What Does Spatial Audio Do?
Spatial audio is another term for surround sound. Traditionally, surround sound has referred to audio systems with multiple speakers placed around a central area in order to deliver sound from several angles at once. For example, a Dolby surround sound system can have eight or more speakers carefully placed to deliver an immersive listening experience for compatible audiovisual content. With spatial audio, different sounds can appear to come from different directions and heights in relationship to the listener. This can help place the listener right in the action when watching a movie or show, and it can even enhance the listening experience when listening to music. Regular stereo music doesn’t necessarily take advantage of spatial audio, but tracks specifically designed for the technology provide a completely different listening experience.
What Is Apple Spatial Audio?
Apple Spatial Audio is a virtualized surround sound format developed by Apple which requires Apple hardware. It’s designed to add height and rear audio effects to compatible audiovisual content, including Apple Music, FaceTime, and other apps that support Dolby Atmos, or just 5.1 or 7.1 channel audio in general. Apple Spatial Audio provides a similar experience to traditional surround sound systems, except you use compatible earbuds or headphones instead of an array of speakers. Other surround sound headphones have also achieved similar effects.
How Do You Use Spatial Audio With AirPods Pro and AirPods Max?
To use Apple Spatial Audio, you need to have a compatible iPhone or iPad. It works with iPhone 7 and newer, the 3rd generation iPad Pro and newer, the 3rd generation iPad Air and newer, the 6th generation iPad and newer, and the 5th generation iPad Mini and newer. You also need to have iOS or iPadOS 14 or newer installed, and you need to use an app that provides audiovisual content compatible with Apple Spatial Audio. Here’s how to use Spatial Audio using AirPods Pro or AirPods Max:
Does Spatial Audio Drain Battery?
Spatial Audio requires both your iPhone or iPad and your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max to do extra work, so there is an impact on the battery. The phone or iPad has to do extra processing, and the earbuds or headphones send accelerometer data back to the phone which also takes extra power. If you want to get the most battery life out of your devices and won’t be able to charge them up if they die, then you should consider turning Spatial Audio off, along with other power-draining features like noise cancellation, until you’re in a situation where charging things up is no longer an issue.
