Spatial Audio on Intel (MBP)

[arw]

After upgrading my 2020 Intel MacBook Pro to 12.5 I noticed a reference to head tracking and spatialised audio in the sound settings.
Any ideas if this is just improper coding and the preference pane is simply not differentiating between Intel and Apple Silicon or might there be a way to enable/use Spatial Audio after all?
Until now I thought an A10 Fusion or higher AS hardware was required.
Or is this in reference to a 3rd party Spatial Audio solution like Netflix'?

 

[BanditoB]

This message is just telling you what can happen with headphones attached via Bluetooth.

That being said, your MacBook Pro should also be capable of playing Spatial Audio through its internal speakers.

This is from Apple's Spatial Audio support page:

Choose how to listen to Dolby Atmos on your Mac​

1. Update your Mac to the latest version of macOS.
2. Open the Apple Music app.
3. In the menu bar, choose Music > Preferences.
4. Click the Playback tab.
5. Choose Automatic, Always On, or Off.

If you choose Automatic, here’s what you need​

Supported songs automatically play in Dolby Atmos when you're listening with:

• AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation), or Beats Fit Pro with Spatial Audio turned on
• AirPods (1st or 2nd generation)
• BeatsX, Beats Solo3 Wireless, Beats Studio3, Powerbeats3 Wireless, Beats Flex, Powerbeats Pro, Beats Solo Pro, or Beats Studio Buds
• The built-in speakers on a MacBook Pro (2018 model or later), MacBook Air (2018 model or later), or iMac (2021 model)

Here's the link: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212182

 

[arw]

Thanks for chiming in!

This message is just telling you what can happen with headphones attached via Bluetooth.

Which I think makes no sense as Intel Macs don't offer/support spatial audio or head tracking in the first place.

That being said, your MacBook Pro should also be capable of playing Spatial Audio through its internal speakers.

That would be just simple Atmos playback.
Spatial audio is headphones only and what I'd be interested in (virtual surround sound).

 

[BanditoB]

From what I'm reading, the message that you're seeing is related to the AirPods Max that you've synced to your Mac, Your system is capable of head tracking in Spatial Audio if the application supports it. Apple Music is an app that supports this, so it will play Spatial Audio through your AirPods Max. The Apple TV app should be the same. So, in other words, your Intel-based Mac should be able to play Spatial Audio on supported external audio devices such as AirPods. It will also play back Dolby Atmos effects through its internal speakers.

Spatial Audio is simply utilizing your head's position, via accelerometers in the audio device, to alter the Dolby Atmos rendering process in realtime to keep the sound centered upon the device playing the audio.

 

[arw]

No Intel Macs are capable of Spatial Audio, head tracking (even with Airpods Max) or Spatialize Stereo.
All the settings/toggles are missing in comparison to Apple Silicon Macs. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211775
And playback (via Airpods Max) is definitely not using any of the above features.

On my (recent enough) AppleTV, iPad and iPhone it works of course but on an Intel Mac it would be a first.

 

[Graham Caracas]

So, you just answered your own question. Well done.

 

[arw]

That is the official status quo. The notification contradicts that (or is at least inconsistent) - unusual for Apple.
I was hoping someone here might know more.
But apparently the hint is displayed inadvertently and/or I was reading too much into it.

 

[BanditoB]

You still get Dolby Atmos playback which is what gives you immersive audio. You just don't get the head tracking, which isn't that big of a deal. Does it really matter that the sound stays focused on the screen when you look away?