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What is Spatial Audio?
by Tyler Luke
(Updated )
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Audio technology has evolved in such drastic ways over the years, it seems like there is no way it could possibly evolve more. From the first tape recordings to lossless listening, there have been a host of different ways to consume music and audio. So what's this "spatial audio" everyone keeps talking about?
If you like to keep up with audio technology, then you've definitely heard the term spatial audio before. But do you know what it actually means? Is it something you buy or is it just a new way of recording? We're here to give you the full rundown on spatial audio technology, and how to determine if its something you want to look out for in the future.
A SHORT DEFINITION
To start our explanation, let's give a brief definition as to what spatial audio is. According to Dolby Laboratories, spatial can be defined as follows:
Spatial audio is an immersive 3D sound technology that creates the sensation of sound coming from various directions, including above, below, and around the listener, to replicate a realistic sound environment
At its core, spatial audio refers to technologies that create a sense of three-dimensional sound. Instead of hearing everything from left and right channels only (stereo), spatial audio places sounds all around you. This includes above, below, and left to right: everything to mimic a realistic environment. Spatial audio aims to make your listening more immersive above all else. It is meant to make you feel like you are in the middle of your movie, TV show, or game as opposed to just listening to it on a pair of stereo speakers.
HOW IT WORKS
When you look at 3D audio, there are a couple factors to consider when you think of how it comes to be:
- How is it recorded and stored?
- How do we listen to it?
- How does it change from one device to another?
We look at the way sound is recorded and stored to be placed in a 3D space. Many modern spatial audio formats, like Dolby Atmos, are object-based, meaning sounds are stored as objects that can be placed anywhere in a 3D environment. You can more accurate place objects in that space than you can trying to fit specific frequencies to zones in the field. Creatives like to use this type of format because of the precise control you get over specific instruments and sounds. In movies, you'll hear thunder crashing from above or the wind gusting from left to right. A bush might rustle behind you and you'll feel completely inside the media.
Additionally, we think of how to listen to all these 3D experiences once everything is said and done. Most of the time, surround sound systems will be equipped with multiple speakers (7, 5, or stereo) that you can listen to those objects on. Your ear will be able to pick up sound from those exact sources. When we get to headphones, this becomes a bit trickier. Headphones use signal processing and psychoacoustics to trick your brain into thinking there are more sources than just the two drivers on the headphones.
Where we get more intense into this is with the addition of head-tracking technology. Some headphones -- notably, the Apple AirPods Max or the Sony WH-1000XM5 -- integrate head-tracking technology to lock those sounds into place as opposed to moving with you. As you move your head, the dialogue, instrument, or sound will stay exactly where it is, just as it would in real life.
HEADPHONES WITH SPATIAL AUDIO COMPATIBILITY
APPLE, DOLBY, ETC.
In the conversation of 3D audio, Dolby Atmos is a name that immediately comes up. What is the difference between spatial audio and Dolby Atmos anyways? Is there a difference?
The main thing to understand is that spatial audio is a broader umbrella term. Dolby Atmos, the most commonly confused term, is the leading format for spatial audio formats. You may see spatial audio come in another form that's branded as the following:
- Dolby Atmos
- Sony 360 Reality Audio
- DTS:X
- Apple Spatial Audio
What makes Apple's Spatial Audio different from the others is the use of a Dolby-like technology with a head-tracking technology that is specific engineered towards Apple AirPods. This is a feature that Apple went to make to build on Dolby Atmos mixes, trying their take on a branded spatial audio format. It wasn't necessarily competition, but it was a way to make their technology the best of the best. While at first this upgraded spatial audio technology was exclusive to Apple, other companies have tried their hand at making the same head-tracking technology and giving it a new life.
Despite there being a lot of different formats of spatial audio, they don't really compete against each other too much. A great thing about all these different formats is their different use cases. Sony 360 Reality Audio is meant for music enjoyment, while Dolby Atmos is more meant for theater and cinematic experiences.
WHERE DO YOU USE SPATIAL AUDIO?
Spatial audio gets used in our everyday lives more than you think. You'll find Spatial Audio being used in some of the following platforms that you likely use everyday:
- Apple Music
- Tidal
- Amazon Music
- Apple TV
- Disney+
- Netflix
- Gaming devices (Playstation, Xbox, etc)
These streaming services will show you select tracks that are specially mixed to be placed in a spatial audio setting. More commonly, TV shows and movies on Disney+ and Apple TV are equipped with spatial audio because they are meant to be played in a theater environment. Using the right pair of headphones can help you imitate what that sound is like and how you can recreate it wherever you choose to listen.
The thing you need to look out for with spatial audio is the way it is recorded. Finding your favorite song with a spatial audio mix is exciting at first glance, but in practice, perhaps not as much. Putting a stereo mix into a 3D space can make the track sound incredibly artificial and less natural than it did before. Artists knowing they will mix for an immersive or spatial experience often take extra measures to ensure their work is accurately recreated in an immersive environment.
SPATIAL AUDIO IN THE FUTURE
It's easy to think that Spatial Audio will just be implemented in our music and movies and think that'll be the extent of it. However, this technology has so many future use cases that people are only just beginning to tap into! In the gaming sphere, you can really immerse yourself in your gameplay with a VR/AR headset and headphones that track your movement and place sound accordingly. Audio-based video games rely on sonic cues to continue gameplay, which makes the experience more immersive and realistic.
Seeing where spatial audio will go is a fun game to play, and it's also important to look at the physical technology that will evolve with it. Be it virtual reality goggles, headphones, speakers systems and listening spaces, there are hardware limitations that we've yet to break down o really unlock to the true potential of what spatial audio can do.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Spatial audio isn’t a brand-new invention: it builds on older surround sound systems and even binaural recording techniques. However, it represents the latest step toward making audio more immersive and flexible. Whether you love it may depend on the content you listen to and how it’s mixed.
The takeaway: spatial audio is less about replacing stereo and more about adding another dimension to your listening. Done well, it can feel like being in the middle of a performance or a movie scene. Done poorly, it can feel like a gimmick.
Spatial audio creates a 3D sound field, placing audio above, below, and around you.
Dolby Atmos is the leading format, with others like Sony 360 Reality Audio and DTS:X.
Apple’s Spatial Audio adds head-tracking for AirPods and integrates Atmos mixes.
Streaming platforms like Apple Music, Tidal, Disney+, and Netflix feature spatial mixes.
Native mixes sound best — stereo upmixes can feel artificial.
Immersive listening is growing, from movies and music to gaming and VR.
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