Netflix finally adds spatial audio to make Stranger Things even scarier

Hear demogorgons from every angle

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At long last, Netflix has begun rolling out spatial audio for select original programming.

The streaming service has partnered with audio behemoth Sennheiser to bring more immersive sound to shows and movies includingStranger Things season 4,The Adam ProjectandThe Witcher. Netflix spatial audio is “compatible with all devices, all streaming plans and does not require surround sound speakers or home theater equipment,” the company wrote in ablog postannouncing the new feature.

Spatial audio converts regular stereo output into expansive, three-dimensional sound that aims to mimic the experience of watching movies in a cinema. The feature works best with compatible headphones and earbuds – like theApple AirPods Pro– but it also improves the quality of sound emitted from laptops or standard TV speakers (though the difference is fairly negligible through the latter mediums).

For the full list of spatial audio-enhanced Netflix content, simply type “spatial audio” into the streamer’s search bar. If your device’s audio output is already set to stereo audio, you won’t need to adjust any settings to try it out (the feature will also become the default audio setting for two-channel setups).

We’ll be taking Netflix spatial audio for a spin with the latest season of Stranger Things, whose demogorgons and murderous villains now seemed primed to become even more frightening.

The streamer’s launch of the long-awaited feature brings Netflix in line with rival platformsDisney Plus,HBO Max,Apple TV PlusandHulu, all of which offer spatial audio support for compatible movies and TV shows.

For more on the latest Netflix news, check out our breakdown ofStranger Things’ new viewership record(spoiler: the show still isn’t as big as Squid Game) and our analysis ofSex Education’s casting dilemma.

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Axel is TechRadar’s UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion. 

Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.

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