Samsung's Upcoming Galaxy Buds Pro Copy Apple's 'Spatial Audio' Feature

[MacRumors]

Samsung is gearing up to launch new Galaxy Buds Pro earbuds, which are likely set to debut in January alongside the new Galaxy S21 smartphones. The new headphones have a feature that's quite similar to the Spatial Audio function available in the AirPods Max and AirPods Pro.

Though the earbuds aren't coming out for a few weeks, we already know what to expect because Samsung accidentally leaked them in the Galaxy Wearable app, and 9to5Google shared details on the feature set.

The earbuds look similar to the original Galaxy Buds and have much of the same feature set, but there's a new "3D audio for videos" function that sounds a lot like the Spatial Audio option that Apple brought to the AirPods Pro and then the AirPods Max.

Spatial Audio is designed to provide a theater-like surround sound listening experience on iPhone and iPad using dynamic head tracking capabilities that make it seem like sound is coming from all around you.

Samsung's "3d audio for videos" feature describes a similar experience. "Hear vivid, immersive sound coming from all directions so you feel like you're right in the scene when you watch videos," reads a toggle for the feature. "To get the best experience, keep your earbuds near your phone."

The Galaxy Buds Pro also feature an equalizer with multiple presets, customizable touch controls, and a Find My Earbuds option. A new Voice Detect feature listens for when a person is speaking and lowers the volume of media, and there's an Ambient Sound option for noise cancellation that lets in outside sound much like Transparency mode on the AirPods Pro.

We'll see the official unveiling of the Galaxy Buds Pro in January, and while pricing has not yet been announced, they'll likely be priced similarly to the AirPods Pro. 9to5Google speculates that they could be priced at around $200, $50 more expensive than the Galaxy Buds+.

Article Link: Samsung's Upcoming Galaxy Buds Pro Copy Apple's 'Spatial Audio' Feature

 

[J___o___h___n]

They’ve got no shame

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Copy cat Samsung SMH!!!!

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I’m surprised Samsung didn’t link the fact that these are Galaxy earbuds with space-ial audio

 

[entropys]

No doubt they will also do it with Samsung TVs, which would be a highly desirable feature And something AirPods Pro and airpods max don’t do.

also: they are actually going to add Pro on the end? Lol.

 

[laszlo182]

voice detect sounds cool.

 

[LegCortex]

I think “copy” might be a strong word in this instance. Samsung is shameless, but virtual positional three-dimensional audio has been around for a while.

QSound - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ikramerica]

I think “copy” might be a strong word in this instance. Samsung is shameless, but virtual positional three-dimensional audio has been around for a while.

QSound - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

My JVC mini system had this feature 30 years ago, though not in a headphone. But it’s been around forever in some form.

The only innovation is that the headphone knows which direction the display is so you can turn your head and the sound stays coming from the display. Which is cool?

 

[zeezun]

oh apple innovated spatial audio. I never knew

 

[KidAKidB]

They’ve got no shame

Oh come on, so because Apple put ANC in the AirPods Pro should we not say that they copied other headphones that previously had it? Get a grip.

 

[iPrabhu]

Anyone surprised?

 

[macsplusmacs]

LOLZ. it will be an inferior imitation.

 

[WiseAJ]

I’ll wait for 4D audio

 

[dannys1]

iPhone and iPad using dynamic head tracking capabilities that make it seem like sound is coming from all around you.

Well no, it doesn't at all. It anchors the centre channel of a surround mix to the device you're looking at and the rest is just mixed into normal stereo. It can't "make it sound it's coming from all around you" it just pans the center channel around the stereo field depending on where your head is looking in comparison to the device.

It's pretty simple really.

 

[Powerguru]

Now only if they match the price of the AirPods Max.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Oh come on, so because Apple put ANC in the AirPods Pro should we not say that they copied other headphones that previously had it? Get a grip.

Galaxy Buds Pro.

 

[AngerDanger]

Some are correctly pointing out that Apple didn't invent this feature.

The issue isn't who invented it; it's that Samsung is introducing this feature soon after Apple.

If this tech is really that old, doesn't that only make it funnier that Samsung waited until Apple implemented it before doing it themselves?

 

[LegCortex]

Some are correctly pointing out that Apple didn't invent this feature.

The issue isn't who invented it; it's that Samsung is introducing this feature soon after Apple.

If this tech is really that old, doesn't that only make it funnier that Samsung waited until Apple implemented it before doing it themselves?

Samsung has a habit of letting Apple be the proverbial canary in the coal mine.

 

[confess_jason]

Samsung would have implemented this feature without Apple having done it first. Samsung isn't sitting around waiting to see what its competitors do first.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

I think “copy” might be a strong word in this instance. Samsung is shameless, but virtual positional three-dimensional audio has been around for a while.

Yes it has.

With Microsoft, both Dolby and DTS offer their versions of spatial audio. It's Dolby Atmos for the former (via the Dolby Access app) and DTS Headphone:X for the latter (via the DTS Sound Unbound app).

Note that both deliver spatial audio not just on Windows PCs but also Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One.

Both apps are free downloads but the spatial audio feature is an in-app purchase. About every other month, one of these two apps will offer a short trial period (a few days typically).

In this regard, Windows is ahead of macOS in offering spatial audio on their computing platforms.

Certain PC hardware components will unlock the spatial audio decoder of one of these two offerings. I believe some of the ASUS ROG Strix motherboards will unlock the DTS Headphone:X spatial audio feature.

Whether or not Samsung spatial audio implementation is as good as Apple's iOS/AirPods Pro/Max implementation remains to be seen.

 

[JGIGS]

Oh come on, so because Apple put ANC in the AirPods Pro should we not say that they copied other headphones that previously had it? Get a grip.

Agreed.

I don't remember MacRumors posting an article titled Apple copies on screen widgets for mobile OS from Android OS either? Nothing more annoying in tech these days then oh they copied they copied. Who cares, you're a consumer you get the benefit of more product choices this way.

Horribly titled article and it should be changed.

 

[NMBob]

I’ll wait for 4D audio

That would work for most music these days. You'd be able to have listened to it without actually wasting the time.

 

[jz0309]

Samsung implementing a feature after Apple had it first? I'm shocked ... /s

 

[mach]

Whie I do think Samsung was "inspired" by Apple to add this,

I'm not sure Apple gets to claim Spatial Audio as its invention, isn't it the same 3D Audio tech that Atmos etc headphones, and the PS5 have? (PS5's might actually be more advanced IIRC)

 

[ryanflanders256]

Apple comes out with something new, others copy it. What else is new?