Stranger Things is one of the first titles to benefit from spatial audio, which Netflix has begun to rollout across its catalogue.
Sennheiser AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio is translating original immersive mixes into 2-channel audio, available through standard stereo speakers.
During development, Sennheiser worked with Netflix and other industry partners to fine-tune the system, which is now available to license from Sennheiser. Netflix is the first streaming platform to deliver this “significantly improved” experience for select titles.
“Sennheiser firmly believes in the immersive future of audio,” says Dr Renato Pellegrini of Sennheiser’s AMBEO team. “Creators all over the globe have been using our tools to create outstanding immersive works, pushing the boundaries of music and film production. With AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio, we are now taking the next step – making this new audio reality accessible to everyone.”
Research among viewers has shown that OTT users often access content with standard stereo equipment because the home listening space does not allow for a full surround sound set-up. It means they have been unable to benefit from music and films produced in Dolby Atmos or MPEG-H Audio.
Apple runs spatial audio on its Apple TV device, but this requires the viewer to be wearing headphones such as AirPods Pro.
For Season 4 of Stranger Things, Netflix has made AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio the default stream for any two-channel usage. It means viewers watching on a stereo system will automatically receive an improved and enhanced spatial experience without having to adjust any of the user settings.
According to Scott Kramer, Manager for Sound Technology at Netflix, “We feel AMBEO Spatial Audio offers a meaningful improvement for Netflix members. Re-recording mixers often tell me that it better translates their detailed immersive mix work to stereo. Crucially, this process preserves the original sound mix and respects creative intent with a remarkably clean sound.”
For an up-to-date list of content available in AMBEO Spatial Audio, simply enter “Spatial Audio” in the Netflix search field.
