Key Takeaways
- Spatial audio adds depth to the sound, but it’s a luxury, not a necessity, especially for gym earbuds.
- Different headphones support different spatial formats, such as Atmos, Apple Spatial Audio, and DTS Headphone:X.
- Spatial audio may not work on older devices, and compatibility may vary depending on the headphones you use.
Headphones have come a long way in the past decade. Not only do we listen wirelessly most of the time, but we often do so through earbuds that pack a huge amount of technology into a small space. We now have earbuds with heart rate sensors, and there are rumors that future AirPods may even have infrared cameras.
Spatial audio is one of the hottest buzzwords around these days when companies are selling headphones. But what exactly is spatial audio, and is it actually a must-have feature when buying new headphones?
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What is spatial audio?
More dimensions
LG
Spatial audio is effectively a rebranding of surround sound, and for good reason: Whereas earlier formats (such as Dolby Surround) could only position sound in the horizontal plane around you, modern formats add a vertical axis to the mix. Today’s preeminent spatial format, Dolby Atmos, was originally designed for cinemas and high-end home installations, and so also supports ceiling-mounted speakers if you have the budget.
Even though Atmos seems like a universal language, different headphones are compatible with different formats.
Because headphones only have two physical channels, spatial effects on headphones have to be simulated by tricking you into using the way your brain processes sound. Usually, the song or video you’re listening to has to be specially encoded for these effects to work, but it’s also possible to “force” a stereo mix into a spatial mix using software tricks. It usually doesn’t sound as good as the real thing.
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Complicating the issue is a fragmented world of formats: Besides Atmos, there are other standards like Apple Spatial Audio, DTS Headphone:X, Sony 360 Reality Audio, and more. While Atmos seems like a common language, different headphones are compatible with different formats.
Modern listening often solves the problem of cost
Although it’s not explicitly stated, it’s possible that only headphones sold in the past few years have this feature, and some companies may include it in their more expensive products.
For example, even if you’re streaming Apple Music from an iPhone 15 Pro Max, you won’t be able to hear Apple Spatial Audio when using EarPods: EarPods don’t have the necessary decoding and processing hardware, and in fact, some older smartphones and tablets may not be able to process the spatial technology.
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Do you want spatial audio on your headphones?
Additional bonuses, if any
Amazon
Unless you’re a professional audio or video producer, spatial audio is purely a luxury. In theory, it could give you an edge in some PC and console games, especially first-person shooters, but it’s not enough to ruin the experience without it. Similarly, some songs sound better in spatial format, but good music usually remains good in either stereo or mono. Services like Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited only offer a limited selection of spatial audio tracks anyway.
If you’re buying earphones for the gym, you should ignore spatial audio completely.
The biggest reason to want spatial support is for movies and TV. A pair of quality Atmos headphones will make you feel more immersive, even if you’re watching something on your iPad during a long flight. At home, you might prefer headphones over a speaker system because you can turn up the volume without disturbing anyone. Plus, it’s probably cheaper to buy a pair of Sony headphones than a full 5.1 or 7.1 channel setup.
If you’re looking for earphones for the gym, ignore spatial audio entirely. In that situation, the technology can be distracting and can take away the power of a song that was originally recorded in stereo. Weak drums and guitars won’t inspire you to sprint or deadlift.
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