Netflix has partnered with Sennheiser to add spatial audio to the streaming service’s original programming, including the recently released Season 4 of Stranger Things.
“Spatial Audio will be available in our catalog starting today, and you can hear it for yourself by typing “Spatial Audio”into the search bar and selecting a show or movie that supports it from the search results,”Netflix said in a blog post . This feature uses Sennheiser’s Ambeo technology.
It has previously been seen in many consumer devices, from the Apple AirPods to the Sony PlayStation 5.
While surround sound through stereo headphones isn’t exactly what you’d get with a solid surround sound system in your home theater, it usually offers a noticeable improvement in immersion in situations where you don’t have a full surround setup.
At this point, spatial audio will be automatically enabled when using stereo audio in the future. However, Netflix still recommends using 5.1 surround sound or Dolby Atmos if you have true surround sound speakers.
Netflix has previously supported spatial audio on certain Apple headphones, including AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Beats Fit Pro, and third-generation AirPods, as long as the viewer is watching streaming hardware that also supports it, such as Apple TV 4K or the latest. iPhone or iPad models.
The addition of Sennheiser Ambeo support brings this feature to third party devices, albeit in a different implementation.