All the Apps That Support Apple's Spatial Audio Feature

[Enduin]

You are listening to it wrong.

There is actually a HUGE difference in the sound, providing you have the gear and are watching a streaming service that supports both Dolby 5.1 (and above) AND spatial audio. These services include Apple TV+, Hulu, Disney+, Vudu, and Peacock/Paramount+ when they launch. Spatial audio is not currently available on Netflix or Amazon Prime.

You also will need an IOS device - iPhone or iPad. Current Apple TVs and Macs do not yet have the feature, although it's very likely they will in next generation software and/or hardware.

The difference is profound. Without it, you are listening to movie soundtracks in stereo. With it, you are listening to Dolby Atmos! Watch Avengers Endgame or an episode of Mandalorian. Spatial audio turns your headphones into a theater style listening environment. Watch/listen to some content for about half an hour and then switch off the spatial audio. Yuck!

I appreciate your response, but may I suggest that before saying that I've been doing it wrong you actually read my post? I tested spatial audio with Air Pods Pro with the latest firmware, I used an iPhone X (which supports spatial audio) with the latest iOS, and I watched scenes of Greyhound on Apple TV +. I'm not sure what I did wrong? The difference was not profound and in fact was limited to the effect when moving my head. There was no surround sound.

From reading what people are posting what I'm getting is that some people say spatial audio is revolutionary and amazing, and others say that it's really just the effect of the sound coming from the device (which is what I'm experiencing). This makes me wonder if the people who say it's amazing are amazed by the sound coming from the device effect and there is in fact no surround effect, or if the people who say it's amazing are watching different content than the ones who, like me, don't hear any surround effect. Which is why I was asking for specifically what people are using/watchign when they experience surround sound NOT the head tracking/sound coming from the device thing.

 

[Enduin]

The effect will heavily depend on the production. Marvel action scenes are a great source, for sure! (Also see John Wick 1!)

Of course I have to plug my Surround Speaker Check app. It was originally designed for testing home theater speakers via the Apple TV, but turns out it makes for a pretty good demonstration of how Apple's spatial audio translates 5.1 audio for AirPods Pro & AirPods Max!

Thank you! I downloaded your app and I'm gonna test it shortly. Also thank you for the suggestion about John Wick and Marvel stuff. I don't have Disney+ so I might have to find a way around it but will try to check those as well! If there is anything else that you feel does a good job at showcasing the surround effect with spacial audio it's greatly appreciated!

 

[boss.king]

I still don't understand this tech. Why wouldn't you want this to work like normal surround sound instead of virtual directional audio so it sounds like it's coming from your iPhone instead?

Same here. It just seems like a lot of complication to artificially worsen my listening experience.

 

[Seanm87]

Spatial audio is cool and all but I don't really use it and probably won’t much.

I much prefer to watch movies and tv on my big tv with sound bar.

 

[dandrewk]

.

 

[minivini]

Spatial audio is cool and all but I really use it and probably won’t much.

I much prefer to watch movies and tv on my big tv with sound bar.

I agree. This has much potential, but it isn’t being utilized to anywhere near its potential. Until this feature works with Apple TV, it’s just not that interesting to me either.

 

[dandrewk]

Spotify will probably never adopt this.

No doubt, but then there is no real need. Surround sound is best for video. Years ago I had a setup that supported Dolby 5.1 audio (DVD-A). It was ok with live, concert music. But for everything else, stereo was so much more enjoyable.

 

[dandrewk]

I own a pair of Bose NC700 headphone, and those have some sort of "spatial / 3D" audio functionality. (You can download some example Bose-specific apps for this from the App Store.)

I wonder if Apple will enable headphones other than their brand to support their spatial audio operating system features?

Bose digitally manipulates the sound to produce these effects. It is something they are known for. Some like it, some hate it. I have the NC700 but never use it. But with my Bose desktop speakers, I like how it enhances the stereo feel.

Spatial audio is different. It uses existing Dolby surround embedded in the soundtrack, coupled with some "magical" hardware inside the AirPods, to simulate the sound you would hear in a home theater setup. It's more than just where your head is pointing. For me, it's a major improvement when watching movies on headphones/buds.

