Netflix Turns on Spatial Audio for Select TV Shows, Movies

Netflix this week began rolling out spatial audio across its catalog of streamed shows—giving everyone the perfect excuse to watch Stranger Things 4 again.

The technology, dubbed AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio, was developed in partnership with audio specialist Sennheiser and provides a "movie theater experience" via directional audio filters, giving listeners the impression of sound from three dimensions.

"Netflix spatial audio helps to translate the cinematic experience of immersive audio to any stereo, so the work creators do to bring you into the story happens no matter what device you use to watch Netflix," according to a company press release.

Most streamers access content with standard stereo equipment, usually via a mobile device, connected headphones, or a simple home speaker setup; if we want movie theater-quality sound, we go to the movie theater. AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio aims to change that.

As its name suggests, the feature is a two-channel rendering of an immersive mix that operates as a drop-in replacement for stereo, delivering an improved audio experience for TV sets, stereo systems, headphones, tablets, or laptops. Netflix is the first streaming service to take advantage of Sennheiser's tech, which has been turned on by default for select titles.

"We feel AMBEO Spatial Audio offers a meaningful improvement" for members, Netflix sound technology manager Scott Kramer said in a statement. "Crucially, this process preserves the original sound mix and respects creative intent with a remarkably clean sound."

Type "spatial audio" into the Netflix search bar to find TV shows and movies that currently support the upgrade, including Stranger Things, The Witcher, The Adam Project, Raising Dion, Lock & Key, Castlevania, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and the Fear Street trilogy.

Netflix introduced spatial audio for iOS last year, just before the release of Apple's Spatialize Stereo feature, which simulates the spatial audio experience for content not optimized for Dolby Atmos.

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