What’s All the Fuss About?
Apple’s sound technology is hear, there and everywhere
Apple’s Spatial Audio
What is it?
New technology from Apple that enhances the “multidimensional sound and clarity” of audio so that it appears to be coming from all around you. The system adjusts the frequencies each ear hears so that sounds can move virtually anywhere in 3D space. The result is that sounds seem to come from all around you – in front, the sides and even above. See the main image for Apple’s rather sinister attempt at visualising this.
So is it like being in the cinema?
Yes. It supports the same Dolby Atmos technology that produces surroundsound in cinemas but recreates it for use with headphones. It arrived in September 2020 as part of IOS (for iphones) and ipados 14, but only for films and TV. Then in June, Apple added the technology to some of the content on its Apple Music subscription service (£9.99 a month) as part of the 14.6 update. Oliver Schusser, vice president of Apple Music and Beats, said it feels “like magic” (www.snipca. com/39239). So you’ll probably like it. Not a lot, but you’ll like it.
Is the technology brand new?
No. Dolby launched ‘Atmos for Headphones’ in 2017, and it works on Windows PCS, Android smartphones and Xbox games consoles. Sony, meanwhile, has a 360 Reality Audio format for music, and delivers 3D audio in some Playstation 4 games through its
Platinum Wireless Headset.
So how is Apple’s technology different?
Apple’s system uses accelerometers and gyroscopes in headphones to judge where your head is, then ‘positions’ the sound for the best effect. It also tracks how you hold your iphone or ipad to ensure the audio is consistent. If, for example, you turn your head to the right so it’s further away from your device, the sound will be more prominent in your left ear because it’s closer to the screen. The effect is more noticeable when watching films and TV, because the audio has to synchronise with what appears on the screen. It makes following dialogue much easier.
Do I need to use Apple headphones?
For video, yes - you’ll need a pair of Airpods Pro or Airpods Max ( www.apple. com/airpods), which are the only headphones that can track your head position. They’re not cheap, though: the Pro costs £249, while the Max is an eye-watering £549. For music, however, you can use any headphones, not just
Apple’s. You may need to fiddle with your iphone or ipad settings, though, as Apple explains at www.snipca.com/39238. The same page also lists the iphones and ipads that have compatible built-in speakers, so you might not even need headphones. You can get Spatial Audio on your Android device, too, as long as it supports Dolby Atmos and you have the latest version of the Apple Music app.
Is it available on all music, TV and film?
No, and that’s the biggest downside. Apple says only “thousands” of tracks are currently available in Spatial Audio (listen to some at www.snipca.com/39247), despite Apple Music having 75 million tracks. The problem is that songs (old and new) need to be specially remixed to play in Spatial Audio. Not all Tv-streaming services support it, either, although it works in Apple TV+, Disney+ and Plex, while after months of rumours, Netflix has confirmed it’s getting the technology too. But despite that, it’s unlikely to catch on if you have to remortgage your house to afford a pair of compatible headphones.