Apple spatial audio takes 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos signals and applies directional audio filters, adjusting the frequencies that each ear hears so that sounds can be placed virtually anywhere in 3D space. Sounds will appear to be coming from in front of you, from the sides, the rear and even above. The idea is to recreate the audio experience of a cinema.

This is not the first technology of its type. Dolby Atmos for Headphones has been around for some time now, while Sony has its own 360 Reality Audio format for music (available on Tidal and Amazon Music, for instance).

Apple’s spatial audio is unique, though, in that it doesn't only provide virtualised surround and Atmos sound, it also tracks your head movement using accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max and some Beats headphones in order to position the sound accurately. It even tracks the position of the iPhone or iPad that you’re listening to music or watching videos on so that sound is also placed relative to the screen. This means that even if you turn your head or reposition your device, dialogue (or vocals) will still be anchored to the person on the screen.