Netflix is rolling out support for Spatial Audio on the iPhone and the iPad, based on reports shared byMacRumorsreaders and on Reddit. A Netflix spokesperson also confirmed to MacRumors that the rollout is underway.
When playing compatible content in Netflix, Spatial Audio will be available as an option in the Control Center on iPhone and iPad for those running iOS 14 and iOS 15.
Watching Netflix content with Spatial Audio requires the AirPods Pro or the AirPods Max.
Spatial Audio may not be immediately available to all users as it is still in the process of being released. Available for music and video content, Spatial Audio is designed to create an immersive audio experience by using directional filters to make sound feel as if it's coming from multiple directions at once.
Apple says that Spatial Audio creates a movie theater-like experience that takes advantage of the gyroscope and accelerometer in the iPhone, iPad, and compatible Apple headphones.
iOS 15 users can also access a Spatialize Stereo option for content that is not compatible with Spatial Audio, something that works in the Netflix app.
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Used it this morning on latest tvOS15 beta, works great.
It’s great news, assumed Netflix weren’t going to bother based on past statements. I watch more stuff on Netflix than ATV+ & Disney+, it did irk me that spatial audio was available on the latter two but not Netflix.
Via headphones (AirPods Max) I’m not a fan of spatial audio for music. With the odd exception, it sounds more lossy than ever with an awful mix, like it’s weirdly focussed on the centre stage. I read some people evangelising how good the Beatles content was in spatial audio - I could not disagree more, IMO they’ve butchered the classics! I’ve disabled it completely for music.
Different story for video, it sounds great with AirPods Max. Notably wider sound stage and a genuine sense of surround.
On the previous tvOS beta the audio was slightly out of sync on the TV+ app. Oddly, Disney+ was fine then also started sounding out of sync. Not tried either with the new beta, hopefully this is fixed.
You‘re confusing spatial audio with Dolby Atmos. Spatial audio is a stereo upmix to simulate multi channel. They aren’t the same
This is untrue. Spatial audio takes multi-channel audio from movies and Tv shows and produces it on headphones, as well incorporates head tracking. This can include Dolby Atmos but is not limited to it. A new feature of iOS 15 is that it can virtualize multi-channel audio from stereo tracks.
For Music, spatial audio is the similar, but the music tracks that support it are ALL listed as Dolby Atmos. This does not include head tracking (iOS 15 is adding it). And again, iOS 15 introduces a feature to "Spatialize" Stereo.
