Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1504940
34 FA L L 2 0 2 3 I C A S Q U A R T E R L Y bold when needed and that protects for dialogue intelligibility. If the Dolby 2.0 rerender sounds right, then the spatial audio render will be very similar— just wider for surround and overhead content, and with slightly more dialogue clarity. When needed [and] upon request, we're able to provide stereo .wav files of the Spatial Audio version, or Content Preview access for key creative partners to hear the spatial version of the service prior to launch. Is this a different technology than that of Apple's Spatial Audio? Have they licensed the same Sennheiser AMBEO technology? We support Apple's feature, which is intended for specific models of Apple headphones and earbuds. Because it's pre-encoded, Netflix Spatial Audio works on any stereo device, using speakers or headphones. The two features are different in how they're built and in the audio experience. For more details, check out the Netflix Help Center article on Spatial Audio. How does this compare to an Atmos listening experience? This is very subjective, so listeners should decide for themselves how it compares. Speaker-based spatial audio is limited due to the physics of binaural technology operating in a free field—it can only be so wide before quality is compromised. Netflix focused on fidelity to the content rather than an exaggerated spatial surround experience. When a member's system is configured for Atmos, the platform streams Atmos. When it's configured for 5.1, 5.1 is provided. Spatial Audio is not preferred over these higher level formats—it's sent only to stereo devices. What has been the customer feedback? The feedback from both members and the creative community has been universally positive. Spatial Audio added a meaningfully better stereo experience for members on the Netflix Premium plan, and creatives have appreciated that more of the detailed surround mixing work is retained when folding down to stereo. By joining the spatial audio industry movement, we hope to honor content creators' work and bring audiences closer to the stories they tell.