Is Spatial Stereo worse?

[Parowdy]

Just a quick check. Is Spatialized Stereo worse on the latest firmware (8A356/8) for you too?
Just happened to not feel quite right on my AirPods Pro 2 and usually I love spatial stereo on these, but I actually found turning it off sounds more stereo.
Listening to „Working For the Weekend“ was drastically different and for once sounded better with normal stereo, it’s also so mute and dull with spatial stereo, while sounding more clear, full and roomy with normal stereo.
„King of my Castle“ for example sounds more wide with Spatial Stereo on, but also a little less clear. „Gold“ by Spandau Ballet for example is a lot quieter and flat, I had to double check I didn’t have mono audio turned on.
Another song with a huge difference is „In the Air Tonight“. The intro sounds almost mono with Spatial Stereo, while sounding proper with normal stereo. Something is off.

Does anybody else notice this?

 

[Parowdy]

Im talking about fixed Spatial Audio btw. Never used head tracking.
I have a second pair at home I will test later to see if they sound the same.
All I know right now is that for the rest of the day I keep spatial stereo turned off, which I usually tread because usually it sounds superior to anything else, even my studio headphones, IMO.

 

[Pug72]

I find it varies too much between different tracks on different albums so leave it on stereo.

 

[Parowdy]

I find it varies too much between different tracks on different albums so leave it on stereo.

Yeah I’ve noticed that too with my limited listening today. Some parts of some tracks sound a little more spatial, but overall turning it off sounds better at the moment than turning it on. I’ve listened to 10 classic songs from the 80‘s/90‘s I know in and out and they sound so different at the moment.

 

[Ralfi]

I’m not convinced either. Most music sounds better but I find podcasts are too ‘manipulated’.