All about Spatial Sound » Easy & Quick Guide
af
Nikolaj Nielsen
You may have seen on your Netflix subscription that they offer you Dolby Atmos on some films and you have wondered or that Apple has spatial sound in their AirPods Max with Apple Music.
I have researched what spatial sound is and what it means for you as a consumer, using it to watch films, TV or listen to music and much more.
What is spatial sound? Spatial sound is a new form of sound technology used to immerse you in a universe. The 3D technology from spatial sound gives you new depths, distinct frequencies just for you and the room you are in, as well as sound in 360 degrees that imitates reality.
If you want to know the essential things that spatial sound offers and what it can mean for you, read on.
Index
This is how spatial sound works
Spatial sound means that the sound is relayed from several places around you, which are often called channels.
It can be a more immersive and immersive experience than normal audio channels, as you get the experience around you from 360 degrees.
The technology here gives you a 3D experience where depth, height and distance play a factor you can hear.
It gives you an experience which is free from physical restrictions with lack of sound channels, poor setup of sound systems also gives it a dynamic flow of sound which is accurate.
Spatial sound achieves this by utilizing the room, the ear and the sound from the device to fine-tune sound frequencies to simulate realistic scenarios.
It can be a loud explosion from a film that uses heavy and powerful sounds or waves from the sea that slowly and gently rush up towards the coast.
In many ways you can imagine that spatial sound embraces your head in layers of sound and therefore gives you a feeling of being present in what you are listening to no matter if it is happening above, below, right, left , in front or behind you.
Here is an illustration showing the effect of spatial sound:
How do you use spatial sound?
To use spatial sound, you must be sure that you are using the right equipment that is compatible with the technology.
Therefore read the product descriptions of the goods you have or want to buy clearly.
Here is a list of different things/places you can use spatial sound:
- Virtual Reality - also called VR - has become more modernized within the spatial sound universe, especially with Meta and their introduction of Meta Quest.
- Augmented reality - also called AR - is another modernization within the spatial sound universe, here it is more accessible, as phones now have AR functionality.
- li>Gaming - VR is also in the hands of gamers, in addition they also have access to powerful sound cards that can offer enormous sound experiences with the right games.
- Streaming< /strong> (movies and music) - Services such as Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple Music and Disney+ make use of spatial sound.
- Home cinema - Entire ecosystems can now purchased there will transform your home into a spatial sound cinema.
- Headphones - Many headphones now offer spatial sound in one form or another, Apple in particular leading the way with their collaboration with Dolby.< /li>
- Speakers - Sony has, among other things, launched unique spatial sound speakers that belong in a home cinema.
- TV - Samsung, LG and Sony has a large selection of different TV models that are Dolby Atmos certified.
- Soundbar - They can often help support the TV to create an atmosphere that brings spatial sound to a new stage.
The above often needs to be supported by the specific service you use to get the full experience. Therefore, look carefully at whether the things you want to use it for also support spatial sound services, as it often does not work on its own.
Is spatial sound the same as Dolby Atmos?
Spatial sound is not quite the same as Dolby Atmos.
There is spatial sound in Dolby Atmos, but there is not always Dolby Atmos in spatial sound.
Dolby Atmos is a service and a technology that Dolby has developed in connection with the use of spatial sound.
It is their own development of spatial sound and only works in specific Dolby products coupled with a service that supports their unique sound system.
Among other things, with the help of Dolby Atmos, Apple uses their own spatial sound.
What is the latest spatial sound technology?
Overall, Dolby with their Dolby Atmos and Dolby Audio is the leader in spatial sound technology.
Most manufacturers such as Jabra, Apple and Sony therefore use their basic data sets and systems from Dolby and develop further on them.
Therefore, I would recommend that you follow the technological trends on the market, especially with Sony and their 360 Reality Audio system, as they innovatively develop Dolby Atmos with spatial sound mapping.
What the latest and greatest technology is is constantly changing, so always remember to check if your devices can be updated to newer versions, depending on how far the development has progressed.
Differences between stereo, surround sound and spatial sound
Here is a table I made that shows you the differences between stereo, surround sound and spatial sound.
| Specifications | Stereo | Surround Sound | Spatial Sound |
| Sound channels | 2 audio channels | often 5-7 sound channels < /td> | 3d effect sound channels vary< br> |
| Typical use | Frequently used in music and TV | Frequently used at home and the cinema | Frequently used in modern movies and streaming |
| Sound experience | Gives direction and spatiality | Provides a 360 degree sound experience | Provides an immersive 3D experience |
| Price | Can be cheaper than alternatives | The price may increase depending on how many audio channels are used | Is typically the most expensive solution if there is also surround sound |
Stereo uses two channels respectively left and right, these channels are used to create a sense of direction and spatiality and are frequently used in both music and television.
Surround sound is, as the English name means, a surround of sound. Several channels, often 5-7, are used here to create a 360 degree sensation of sound. Surround sound is often used in the cinema and in one's own home.
Spatial sound is a further development of the basic principles that surround sound offers, namely immersion in the core of sounds.
Spatial audio channels develop on the surround sound concept with several channels, but here spatial audio provides a realistic 3D effect that several sound channels alone cannot.
Spatial sound can have the same amount of sound channels as stereo or surround sound, but it is the technology that differentiates here, as the sound comes dynamically.
You can imagine layers of sound being recorded on top of each other, breaking the barrier between the ear and the limitation of how many sound channels are available.
Therefore, spatial sound can often become more expensive and require products that are specialized for it, and not all types of content are targeted at spatial sound.
The future of spatial sound
The future looks very bright for spatial sound, there are constant technological advances in the market.
High-resolution audio formats, algorithm-based process control of sound and increasing upgrades of hardware enable spatial audio to develop into a more complete product.
Spatial audio still has plenty of scope for development, especially when it comes to personal sound profiles and individual needs for how you want it to sound.
There is also a trend in the market to have increasing demand for whole audio ecosystems that offer the full audio experience that is often only found in cinemas.
The trend can be seen especially from streaming services that compete to offer subscriptions with spatial audio even at a slightly more expensive price like Netflix.
Frequently asked questions about spatial sound
Is spatial sound the same as spatial sound?
Spatial sound and spatial sound mean the same thing. Spatial sound has become a popular name to use in Denmark for many international companies. Groups such as Sonos, Netflix and Apple all use the terminology, but it means the same as spatial sound and spatial audio.
Can I download spatial sound?
It is possible to download spatial sound as a program. For example, THX offers their 7.1 surround sound with "THX Spatial Audio" in collaboration with the gaming brand Razer. There are also other programs out there that offer spatial sound as a program for your PC. I would like to draw your attention to looking at the specifications of the various programs, as it does not always work with all types of headphones.
Can I use surround sound together with spatial sound?
Surround sound and spatial sound can be used together. Spatial sound is often used as a supporting 3D sound effect for really good surround sound speakers or headphones. However, surround sound is not a requirement to use spatial audio, but I would always recommend that you use them both if you can, as it gives a better experience.
You can read more about surround sound in our blog post here: Everything about Surround Sound
