Audible original audiobooks and podcasts get Dolby Atmos sound

Audible offers its first Dolby Atmos compatible content. Audiobooks, podcasts and more should be more immersive than ever.

Audible approached Dolby Laboratories to include spatial audio in their catalogue. With Dolby Atmos on Audible, over 40 titles, including The Little Mermaid, The Sandman Act III and the Maejor Frequency music podcast, are eligible for this pleasant ear treatment. The move is another step in pushing narrative audio content for Dolby as Wondery (also owned by Amazon) started offering podcasts in Dolby Atmos last year.

Audible releases its first Dolby Atmos compatible content

This new collection spans a wide range of genres, including multi-channel productions, soundscapes, live performances and podcasts. “The Dolby Atmos Collection celebrates and expands the possibilities of audio storytelling by showcasing the extraordinary talent of countless actors, writers, directors, sound engineers and other creators,” the company said in a press statement.

Dolby Atmos may seem like overkill for audiobooks, but like Dolby for movies, this technology can make audio storytelling much more immersive with good audio hardware. “With this ability to create more layers to sound and control the directionality of different sound elements, creators can engage listeners in deeper, richer, and more realistic spatial sound experiences that immerse them in every story,” she wrote. The examples of original content the companies highlight in the release are more dramatic pieces than just readings, so you won’t find spatial sound for any particular author’s latest bestseller.

Audiobooks, podcasts and more should be more immersive than ever

For example, The Little Mermaid features “a magical underwater soundscape and original music”that are most likely greatly enhanced by spatial sound. “Audio placement can now also be used as a new element to engage audiences in their favorite podcasts, audio commentary and stories with Dolby Atmos,” said Dolby Vice President John Cowling.

Dolby Atmos-enabled titles are available to Audible subscribers through the Audible app on Dolby Atmos-enabled iOS and Android devices. For a complete list of titles, simply search for “Dolby Atmos”on the Audible website or search for the Dolby Atmos logo on the Audible app.

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