Apple Announces Spatial Audio Support for Five Mercedes-Benz Vehicles

[MacRumors]

Apple and Mercedes-Benz today announced that native support for Apple Music's spatial audio feature with Dolby Atmos is rolling out to select Mercedes-Benz vehicles worldwide, including the latest Mercedes-Maybach, EQS, EQS SUV, EQE, and S-Class models.

As noted by The Verge, spatial audio requires a Mercedes-Benz vehicle with a Burmester 3D or 4D sound system, which can cost thousands of dollars extra.

Apple Music has been available directly through the MBUX infotainment system in newer Mercedes-Benz vehicles since last year. Spatial audio provides an immersive surround-sound listening experience that makes it sound like the music is all around you. Spatial audio launched last year on Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, and now the feature is available natively in a car for the first time.

"Spatial Audio is revolutionizing the way artists create and fans listen to music, and it's an experience that is impossible to explain in words; you have to hear it for yourself to appreciate it," said Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Apple Music and Beats, in a press release. "Together with Mercedes-Benz, we now have even more opportunities to bring wholly immersive music to our subscribers all over the world."

Article Link: Apple Announces Spatial Audio Support for Five Mercedes-Benz Vehicles

 

[Kar98]

> impossible to explain in words

I guess? Because to me it seems, with AirPods Pro, they simulate the source of the music remaining stationary even if you turn your head, as if you were listening to fixed speakers instead of minor headphones.
Last I checked, headphones are bolted to the car and don’t move around.
Get a better sales pitch than “can’t describe it in words” LOL

 

[red elma]

"Together with Mercedes-Benz, we now have even more opportunities to bring wholly immersive music to our subscribers all over the world."

Rather...Bring it to only the elite rich subscribers all over the world....

 

[MayaUser]

When i can test this?? they said about a timeframe?
i will try tomorrow to see if i had an update

 

[Danfango]

Ah great spacial audio in an environment which needs spacial awareness. I await more upside down Mercedes' (google images it)

 

[anthogag]

Spatial audio rocks

 

[entropys]

I don’t think I would want the driver to be playing around with spatial audio while driving.

Then realises this feature is for the people in the back driven by the chauffeur.

 

[star-affinity]

Happy for you all without any noticeable hearing-loss, tinnitus and hyperacusis to get som new cool audio related stuff to enjoy.

I hope we one day find a cure to help people suffering from these quality of life affecting problems.

Apple, could you help speed up the researchers find a cure? I think you would get many new Apple Music subscribers and AirPod customers.

 

[jz0309]

Been thinking about getting a new car, so now I need to consider one of these… but where do I get that addl 100-200k from?

Cool technology I suppose, but for <0.1% of the Apple user base???

 

[mystery hill]

Mercedes-Maybach or AirPods Max?

Tough choice.

 

[burgman]

"Together with Mercedes-Benz, we now have even more opportunities to bring wholly immersive music to our subscribers all over the world."

Rather...Bring it to only the elite rich subscribers all over the world....

Never been called an elite rich subscriber before, gives me me a warm tingly feeling for all the hard work I put in.

 

[lostfezil]

With drivers killing greater and greater numbers of people every year, I'd prefer it if Spatial Audio was used with microphones outside the car to give the driver a greater awareness of what's around them.

 

[guzhogi]

I wonder if spatial audio will ever come to aftermarket receivers? Even then, I don't know if I have any music/audio that'll take advantage of it. Too bad I probably wouldn't even notice anyways. Not that I need more distractions while I drive.

 

[fel10]

I’m not the audience for this

😆laughs in poor

 

[BobSc]

Rather...Bring it to only the elite rich subscribers all over the world....

I'm curious as to why you have such animosity to MB owners and people who have a good job and some money. This kind of comment is so absurd and very telling.

 

[BobSc]

With drivers killing greater and greater numbers of people every year, I'd prefer it if Spatial Audio was used with microphones outside the car to give the driver a greater awareness of what's around them.

And how exactly will placing microphones outside the car do this? This is absurd.

 

[JosephAW]

So when you turn the car the audio keeps going the other way. Sort of like the Doppler effect.

 

[appleguy123]

Happy for you all without any noticeable hearing-loss, tinnitus and hyperacusis to get som new cool audio related stuff to enjoy.

