What is Spatial Audio? A Direct Guide

You open the soundcore app or your phone's sound settings and find a switch for spatial audio, sometimes with a choice between Fixed and Head Tracking. Turn it on during a movie, and a helicopter seems to pass overhead. Play a favorite song, and the vocals might sound farther away than you remember.

This guide explains what spatial audio is and how it works, compares fixed and head-tracked modes, and shows when to turn it on or off and which devices support it.

What Does Spatial Audio Mean?

Spatial audio, a 3D audio technology, crafts an immersive soundscape and offers a digital surround sound experience where sounds emanate from all directions. Whether through headphones or speakers, spatial audio adapts the balance and frequency response between ears, creating directional depth. It enriches the auditory encounter with its innovative and adaptive approach.

Because spatial audio is described as a digital surround sound experience, it's easy to mix it up with surround sound, and with the stereo sound most songs use. The three formats differ in where the sound comes from, whether you need several speakers, and whether headphones can play them:

How Does Spatial Audio Work?

Understanding the intricacies of spatial audio requires delving into the fascinating world of human hearing. With two ears, our brains can discern the direction and source of a sound.

Spatial audio copies the way your ears judge direction to create an environment where sounds originate from different locations, mimicking the natural variations in the time it takes to reach our ears. Three technologies do most of the work, though not every product or recording uses all three.

Object-Based Audio

Formats such as Dolby Atmos combine a base channel mix with individual sounds, like a voice or a passing car, stored as objects with position data. Instead of locking those sounds to the left or right channel, the mix tells the playback device where each one should sit in 3D space, including overhead. Your phone, TV, or speaker then renders those positions for the speakers or headphones you're using.

Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF)

This advanced technology takes into account the head-related transfer function (HRTF), considering factors like head size, position, and ear anatomy to replicate the way we process sound in real-world scenarios. Before a sound reaches your eardrum, your head and outer ear change its timing and tone based on where it comes from. HRTF filters apply the same changes to the audio, so your brain hears a sound in your headphones as coming from in front, behind, or above. Ear shapes differ from person to person, so the same spatial mix can sound more convincing to some listeners than to others.

Head Tracking

Earbuds and headphones with head tracking use built-in motion sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes, to follow how your head moves. When you turn your head, the sound stays tied to your screen, the way real speakers in a room would. Without head tracking, the sound field turns with your head.

Fixed vs Head-Tracked Spatial Audio

Earbuds with head tracking can play spatial audio in two ways. Fixed mode places sound around you and moves with your head, which suits music and listening while you walk or work out. Head tracking keeps sound tied to your screen, which suits sitting still for a movie or a show.

On soundcore Liberty 4 Pro, you switch between them in the soundcore app. Select Spatial Audio, then choose Fixed mode or Head Tracking mode. You can also choose Movie or Music Mode to adjust the sense of distance for what you're playing. For more on when each mode works best, see our guide to fixed vs head-tracked spatial audio.

Native Spatial Mixes vs Spatialized Stereo

Spatial audio usually sounds most convincing when the content was mixed for it. A native mix, such as a Dolby Atmos track, places voices and instruments in 3D during mixing, so the position information is part of the track. Spatialized stereo starts from an ordinary two-channel track, and software spreads it around you. Results vary by song: some tracks open up, while others sound distant or hollow.

Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited offer Dolby Atmos tracks, and Netflix Premium members can stream spatial audio on Netflix. Spotify doesn't offer native spatial audio or Dolby Atmos music, so any spatial effect on Spotify comes from your device. Read more about Spotify and spatial audio.

Is Spatial Audio Good?

It depends on what you're playing. Spatial audio works best with content that has sound coming from many directions. Movies and TV shows gain the most, since effects move around the scene. A live concert recording puts the crowd noise behind you, and in games you can tell which direction footsteps come from. Music mixed in Dolby Atmos can sound wider too, but with ordinary stereo songs the benefit is smaller and changes from track to track, so some listeners switch it off for music.

When to Turn Spatial Audio Off

Turn spatial audio off when a stereo song sounds thin, distant, or echoey, or when you're listening for fine detail and want to hear the mix as it was made in stereo. If only the head movement bothers you, keep spatial audio on and switch to fixed mode.

Whether spatial audio is on or off, keep the volume moderate during long listening sessions. If your ears feel uncomfortable, talk to a hearing professional or contact soundcore customer support.

What Devices Support Spatial Audio?

Spatial audio isn't limited to specialized headphones. You can hear it on many everyday devices. Many gaming consoles, smartphones, and TV soundbars now support spatial audio formats such as Dolby Atmos.

Spatial audio needs two things to work: content that supports it and something to hear it on. On the content side, you need an app that offers spatial tracks or shows, playing on a phone, tablet, TV, or game console that supports the format. For listening, regular headphones are often enough. On an iPhone or iPad, for example, you can set Dolby Atmos to Always On in Settings > Apps > Music, and Apple Music will play Dolby Atmos tracks on any headphones. Head tracking is different, because it needs earbuds or headphones with built-in motion sensors. For more on non-Apple headphones, see whether spatial audio only works with AirPods.

soundcore builds spatial audio into over-ear headphones, spatial audio earbuds, and spatial audio speakers. Each type creates the 3D effect in its own way, so here is what to expect from each, with current models as examples.

Spatial Audio Headphones

Spatial audio headphones bring theater-like sound to what you are listening to and watching.

One key feature of headphones is their ability to consider the head-related transfer function. This includes factors like head size, position, and ear anatomy, so the sound can mimic real-world sound perception. Whether you're engrossed in a movie or navigating a virtual gaming world, spatial audio headphones offer dynamic and realistic audio environments, making every detail come alive.

