Netflix recently made headlines for more than just its plummeting subscriber base or more positive developments like the success of Stranger Things season 4: the addition of Spatial Audio to select shows on its platform.
Like Spatial Audio tracks on streaming services like Apple Music, Netflix Spatial Audio aims to provide a realistic sense of immersion, which can bring scenes to life when you watch shows and movies with headphones like AirPods Pro or other models. But Spatial Audio support on Netflix isn't limited to headphones; you can experiment with desktop computer speakers, or even the old speakers built into your laptop or TV.
The service's full library of Spatial Audio offerings can be browsed by typing "spatial audio" into the search bar on Netflix's main screen, and it includes shows like Stranger Things, The Witcher, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and more aun.
Netflix and Sennheiser AMBEO 2 channels
Netflix delivers its Spatial Audio offerings using AMBEO 2-Channel, a technology licensed from Sennheiser that enables sound mixers to adapt Dolby Atmos soundtracks for Spatial Audio presentation on stereo speakers.
AMBEO 2-channel processing provides full control over the spatial effect applied to each channel of the soundtrack, allowing dialogue and musical cues to remain intact. And since the sound mixer can monitor and compare the new version to the standard Dolby Atmos version, it can be fine-tuned with "proprietary granular spatialization control, ranging from full AMBEO effect to standard stereo mix," according to the description of Sennheiser's Technology. .
Comparison of ears with Dolby Atmos
Taking the opportunity to join the rest of the world in watching Stranger Things season 4, I watched episode 1 on my laptop and started watching with the Audioengine A2+ speakers, the top pick in our guide to the best computer speakers, handling the chores. from Netflix Spatial Audio.
Sound was surprisingly powerful for such small desktop speakers, with a fair amount of surround coming from the sides and headroom reaching well above my computer screen. Awesome!
Transferring the test to my Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 home theater system, which consists of Polk Audio Reserve speakers and a Marantz SR6014 A/V receiver, I saw the same scenes from Stranger Things in the Netflix app on my Apple TV 4K . To make a comparison between the Spatial Audio version and the standard Dolby Atmos version, I manually switched between a 2-channel and a 5.1.2-channel speaker setup in the Marantz receiver's setup menu.
Once again, I was impressed with the size and realism of the spatial audio release coming from just the 2 front speakers. There was no loss of bass or dialog clarity, and the sense of height dimension was strong. When I switched to the Atmos presentation with the overhead and surround sound speakers on, I felt a much better sense of immersion, but the Netflix version held up surprisingly well by comparison.
As a reality check, I watched some scenes from Dunkirk, a movie on Netflix with a normal 5.1 soundtrack and no spatial audio. Surround sound delivered through my 5.1.2-channel speaker setup was as good as I'd hoped. But when listening to just the 2 front speakers, the presentation was relatively flat and lacked the immersive qualities I'd experienced with Netflix Spatial Audio.
Is Netflix Spatial Audio the Real Deal?
Surprisingly yes. While Netflix primarily targets its spatial audio offerings at headphone users watching on a laptop or tablet, it works just fine on desktop computer speakers as well as regular hi-fi speakers.
Of course, if you have a Dolby Atmos system, you'll want to set things up to get the full experience and not the mixed one with Spatial Audio added. But it's good to know that Netflix Spatial Audio can stand on its own in high-end speakers, and the company isn't promoting the format as some silly gimmick.