Everything you need to know about Apple’s 3D audio tech for Apple Music and movie soundtracks
Apple spatial audio takes 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos signals and applies directional audio filters, adjusting the frequencies that each ear hears so that sounds can be placed virtually anywhere in 3D space. Sounds will appear to be coming from in front of you, from the sides, the rear and even above. The idea is to recreate the audio experience of a cinema.
Dolby Atmos for Headphones has been around for some time now, while Sony has its 360 Reality Audio format for music and has gone big on 3D audio for the PS5.
Apple’s spatial audio is unique, though, at least where movie soundtracks are concerned, in that it doesn’t only provide virtualised surround and Atmos sound, it also tracks your head movement using accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max and Beats Fit Pro in order to position the sound accurately. It even tracks the position of the iPhone or iPad that you are watching on so that sound is also placed relative to the screen.
Apple spatial audio was initially launched as part of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, and Apple released the newer Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos feature for Apple Music in June 2021 as part of the free iOS and iPadOS 14.6 software updates.
All iPhones from the 6S onwards that carry iOS 14 and later, and every iPad since, including the iPad Air 2, support spatial audio. You can find the full list of supporting iOS devices and compatible apps at whf.cm/AppleSpatialAudio. As of now, Apple Music’s spatial audio tracks are also compatible with the Sonos Era 300, Sonos Arc and Sonos Beam Gen 2.
Is it any good with movies?
Having given spatial audio a whirl with the AirPods Pro, AirPods Max and AirPods 3 during testing, we are certainly impressed.
The way the audio is tied to the screen is incredibly effective, and the extra openness and spaciousness to the sound makes for a much more cinematic and engaging experience. There appears to be a slight drop off in terms of directness and punch, but it’s not huge and, broadly speaking, spatial audio so far appears to be a very worthwhile upgrade.
To quote our AirPods Max review, “All told, the effect is superb. The whole presentation is very open, spacious and convincing, and the tracking is amazingly smooth and accurate as you move your head. Simply put, combining an iPad with a pair of AirPods Max headphones gets you the most convincing portable cinema experience that we can think of.”
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