 

[dandrewk]

I appreciate your response, but may I suggest that before saying that I've been doing it wrong you actually read my post? I tested spatial audio with Air Pods Pro with the latest firmware, I used an iPhone X (which supports spatial audio) with the latest iOS, and I watched scenes of Greyhound on Apple TV +. I'm not sure what I did wrong? The difference was not profound and in fact was limited to the effect when moving my head. There was no surround sound.

From reading what people are posting what I'm getting is that some people say spatial audio is revolutionary and amazing, and others say that it's really just the effect of the sound coming from the device (which is what I'm experiencing). This makes me wonder if the people who say it's amazing are amazed by the sound coming from the device effect and there is in fact no surround effect, or if the people who say it's amazing are watching different content than the ones who, like me, don't hear any surround effect. Which is why I was asking for specifically what people are using/watchign when they experience surround sound NOT the head tracking/sound coming from the device thing.

I did read your message. Nowhere did you mention what gear you are using. However, you did include it in other posts in this thread.

I'm not sure if you know this, but it's real easy and fast to toggle spatial audio on/off. When you connect AirPods to your iPhone or iPad, your drop down control center's volume slider should now have an AirPod icon. If you press and hold that slider, you will see a popup that includes on/off for spatial audio. It makes it easy to A/B the sound so you can hear the difference(s), if any.

 

[dandrewk]

I agree. This has much potential, but it isn’t being utilized to anywhere near its potential. Until this feature works with Apple TV, it’s just not that interesting to me either.

Agree totally. While there are no guarantees, I would be shocked if the new generations of Apple TV and Macs don't have spatial audio. Apple thrives with cross support for its family of hardware.

As to software, there are little or no competitive reasons why Netflix, etc., don't currently support spatial audio. In fact, the opposite is true, as supporting spatial audio improves their apps. Streaming services are in hot competition with one another, so improved features gives them an edge.

I suspect the reasons are the difficulty of implementing spatial audio, as referenced in a post above. Either that, or Apple is requiring some sort of licensing fee, in which case we may never see these apps supporting it.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I find spatial audio very cool. An immersive experience, like watch a play.

We need games that support spatial audio for iOS iPods

 

[darkslide29]

I can't get Plex to work with spatial audio.
I enabled and disabled old player support with no change.

Both on iPad Pro 2021 and iPhone 11 Pro Max

Make sure you've enabled Settings > Advanced > Enable Old Video Player. It will only work on files that have a surround soundtrack. For example, I tried with an old tv show with stereo, and spatial audio does not work. However, when I tried a movie that I knew had a surround track, it worked perfectly.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Apple Music music videos support Spatial Audio!

Just found this yesterday. Weird Al won a Grammy for “Best Surround Sound Album” for Straight Outta Lynwood and you can hear it in the videos

We need games that support spatial audio for iOS iPods

Unfortunately, I think it’s a playback only thing, not interactive for now. I wonder if the latency would ever be good enough for wireless?

 

[Nozgog]

Could you please point out a song in tidal tanta supports it? Can’t find it working in any 360RA or Atmos Song I tested.

Same here. Couldn't get any TIDAL song to work.

 

[bbplayer5]

I own a pair of Bose NC700 headphone, and those have some sort of "spatial / 3D" audio functionality. (You can download some example Bose-specific apps for this from the App Store.)

I wonder if Apple will enable headphones other than their brand to support their spatial audio operating system features?

Lol not a chance.

 

[mchessler]

Let us know if we're missing any apps that have spatial audio support and we'll add them to the list.

Tidal doesn't support Spatial Audio on Apple devices. I think the misconception comes from the fact that they support Dolby Atmos on tvOS. However, there is no support at this time for iOS spatial audio.

 

[bbplayer5]

Tidal doesn't support Spatial Audio on Apple devices. I think the misconception comes from the fact that they support Dolby Atmos on tvOS. However, there is no support at this time for iOS spatial audio.

Love getting Airpod Max and not getting atmos or spatial audio from an Apple TV to the headset. What a swing and a miss with the new Apple TV.

