Netflix’s spatial audio arrives on over 700 content. Spatial audio on Netflix, not to be confused with Apple’s audio feature, has been added to over 700 titles for Premium subscribers.
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Netflix is rolling out spatial audio for hundreds of titles for users listening on devices with only two speakers, such as TVs, laptops and headphones. This feature does not apply to users with advanced home theater setups that support Dolby 5.1 or Dolby Atmos.
The “immersive cinematic sound experience” created by this spatial audio feature is expected to attract more Premium subscribers. The feature creates a wider soundstage on stereo speaker setups to emulate surround sound.
Netflix has partnered with Sennheiser to convert surround sound mixes into spatial audio files that can be played through stereo speakers or headphones, which should be more immersive than standard stereo files. The feature originally launched in July 2022 for Stranger Things, but is now available for over 700 titles.
This feature should not be confused with Apple’s Spatial Audio. Apple’s version is still a sound enhancement feature, but it actively processes incoming audio to create a 3D environment no matter how many speakers you’re using.
Netflix already supports Apple’s spatial audio on any device with this feature. Basically, this is any modern iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV with OS version 15.1 or later installed.
Apple’s spatial audio uses information from Dolby Atmos, Dolby Surround, or stereo tracks to position audio around the user to the best of its ability. Atmos files provide most of the data for this emulation and ensure maximum fidelity. The technology also takes advantage of elements such as gyroscopes to allow the user to move and make the most of the function.
Netflix, however, provides the user with a different audio encoding and calls it spatial audio. This new encoding doesn’t rely on the output device or any algorithm to produce a larger soundstage. Instead, the audio file provides different manufacturing instructions to the speakers to spread out the sound more.
This is why the YouTube video provided by Netflix can demonstrate the feature. This isn’t a proprietary technology found in the Netflix app, it’s just an updated set of audio files that gets added to titles on the platform.
To get Netflix’s spatial audio feature, users need to activate the Premium subscription for €17.99 per month.
