You can now enjoy an immersive audio experience when watching certain shows or movies on Netflix, thanks to a recent global rollout of its new spatial audio feature. According to the streaming service, the system uses the AMBEO technology by Sennheiser, which is also featured on the brand’s soundbar products which bear the same name.
For the uninitiated, spatial audio is designed to provide an immersive, three-dimensional surround sound experience. Unlike traditional home theatre setups, this technology is supported by specialised devices – including from the likes of soundbars and, most commonly, personal audio gear such as earbuds and headphones.
Netflix says you aren’t required to own specialised equipment in order to enjoy the new feature, as it claims that Sennheiser’s AMBEO tech is able to provide spatial audio via any 2-channel stereo hardware. The streaming service adds that the enhancement is automatically enabled when watching a compatible TV show, unless it is detected that you’re using a sound system that supports 5.1 surround sound or Dolby Atmos.
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If you’re tuning in to the service via Apple TV, iPhone or iPad, Netflix recommends that you set the streaming quality to High or Auto and enable spatial audio via Settings in order to enjoy the feature. According to its support page, compatible Apple products include iPhone 7 and later with iOS 15.1 or above; iPad models starting from Air 3rd gen, mini 5th gen and Pro 3rd along with iPadOS 15.1 or above; and lastly Apple TV 4K and later with tvOS 15 or above. For compatible audio devices, Netflix’s list includes Airpods 3rd generation, Airpods Pro and Max, as well as Beats Fit Bro.
As mentioned earlier, only a handful of shows and movies on the platform come with spatial audio support. These currently include the fourth season of Stranger Things, all seasons of The Witcher, Locke & Key and Castlevania, as well as The Adam Project, Red Notice, and several other titles. Of course, be sure to have your Netflix app updated to the latest version if you wish to enjoy the new feature.
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