Anker soundcore Space 2 Pro uses Fixed Spatial Audio, so vivid sound wraps you from every direction while you listen to music at a desk or on a commute. Adaptive ANC 3.0 blocks office chatter and keyboard clicks, so quieter details in a mix aren't lost, and 30 hours of playback with ANC on covers nearly four 8-hour workdays.

Spatial Audio Earbuds

Spatial audio earbuds fit the 3D effect into a pair you can carry anywhere, and many add head tracking. Liberty 5 Pro supports Dolby Atmos with head tracking, so a movie on your phone or tablet can sound like it's coming from the screen in front of you. Adaptive ANC 4.0 quiets a subway car or busy street so effects around you stay clear, and with Dolby Atmos and ANC both on, the earbuds last about 5 hours on a single charge, enough for two feature-length movies.

AeroFit 2 Pro brings spatial audio with head tracking to an open-ear design that switches to ANC form when you want quieter listening. In open-ear form, you still hear traffic and people around you on a walk or run. Adjust the ear hooks to ANC form, and the semi-in-ear seal cuts subway noise. Liberty 5 Pro and AeroFit 2 Pro both support LDAC for high-bitrate wireless audio on Android devices. LDAC is a Bluetooth codec, separate from spatial audio, and it doesn't work with iPhone.

Whether you're on a bustling commute or enjoying a serene moment, spatial audio earbuds redefine portable audio and bring a level of immersion that goes beyond traditional stereo playback.

Spatial Audio Speakers

Spatial audio speakers cater to those seeking a more encompassing setup for their home theater. From TV soundbars to full, multi-speaker configurations, these speakers deliver crisp, clean sound that can be heard from every angle. You don't need a full home theater setup to hear it, though. Some portable speakers add a driver on top that fires sound upward, giving music a sense of height in any room you carry them to.

soundcore Motion X600 is one of the best portable speakers with spatial audio. Featuring an upward-firing full-range driver, two woofers, and two tweeters, it delivers 50W of rich, room-filling sound. Its lightweight, portable design and 12-hour playtime make it perfect for any setting. Plus, with full waterproofing, you can enjoy your music worry-free, indoors or out. The 12-hour playtime is measured at 1/4 power with Bass Mode off, and the waterproof cover on the back should be securely fastened before the speaker goes in water. Spatial audio on Motion X600 doesn't require a specific music format. Press the Spatial Audio button to turn it on. Headphones simulate direction with HRTF, while Motion X600 uses a dedicated upward-firing driver on top to spread sound around the room.

To compare more options, see our guides to the best earbuds with spatial audio and the best spatial audio speakers.

How to Turn On Spatial Audio

The steps depend on the device you use:

1. iPhone or iPad with AirPods or Beats: open Control Center, touch and hold the volume control, tap Spatial Audio, then choose Off, Fixed, or Head Tracked.
2. Android phones: spatial audio settings vary by phone brand and app, so check your phone's sound settings or the audio settings in your music or video app.
3. soundcore earbuds that support spatial audio: open the soundcore app and connect your earbuds. On Liberty 4 Pro, for example, put on both earbuds, select Spatial Audio, and turn off sound effects first, because Spatial Audio can't be turned on while they're active.
4. Motion X600 speaker: press the Spatial Audio button.

If the option is missing on a Mac, our guide to spatial audio not available on Mac walks through the fixes.

Conclusion

Spatial audio places sound around you in 3D, not just to your left and right, using object-based mixes, HRTF filters, and, on some earbuds and headphones, head tracking. It adds the most to movies, shows, and games, while music depends on whether a track was mixed for it, so switch it on or off based on what you're playing. When choosing a device, pick earbuds or headphones with head tracking if you watch a lot on a phone or tablet; for music alone, fixed spatial audio usually covers what you need, and a speaker with an upward-firing driver brings the effect to a whole room.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about spatial audio.

What Does Spatial Audio Sound Like?

Spatial audio envelops you in a 360-degree soundscape, creating a dynamic, lifelike auditory experience. With regular stereo on headphones, sound seems to sit inside your head, between your ears. With spatial audio, it seems to come from the space around you instead, so voices in a show stay out in front while rain or crowd noise surrounds you.

Is Spatial Audio Like Noise Cancelling?

Spatial audio and noise cancelling, while both enhancing the auditory experience, serve distinct purposes. Spatial audio focuses on creating a multidimensional soundscape by placing audio objects in 3D space, mimicking real-world perception. It adds a layer of immersion and directionality to sound. By contrast, noise cancelling is geared towards eliminating external disturbances, providing a serene listening environment by blocking out ambient noise.

Some earbuds have both, such as Liberty 5 Pro, and you can use them at the same time.

Is Spatial Audio Just for Apple Music?

Spatial audio has broken free from brand constraints and is not confined to Apple Music. While Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited have embraced spatial audio, a diverse array of devices, including those compatible with Android, supports it. Netflix also offers spatial audio on its Premium plan.

The democratization of spatial audio extends its accessibility, making it an auditory delight for many listeners, though features like head tracking still depend on your device.

Should I Keep Spatial Audio On or Off?

Keep it on for movies, shows, and games. For music, use the signs in When to Turn Spatial Audio Off above.

Is Spatial Audio the Same as Dolby Atmos?

No. Spatial audio is the broader idea of placing sound around you in 3D. Dolby Atmos is one object-based format that delivers it, and Sony 360 Reality Audio is another. Read more in spatial audio vs Dolby Atmos.

Do I Need Special Headphones for Spatial Audio?

Not for the basic effect, since your phone or app can render spatial audio for regular stereo headphones. Head tracking is the exception, because it relies on motion sensors inside the earbuds or headphones, such as Liberty 4 Pro or AeroFit 2 Pro.