Does Spotify Support Spatial Audio and How to Use It

Spatial audio is a top-notch technology in the sound world. It makes a 3D effect that puts you in the middle of the sound like you’re there in person. Apple Music and Tidal have already started using this cool feature, and many people wonder if they can enjoy it on Spotify, the biggest music streaming service.

In this article, we’ll talk about whether Spotify offers spatial audio, how you can use it if it’s available, and if there are any special things you need to have or do to use spatial audio on Spotify.

What Is Spatial Audio?

Before we explore if Spotify offers spatial audio, let’s first get what spatial audio means. Also called 3D or immersive sound, spatial audio gives you a feeling of 3D space when you hear it.

In simple terms, when you hear a usual sound, it plays different sounds in your left and right ear. But spatial audio adds more feel. It gives sound from all directions, even from top and bottom. This gives a 3D effect where you can sense where it’s coming from and how far it is. To make it clear, imagine a movie scene with a helicopter.

The site also provides switch buttons to shift from stereo and surround sound and experience the difference yourself.

In a usual sound setting, you’ll hear the helicopter sound more in one ear, showing where it’s coming from. But the same scene with spatial audio will feel like a helicopter coming from far away, passing right over you, and then moving away. This adds depth and gives a full-on experience.

In the same way, when a song is made for spatial audio, the music can be all around you. You’ll feel like you’re in the center of the band. The singing can be in front of you, while the guitar may come from the left side, the drums from the right, and the backup singing from behind you.

It’s a great experience, especially if you’re used to a stereo mix of songs. So, a spatial audio mix can help you hear things you’ve never heard before.

You can enjoy the surround sound experience here: Dolby Atmos Music demo.

Does Spotify Have Spatial Audio?

As of now, Spotify doesn’t have spatial audio. So, you cannot enjoy that all-around 3D sound from Spotify songs. The songs still play in the old-school stereo way. It’s still fun to listen to but doesn’t have the 3D feel and depth that spatial audio brings.

Now, that doesn’t mean Spotify is not all about good sound. If you’re using Spotify for free, you can enjoy songs at a quality of up to 160kbps. And if you’re a Premium user, you can go as high as 320kbps, all thanks to Ogg Vorbis codec. It’s not 3D sound, but it’s still top-notch.

It’s important to mention a development that hints at the possibility of Spotify providing spatial audio or a similar feature in the future. In February 2021, Spotify announced a new feature during their Stream On event. They introduced Spotify HiFi, a new level of subscription promising “CD-quality, lossless audio.” It aims to offer listeners a more immersive and rich experience. It might not be the same as spatial audio, but it does show Spotify’s commitment to delivering high-quality sound.

Remember that other big names in music streaming, like Apple Music and Tidal, already offer spatial audio. It wouldn’t be surprising if Spotify, a big player in the game, follows suit.

Songs on Spotify that Come with Spatial Audio

Spotify users have created several playlists containing songs to exploit the spatial audio feature. Although it’s not as rich an experience as you’ll find on Apple Music or Tidal, it certainly gives a flavor of what spatial audio can offer.

Here are some playlists you can check out:

• Made for Spatial Audio – Curated by Daniel Bobeică: This playlist includes 116 songs intended to give listeners a spatial audio experience. Daniel Bobeică used TuneMyMusic to transfer these fantastic playlists to Spotify. Regarding the spatial audio experience, these tracks deliver a more dynamic listening session across the entire Spotify platform.
• Spatial Audio – The 3D Film Music Collection: These tracks are composed and mixed with multiple layers of sound, making them ideal for enjoying spatial audio.
• Hits in Spatial Audio – Curated by four-caddit!: Here, popular tracks are mixed to deliver a spatial audio experience. They’re the hits you know and love but with a whole new feel.
• Jazz in Spatial Audio – Curated by four-caddit!: With its complex instrumentals, jazz music suits well with spatial audio. So you can listen to this genre in a whole new way.

It is important to note that most of these songs were not natively available on Spotify. As indicated, third-party users used services like TuneMyMusic to move spatial audio playlists to Spotify. To enjoy this feature, you will still need to connect your iOS device to your AirPods or AirPods Pro and enable the “Spatialise Stereo Head Tracked” option in the control center.

How to Use Spatial Audio on Spotify?

If you can access iOS 15 and AirPods Pro or AirPods, you can add a splash of spatial audio to your Spotify listening experience using the “Spatialise Stereo” feature. Although this isn’t the full Spatial Audio & Dolby Atmos experience you might find on Apple Music, it offers an exciting opportunity to taste some of the best sound features.

Here’s how to use spatial audio on Spotify:

Step 1: Pair Your AirPods with Your Phone via Bluetooth.

Step 2: Swipe down from the top right corner of your phone’s screen to access the control bar and customize your audio settings.

Step 3: Press and hold the volume icon in the control center to see various audio options.

Step 4: Choose “Spatialise Stereo Head Tracked” to turn on spatial audio on Spotify.

There you go! You can now enjoy a more immersive sound experience on Spotify. It’s important to consider that the effectiveness of this feature will vary depending on the mix of the song and your personal preferences.

Other Applications That Are Compatible With Spatial Audio

Apple Music is the clear winner when it comes to enjoying spatial audio. However, it’s not alone. There are other platforms that let you experience surround sound and extend beyond just music:

• Netflix
• Air Video HD
• Apple’s TV app
• Disney+
• FE File Explorer
• Foxtel Go (Australia)
• HBO Max
• Hulu
• Plex
• Peacock
• Discovery+
• Paramount
• Vudu
• TIDAL

All these apps support surround sound for selected titles. However, you can enjoy this feature if your device supports spatial audio. For instance, you can even enjoy spatial audio on these apps on Windows 8 or 10. However, your Windows PC must support the feature.

A quick way to confirm whether your device supports surround sound or not is to check if it supports 5.1 audio. Once you enable the option, you will see the 5.1 audio option on any Netflix original. If you cannot find it, your device must not support it.

Which Apple Devices Offer Spatial Audio?

Apple’s spatial audio is a remarkable feature that brings sound to life, making it more immersive and realistic. So, the best gear to experience this incredible audio sensation is on Apple devices.

Here are some Apple devices that you can enjoy your spatial audio on:

• iPadOS 15.1
• Mac Computers: Specifically those with Apple silicon.
• Apple TV 4K: Must have tvOS 15 or later.
• Beats Fit Pro
• AirPods Series: Includes AirPods Max, AirPods Pro, and AirPods.
• iPhone: Starting from iPhone 7.
• iPads:
  • iPad Pro 11‑inch
  • iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (third generation)
  • iPad Air (third generation)
  • iPad (sixth generation)
  • iPad mini (fifth generation)

Frequently Asked Questions About Spatial Audio on Spotify

Conclusion

Spatial audio lets you enjoy a listening experience like no other. And if you love music, it is the way to listen to your music. Sadly, Spotify hasn’t added this feature yet. But as we discussed earlier, there are still ways to enjoy spatial audio on Spotify with some special songs. For now, all we can do is wait and hope that soon we’ll be able to enjoy the full 3D sound experience on Spotify. It’s something to look forward to!

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