We tested the spatial audio, the music in 3 dimensions

Either it jumps out at you (and ears), or you risk missing out on the experience. With spatialized audio, introduced at the beginning of June last June by Apple, but already offered by Tidal and Deezer since 2019, it is a bit of a quits or double depending on the song and its hearing sensitivity. The purpose of this technology? Give the impression of immersing the person in the middle of an orchestra, a rock band or even in a recording studio.

Since June 8, 2021, Apple has gradually introduced pieces of music with spatialized audio in Dolby Atmos in the sound catalog Apple Music streaming music service (9.99 euros per month) and opened a space dedicated to spatial audio in order to be able to find all the music that benefits from this treatment. Two other music streaming platforms, Tidal and Deezer, also offer this functionality. The 360 ​​by Deezer offer is only available to Deezer HiFi subscribers (14.99 euros per month).

Space audio, how does it work?

First thing to know: no need for specific equipment. All you need is the Apple Music or Deezer application on a smartphone (iPhone or Android, your choice) and earphones or headphones, whether wired or Bluetooth, from the brand of your choice. The spatialization was done in the audio file of the song and can therefore be experienced without additional technology. However, the rendering will undoubtedly be better with a good quality headset, such as Apple’s AirPod Max or the Sony WH-1000XM4, or quality headphones (Airpods Pro, Jabra Elite 85t, Sony WF-1000XM4…). It is also possible to enjoy spatial audio at home if you have several speakers linked together and connected (several Homepods, for example).

So what exactly is this 3D audio? It’s a three-dimensional sound which seems to come from all around and above the listener.. Concretely, the noises seem to come from the left, from the right, in front or behind you depending on the moment in the song. You don’t have to be one. well-informed music lover, or even to be able to tell the difference between music in MP3, CD or uncompressed version, to understand the audio interest … on condition of being a little bit attentive but above all to launch a song that lends itself to it.

Our opinion on spatial audio

There are more and more songs that benefit from the Dolby Atmos effect and spatialization. Several thousand albums benefit from this audio processing and we find the songs of big names in “3D” version: Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Olivia Rodrigo, Amy Winehouse, The Weeknd, ABBA, Céline Dion, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga… And in French: Soprano, Stromae, Aya Nakamura , Christophe Mae … When playing a song that benefits from it, the small Dolby logo is displayed on the information linked to the song.

While it is indisputable that spatial audio works perfectly on some tracks, on others the effect is at best indistinguishable, at worst interfering with listening. It is undeniable that we feel a sense of space in the pieces, as if the music grew thick and possessed several layers. However, we are sometimes very far from a sound “in relief” and which seems to come from different places around you.

For example, on Bohemian rhapsody by Queen, Industry Baby by Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow, Here come the sun the Beatles, Jet Song from the movie West Side Story or even the whole album Studying Abroad: Extended Stay from Masego, the 3D effect is very noticeable and appreciable. The song Boom by Tiësto & Sevenn is undoubtedly one of the best examples to immediately understand the value of spatial audio. When we listen to the same titles in “classic” version just after, they seemed very “flat” to us, a little bland.

The experience was much less audible, even counterproductive, on other titles. So on Start me up of the Rolling Stones, we had the sad feeling of staying away. The 3D audio effect is noticeable on certain passages of the song but it is a bit as if we were kept apart from the group while we are only waiting for one thing: to have the feeling of being on stage, alongside Keith and Mick. Regrets also for call me by Blondie. Listening blindly to the classic version and the remastered version, it was the first that had our preference. More oomph and a more sparkling voice rocked the votes.

In short, space audio has a bright future ahead of it, but on condition that the remastering work is well done. If not, the 3D effect is more annoying than anything else … or just imperceptible. But Apple has more than one trick up its sleeve and has started rolling out on some of its equipment, like the AirPods Pro, AirPods Max or AirPods 3, the dynamic tracking of head movements. In addition to the spatial audio effect, it adds a panning sound effect, much like in the cinema. If, as you listen to a song, the sound is coming from across the way, then you will have the feeling that the audio source is “moving” when you turn your head to the right. Suddenly most of the sound is diffused towards the left ear which points towards the virtual source of the sound. It’s so screaming for realism that it’s a bit disturbing at first. But that further adds to the realism of listening.

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