Netflix asserts that this new option, powered by “AMBEO technology” from Sennheiser, should just kick in on a compatible device. However, there are several caveats to this general rule, one of which is that it may be coountermanded by speakers rated for surround sound instead. In addition, some TVs might default to 5.1 instead, and may or may not enable the new feature while streaming when “stereo audio” is enabled in their settings. Then again, it may be far easier to access on devices such as the AirPods Pro, 3 or Max – or, indeed, on any Mac, iPhone or Apple TV.
Sennheiser and Netflix have joined to offer spatial audio to Netflix’s platform, according to the announcement. This new functionality does, however, assume that each user’s device is capable of supporting it. As a result, it should activate immediately on many Apple devices, however some devices from other brands might need some tweaking. The average cost of a Netflix subscription has recently been rising in many areas, but the service does make an effort to justify this by supporting features like 4K streaming, Dolby Atmos, and HDR. The latest addition to this category is spatial audio.
Highlights
Spatial audio via Netflix is set to be available on any title, except for those with official Dolby Atmos or 5.1 instead. If there are any restrictions on its availability based on a user’s tier or plan, the company has yet to mention them. I became a professional writer and editor shortly after graduation. My degrees are in biomedical sciences; however, they led to some experience in the biotech area, which convinced me of its potential to revolutionize our health, environment and lives in general. This developed into an all-consuming interest in more aspects of tech over time: I can never write enough on the latest electronics, gadgets and innovations. My other interests include imaging, astronomy, and streaming all the things. Oh, and coffee.
