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Netflix Rolling Out Spatial Audio for All Devices in Partnership With Sennheiser

I am still disappointed by this technology or I didn’t understand it correctly. For example, I was under the impression that if a character or whatever comes approaching „you“ as the viewer from behind, that it sounds like he is really coming from behind but all it does is „mute“ the sound a little depending on how you tilt your head. Why would I even want that? It makes stuff just more quiet depending on your viewing angle 🤷🏼
 
contacos said:
I am still disappointed by this technology or I didn’t understand it correctly. For example, I was under the impression that if a character or whatever comes approaching „you“ as the viewer from behind, that it sounds like he is really coming from behind but all it does is „mute“ the sound a little depending on how you tilt your head. Why would I even want that? It makes stuff just more quiet depending on your viewing angle 🤷🏼
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This is just my experience with the AirPods Max, but I don't hear the "3D" effect. With music, I do hear a wider berth in the sound - like music is spread out across a 180-degree field instead of just shooting into your ears from two sides (stereo). And certain instruments legit sound like they're farther away, not simply "quieter" in the mix. It's hard to explain. I leave the head-tracking off, but I leave the fixed spatial audio setting on, and whatever EQ Apple applies to regular stereo tracks sounds pretty amazing.

Certain movies come across the same way.

But like you, I don't hear the "3D" effect they claim, with sound "all around you".
 
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Adoniram said:
I thought Spatial Audio fixed the audio source in real space such that turning your head made it appear to always come form the same location.

What Netflix is doing is just another digital effect to fake a true surround sound experience, yes?
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It's not rocket science. Apple didn't invent Spatial Audio, it existed way before and you could buy headphones that had the same technology (I even own one). Heck, there are even apps that you can install to get the same effect.

It's just an audio effect, the tracking is optional and I personally think it's garbage, because you don't turn you head around when watching something, why would you bother listening to the audio with your head turned to the one side and the audio coming from only that side?

In short: both Apple and Netflix are doing the same thing to audio. Apple just has actual hardware to support head tracking.
 
bbplayer5 said:
Or you know, they have employees doing both?
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He means their business model sucks, and they need competent employees focused on fixing that; as opposed to, trying to squeeze extra pennies out of subscribers, or touting technical gimmicks. There are plenty of users who can tell them why they are dissatisfied, yet their public statements indicate they don't know how to listen.
 
TehFalcon said:
stereo conversions almost universally suck.
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Almost every movie from maybe almost 20 years it's registered at least 5.1 so there's no point to "upscale" a 2.0 sound to a virtual 5.1 instead of "downscaling" it from discrete 5.1 ... Or maybe by saying "conversion" u intend "vitualize 5.1 on a 2.0 system".
 
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Now the $20/m service is worth it /s

On a serious note, there's no mention of the feature being restricted to different tiers. If they don't restrict it, that'd be nice for those who like the feature, I personally don't like spatial audio, the surround stuff may be better.
 
Ceecephous said:
Gimmicks.
+Nah, im good without PC/Woke things in my part of the world.
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Spatial Audio is politically correct and woke? I never heard that one before, pun intended.

Then again. Fox News doesn't have a single show in SA. That simply cannot be a coincidence. :)

But maybe it's just a technical issue where the SA would cut out every time Tucker Carlson speaks. That would actually be a pretty great feature.
 
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JeffPerrin said:
Having trouble finding where AMBEO will support discreet playback of surround channels on an AVR. Seems geared more towards headphone playback (and their own sound bar).

The spatial audio format wars... they have begun!
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I'm pretty sure you'd still have the 5.1 audio stream for that.
 
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Hmm. Connected an AKG BT headphone to Apple TV 4K 2 and played the latest season of Stranger Things. Saw no icons or notifications SA was activated in any menus.🤷‍♂️
 
Well, anything to provide competition to Dolby ATOM is good for all of us. Dolby requires special hardware and upgraded speakers to work. DTSx doesn't require any special hardware but isn't as popular (Note that this is somehow linked with Ambeo!). Now that Netflix went with Ambeo maybe we can see some serious competition between these guys, which is great for us pro-consumers. Note that these area "Object-based or Immersive Audio" vs "Surround Sound" which is a HUGE difference.

Right now, the minimum for "surround" setup is a 5.1, with 7.1 being worth it. To take advantage of "Immersive Audio" you have to start adding overhead speakers, ie a 7.1.2 setup is 7.1 with two speakers directly over the viewer and not uncommon to seeing 7.1.4 (think Top Gun with the jets flying directly toward and over you!) for pro-home setup. One can go up to 11.1.6 or even 11.2.6++

More information on Sennheiser Ambeo can be found here - https://en-de.sennheiser.com/ambeo

Compeition is GOOD!
 
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macsound1 said:
didn’t we all disable Dolby Pro Logic years ago when we realized fake surround wasn’t universally enjoyable!?

Let the sound designer make it how they want it to sound.
Spatial audio is the new dynamic contrast or Super S Color Framerate Magic Plus.
Just another feature you have to remember do disable.
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Disclaimer that I was never an audiophile. The only thing I went "above and beyond" for my PC was getting a subwoofer since yeah, you can definitely notice having solid bass vs. whatever satellite speakers can muster. That said, I never really paid attn to anything Dolby. I think some of the DVDs I had supported it, but it just completely went over my head. "Wild guess" is that many others are like me and didn't notice either. The fact that buying a new, prebuilt PC nowadays, the only 4 major areas that consumers have input over (processor, RAM, storage, and graphics card) and doesn't include an options for sound card seems to show that sound is even more relegated to something that a minority would notice, let alone appreciate and make good use of.
 
Realityck said:
I wish there were wireless speakers that could take advantage of spatial audio. Possibly paired to an Apple TV 4K or some Mac. Its nice to have some recent Mac have support built in, such as 24" iMac, 14"/16" MBPs, also the Studio Display, but there needs to be more products that supports spatial audio.

Per 9-5Mac this is a list of supported devices to use:

Compatible Apple devices:
  • iPhone 7 and later using iOS 15.1 or above
  • iPad Air 3rd generation and later using iPadOS 15.1 or above
  • iPad mini 5th generation and later using iPadOS 15.1 or above
  • iPad Pro 3rd generation and later using iPadOS 15.1 or above
  • Apple TV 4K and later using tvOS 15 or above
Compatible Apple headphones
  • AirPods 3rd generation
  • AirPods Pro
  • AirPods Max
  • Beats Fit Pro
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I'm curious why the OG HomePod cannot in a pair stereo pair setup?
Maybe the next firmware update possibly?
 
How about Netflix start with the simpler task of fixing the 5% or so of their catalog that right now have TOTALLY borked Atmos audio encoding?
 
SpringKid said:
I'm pretty sure you'd still have the 5.1 audio stream for that.
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Looks like that'd be via Dolby Digital, not AMBEO (Ambisonics).

AMBEO is advertised as a binaural drop-in replacement for the stereo track. ie. for headphones, sound bars, and other stereo playback devices.

Regarding Netflix:

> The company says Ambeo will deliver “an improved audio experience wherever stereo is delivered today, be it standard TV sets, stereo systems, headphones, tablets or laptops.”

Sooo... not really for surround speakers.
 
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