DTS:X, check out our in-depth article. What is DTS:X surround sound.
How to Enable Spatial Audio in Windows 11
Known as Spatial Sound 3D Audio In Windows 11 you can enable this in two different ways – from Settings and Control Panel. We will show you both methods in this article.
Method 1: Via Windows Settings
- Open Settings Using the Windows 11 keyboard shortcut Windows key + I. Now navigate to: System -> Sound.
- Then, under “Output,” click the card that says “.Choose where to play the sound“. You will now see a drop-down menu with a list of all connected audio output devices. Select the one you want to enable the Spatial Audio experience. Then press the arrow (>) next to it.
- Now, scroll down to the “Type” drop-down menu It’s under the “Spatial Audio” section. Finally, “Windows Sonic for Headphones” as your spatial audio option.
note: As mentioned earlier, Windows Sonic for Headphones is the only spatial audio option available by default on Windows 11 computers. For other options, you’ll need to download or purchase third-party apps from the Microsoft Store..
Method 2: From Control Panel
- First, open the Control Panel on your Windows 11 computer. To do this, search for ‘control’ (without the quotes) in the Windows search bar and click “Control Panel” from the results.
- In the Control Panel, make sure you use the ” option.Icons” view (small or big). Next, “Sound“.
- In the next window, make sure you are in the “ position.Playback” tab. Now find your audio output device, right click on it and ‘Features‘ from the drop-down menu.
- In the next popup, “Spatial Sound” tab. Next, click the drop-down menu under “Spatial audio format” and select “Windows Sonic for Headphones” or any other spatial audio app you may have purchased online. Finally, “OK“To save your preference.
What is ‘Enhance Sound’ in Windows 11?
Enhance Sound in Windows 11 is a collection of configurable settings that help you adjust the overall sound output of your headset or headset on your PC to your liking. Using this feature, you can normalize the audio output to prevent ads from playing louder than actual content. This feature also allows you to: use stereo speakers for a surround sound experiencetogether increase bass output from the speakers. So, let’s see how you can improve your audio experience in Windows 11 with just a few clicks.
How to Enable Sound Enhancement in Windows 11
Enabling the ‘Enhance Sound’ feature in Windows 11 is very easy because you just have to go to the sound settings on your computer. Here’s how to do it:
- go Settings -> System -> Sound, as described earlier in the article. Next, go to the “Advanced” section and click “All audio devices“.
- Now under Output devices, select the output device for which you want to enable the enhanced audio experience. For me, this would be my headset.
- Then, under the “Output settings” of your headset, click “Enhance the sound” switch. Microsoft says it should “automatically improve sound quality”. To further fine-tune and adjust your sound preferences, click “Developed” choice.
- Now, select the audio enhancements according to your preference in the popup window. Lastly, make sure you click.To applySave the changes before closing the ” window. This much! Now you know how to improve the sound experience in Windows 11.
note: Loudness Equalization, which Microsoft says “uses human hearing to reduce perceived differences in sound,” makes the most noticeable difference, especially if you stream those top Netflix movies and TV shows on your computer. Reduces increased ad volume, thus preventing them from playing louder than actual content.
Enhance Your Audio Experience on Your Windows 11 PC!
We hope that enabling Spatial Audio and changing Audio Enhancement settings will help improve the audio experience on your Windows 11 PC. Now that you know how to tune the sound experience on your PC the way you want, learn how to improve your Windows laptop’s battery life. The linked article refers to Windows 10, but most of the methods also work perfectly on Windows 11. Also, if you upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11, in Windows 11 you can monitor the screen in time and customize the Start Menu and Taskbar.
