NEWS: THX Spatial Audio app brings 360 degree sound to any headphone

[Andy Bassett]

The THX Spatial Audio app is now available to add a fully immersive audio experience to any headphone or earbuds and new audio profiles are available for 18 games.
Read the news.

 

[SunnyIntervals]

It's great that audio in games and films is such a big thing these days, not so long ago home cinema was very niche and most consumers put up with whatever their TV could output.

The next gen consoles are both highlighting the audio side of things to increase and improve immersion.

 

[Steven]

Agreed. Sony has 3D audio in their latest wireless headphone

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www.avforums.com

And will also be marketing 3D audio in the upcoming PS5

 

[Coulson]

I've always wanted 3D audio paired with 3d visuals. For me it increases the experience of immersion when watching a film (think Pacific Rim Kaiju's or Civil War's airport scene). But right now it's only niche, especially since it requires VR, a decent PC and an Atmos speaker system. But imagine a next gen (smaller and lighter) VR system with THX Spatial Audio technology built in or even with just Sony's 3D wireless headphone plugged in. I suppose the PS5 could leverage their existing 3D catalogue for this.

 

[invisiblekid]

I've always wanted 3D audio paired with 3d visuals. For me it increases the experience of immersion when watching a film (think Pacific Rim Kaiju's or Civil War's airport scene). But right now it's only niche, especially since it requires VR, a decent PC and an Atmos speaker system. But imagine a next gen (smaller and lighter) VR system with THX Spatial Audio technology built in or even with just Sony's 3D wireless headphone plugged in. I suppose the PS5 could leverage their existing 3D catalogue for this.

That would be cool, and if I'm honest or in my opinion, the best, even only way VR is going to make it beyond niche.

The Playstation VR is great fun, but oh my god the cables!!! But when/if we get a great Oculus Quest with this THX sound? Count me in.

 

[Coulson]

That would be cool, and if I'm honest or in my opinion, the best, even only way VR is going to make it beyond niche.

The Playstation VR is great fun, but oh my god the cables!!! But when/if we get a great Oculus Quest with this THX sound? Count me in.

Exactly. Right now to get a similar experience you need to have a decent understanding of Windows setup for AV, Wifi router setup, Windows AV players and setup, Android developer mode and AV. Although saying that, I've always found the Quest sound scape to be wider than the headset.

I think this could be a great travel system/decent AV experience for AV heads. But for those who have never experienced a proper Atmos setup or even the pseudo setups, this could be a revalation.

 

[Coulson]

... But imagine a next gen (smaller and lighter) VR system with THX Spatial Audio technology built in or even with just Sony's 3D wireless headphone plugged in. I suppose the PS5 could leverage their existing 3D catalogue for this.

I've finally tried THX Spatial Audio. Each speaker placement and volume are configurable which is very nice. The really great thing about THX SA is that it not only works with any headphone but also over Bluetooth. I have a pair of very light wireless headphones with 40mm drivers that I wear with my VR headset. So I'm maybe a couple of generations away from my quote above.

Nothing beats watching Pacific Rim in 3D with Atmos. But this tech is not too far off.
THX SA boosts LFE to the point where I'm hearing lower frequencies that I can't quite hear on my actual system because I can't turn the volume up to reference levels.

Overall THX SA is the closest thing I've heard to proper Atmos surround sound over headphones. Think of it like having a 2 speaker Atmos system where you can angle your speakers to get overhead effects over your head, but front to back panning is poor. This isn't as much of an issue as one might think because front to back panning isn't used all that much except for very specific scenes (plane flyovers etc).