Spatial audio
An immersive audio format that places sound objects in a 3D space around the listener. Includes Dolby Atmos, Apple Spatial Audio, and Sony 360 Reality Audio.
Spatial audio uses object-based audio encoding — instead of pre-mixed channels, each sound has positional metadata. The playback device renders the scene for headphones or speakers.
Formats
- Dolby Atmos — most widely supported on TV, soundbars, and music streaming.
- Apple Spatial Audio — Atmos-based but with head-tracking on AirPods.
- Sony 360 Reality Audio — competing object-based format, mostly music.
Head tracking
On supported headphones (AirPods Pro/Max, certain Sony, certain JBL), accelerometers track head position so the sound stage "stays put" as you turn your head — meaningfully more cinematic on movies.
In practice
Most music labeled "Spatial Audio" is upmixed from stereo. Native Atmos mixes are excellent on a few thousand albums. For movies on streaming services, the Atmos mix is now standard on TV+, Disney+, Netflix top tier, and Apple TV+.