 

[yegon]

Love getting Airpod Max and not getting atmos or spatial audio from an Apple TV to the headset. What a swing and a miss with the new Apple TV.

Yep, it’s mystifying. Very disappointing, I assumed it was a given.

Heard two possibilities that I’m skeptical of.

a) It can be added via software. Hmm, find it unlikely, and wouldn’t they have it ready for launch as a major selling point to pimp AirPods Max?

and

b) It’s not possible due to the requirement of location/head tracking (which I assume would need hardware, negating the possibility of a software update suggested above). Not sure about this theory either. Probably talking out of my hat here, excuse my ignorance but couldn’t the surround audio be delivered minus that part of it ie no head tracking? Impressive though it is, the way it follows you is the least thing about the feature that interests me, it’s the much greater sense of surround and sound stage that I like, but is it the case you cannot have one without the other? In comparison, Dolby Atmos/DTS to headphones on my Xbox Series X in supported games doesn’t come close to being the same experience as spatial audio with Airpods Max/iPad/iPhone I’ve found.

Again, nobody shoot me, not sure about the requirements or specifics. I’d welcome info for anyone expert in the matter.

If it does come along, I’ll buy the ATV instantly, otherwise I’ll stick with the old 4K. The remote doesn’t seem to bother me like it does other people, helped somewhat by putting it in a condom (rubber case).

 

[Unregistered 4U]

a) It can be added via software. Hmm, find it unlikely, and wouldn’t they have it ready for launch as a major selling point to pimp AirPods Max?

Not to an A8 chip which is what the old AppleTV had. The hardware requirement was an A10. But, that the AppleTV has an A12, though, it probably still won’t make a difference.

 

[yegon]

Not to an A8 chip which is what the old AppleTV had. The hardware requirement was an A10. But, that the AppleTV has an A12, though, it probably still won’t make a difference.

I meant as an update to the new ATV obviously, if I wasn’t clear.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I meant as an update to the new ATV obviously, if I wasn’t clear.

Ah, for the newly just released one. Understood. I have to admit, I don’t think I’ve seen anything that indicates HOW Spatial Audio is implemented. OR if there is someone that has “figured it out” maybe I’m just not aware of the link. We know some form of “Spatial Audio” is supposed to be available on the iMac and iPad Pro and I’m guessing there’s no way those would reasonably be able to generate sounds from behind you. So, if they have something to work for those, they’d likely also have something that works for a pair of properly placed HomePods. And, if it works with HomePods, then of course, why not AirPods Max?

 

[dandrewk]

I am an eternal optimist. Apple doesn't mention all the features of their new gear, and often surprises occur when the product is released. So wait until the unit ships and/or we get the first hands on reviews.

It's a long shot, especially since no mention is made of Spatial Audio in the new ATV's specs.

 

[dandrewk]

b) It’s not possible due to the requirement of location/head tracking (which I assume would need hardware, negating the possibility of a software update suggested above). Not sure about this theory either. Probably talking out of my hat here, excuse my ignorance but couldn’t the surround audio be delivered minus that part of it ie no head tracking? Impressive though it is, the way it follows you is the least thing about the feature that interests me, it’s the much greater sense of surround and sound stage that I like, but is it the case you cannot have one without the other? In comparison, Dolby Atmos/DTS to headphones on my Xbox Series X in supported games doesn’t come close to being the same experience as spatial audio with Airpods Max/iPad/iPhone I’ve found.

This argument is negated by the fact that the new iMacs have Spatial Audio support. My guess is this might not include head tracking, but I've always viewed that as a parlor trick.

It's very perplexing. I'm hoping someone from Apple will comment on the reasons and perhaps enlighten us as to future plans.

 

[DaveHughes]

Omg, you have to jump through so many hoops to be able to comment here. Sheesh. I’m hoping spatial audio at least comes to the new tvos. Wouldn’t that be a shame. All of my gadgets support it except for tvos. Let’s hope that happens.

 

[NastyMatt]

I think SA is amazing, so impressive the way IEM can produce that immersion. I have Beats Pro and my wife has APP - I was mildly jealous when I tried them and heard the effect.

The only downsides are I use Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Sky TV - none of them support it!!