I hope we one day find a cure to help people suffering from these quality of life affecting problems.

Apple, could you help speed up the researchers find a cure? I think you would get many new Apple Music subscribers and AirPod customers.

Apple actually has done a lot of work on this for the hearing impaired. Everyone who has AirPods should adjust them to their audiogram, but if you have hearing loss the difference could be profound.

https://www.reddit.com/r/airpods/comments/xrih04

 

[MALmen]

Tesla next?

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Is the C class customer not premium enough for a feature $100 headphones provide?

Someone make a list of all the different apple features available on cars. I have to get a BMW or Genesis if I want car key? But an EQS class or S class for spatial audio? And then which of these cars will provide next gen CarPlay?

Woof.

 

[star-affinity]

Apple actually has done a lot of work on this for the hearing impaired. Everyone who has AirPods should adjust them to their audiogram, but if you have hearing loss the difference could be profound.

https://www.reddit.com/r/airpods/comments/xrih04

Yes, I'm aware of that and it's cool and all. I know it makes a difference for many people. But still would be even better to not have to do that. And the tinnitus is still there (if you have it) and could mess things up depending on its severity of course – like an unwanted sound in the mix. And some have hyperacusis so much that music can't be enjoyed on the same level as before or at all. Many are also afraid of using headphones

If you want you can read the story from this guy named Scott:

Scott's Story - How Tinnitus Impacts Me

Scott's Story - How Tinnitus Impacts Me

lp.constantcontactpages.com

I have a constant high pitch kind of electrical sizzle/hiss in my ear that isn't too loud but more or less constantly noticeable because of it's high pitch that gives this kind of ”laser through the head” feeling. It is more or less constant torture. Piercing.

Wish the inner ear hair-cells and synapses in humans would regenerate, but it doesn't happen in mammals. There is potential however – the stem cell like cells that sits next to the hair cell in the inner ear could do once more what they did when we were in the womb. It happens in crocodiles if their hair-cells gets damaged! And in birds. Not in humans… And eventually we would all benefit from curing hearing-loss as we all (to a varying degree of course) will get problems as we age.

But tinnitus needs a fix too. It is pure torture (depending in how sever it is perceived of course – a mild variant is quite common but usually doesn't bother people during the day).

Sorry for being long-winded, but my life just isn't the same since I got this ear problem one and a half years ago now.

 

[appleguy123]

Yes, I'm aware of that and it's cool and all. I know it makes a difference for many people. But still would be even better to not have to do that. And the tinnitus is still there (if you have it) and could mess things up depending on its severity of course – like an unwanted sound in the mix. And some have hyperacusis so much that music can't be enjoyed on the same level as before or at all. Many are also afraid of using headphones

There can be so many symptoms that comes come from hearing damage and hearing-loss.
I have a constant high pitch kind of electrical sizzle/hiss in my ear that isn't too loud but more or less constantly noticeable because of it's high pitch that gives this kind of ”laser through the head” feeling. It is more or less constant torture. Piercing.

Wish the inner ear hair-cells and synapses in humans would regenerate, but it doesn't happen in mammals. There is potential however – the stem cell like cells that sits next to the hair cell in the inner ear could do once more what they did when we were in the womb. It happens in crocodiles if their hair-cells gets damaged! And in birds. Not in humans… And eventually we would all benefit from curing hearing-loss as we all (to a varying degree of course) will get problems as we age.

But tinnitus needs a fix too. It is pure torture (depending in how sever it is perceived of course – a mild variant is quite common but usually doesn't bother people during the day).

Sorry for being long winded, but my life just isn't the same since I got this ear problem one and a half years ago now.

Did you see this advancement this week? The article makes it seem like it’s a big deal but this isn’t my field. https://news.ohsu.edu/2022/10/12/ohsu-scientists-discover-mechanism-of-hearing

 

[WolfSnap]

I've been eyeballing an EQS for a while.. One more reason to get it, I suppose.

 

[azpekt]

Spatial Audio is revolutionizing the way artists create and fans listen to music

No, it is not. It's just a stupid stereo base enhancer, wrapped in shiny iPaper and sold as something on par with mono vs stereo.

 

[Apple_Gabe]

Really cool feature, would like to see more car manufacturers implement Spatial Audio.