How does spatial audio work on Android?

Spatial audio refers to sound that seems to come from a specific point in space, creating an immersive listening experience.

On Android devices, spatial audio is enabled through different technologies depending on the device hardware and software.

What is spatial audio?

Spatial audio gives sound a sense of space and dimension. It makes audio feel like it’s coming from a specific direction, as if objects or people are physically present with you in a virtual environment. This provides a more immersive listening experience compared to standard stereo audio.

Some key characteristics of spatial audio include:

Directional audio – Sounds seem to originate from a specific point in space rather than just the left or right channel.
Distance simulation – Sound volume decreases as the audio moves further away from the listener.

Immersive audio environments – Spatial audio can replicate 3D environments filled with sound sources.

On Android, spatial audio can make media like videos, music, and games feel more enveloping. It places sounds all around you in a sphere, making you feel like you’re inside the action.

How is spatial audio achieved on Android?

There are a few different technologies used to enable spatial audio on Android devices:

Virtual surround sound

Many Android phones use virtual surround sound to simulate a spatial audio experience over stereo headphones or speakers. Advanced signal processing creates a sense of 3D audio space by manipulating the timing and volume of audio to make it seem like sounds are coming from different directions.

Some common virtual surround technologies include:

Dolby Atmos – Uses object-based audio that allows sounds to be dynamically placed and moved in 3D space.

DTS:X – Similar object-based spatial audio to Dolby Atmos.
Sony 360 Reality Audio – Uses object-based spatial audio focused on music.

These technologies work by taking a surround sound audio mix and applying filters to the stereo output. This creates subtle differences between the left and right channels that trick the brain into perceiving sound coming from different directions.

Binaural audio

Binaural audio aims to recreate the natural listening experience over headphones. It uses two separate audio channels recorded using specialized dummy head microphones modeled on human ears.

When played back over headphones, the subtle differences between the left and right recordings mimic the way sounds arrive at our ears in real life. This creates precise spatial cues that make audio feel 3D and immersive.

For example, a sound recorded further to the left will be slightly louder in the left ear. This recreates the natural acoustic shadowing of the head.

Some music and video content on Android is available in binaural audio for an extra sense of realism over headphones.

Head-tracking

Some Android devices also use head-tracking to enable spatial audio that responds in real-time to your head movements. This takes immersion to the next level.

Sensors in the device track the precise rotation of your head and update the spatial audio mix accordingly. For example, if you turn your head to the right, a sound that was coming from the left will now seem to come from behind you.

This real-time responsiveness creates incredibly natural and lifelike spatial audio that makes you feel like you’re inside a virtual world.

Hardware requirements

To experience spatial audio fully, you need Android devices with certain hardware:

Stereo speakers – Spatial audio effects work best over two separated speaker channels. Mono speakers can only simulate limited left/right directionality.

Multiple microphones – For head-tracking, devices need microphones able to detect sound from different directions.
Motion sensors – Accelerometers and gyroscopes are required for tracking head motions.
Surround sound output – Connection to surround speaker systems via Bluetooth or USB-C allows true surround output.

High-end Android smartphones will typically have all the hardware needed. But on lower end devices with mono speakers and no motion sensors, the spatial audio experience will be diminished.

Software support

The latest Android OS versions include platform-level support for spatial audio technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. This allows any apps to output surround sound audio mixes easily.

Android also includes spatial processing effects within the operating system’s standard audio framework. This means that even on basic stereo speakers, some sense of space can be simulated.

Here are some key software requirements for spatial audio on Android:

Android 9 Pie – Introduced native surround sound support and audio tuning optimized for stereo speakers.
Android 10 – Added native support for Dolby Atmos spatial audio.

Android 11 – Added settings to change audio output to surround sound speakers where connected.

So to take full advantage of spatial audio on Android, it’s recommended to run Android 11 or later. The latest version will provide the most complete experience.

Enabling spatial audio

There are a few steps needed to enable spatial audio on your Android device:

Check that your phone runs Android 9 or later.
Make sure you have stereo speakers or headphones connected.
Open your device’s Settings app and go to Sound & Vibration > Audio output.

Select surround sound output if you have external speakers connected via Bluetooth or USB-C.
You may also need to enable Dolby Atmos in Audio settings if available.
Launch audio, video or gaming content that provides spatial audio mixes.

Content mastered in surround formats like Dolby Atmos will automatically play in spatial audio. YouTube also provides some spatial audio music tracks.

Try rotating your device or moving it around while playing spatial audio. You should hear the audio perspective shift in real-time based on the device’s position and orientation.

Limitations

While spatial audio capabilities have improved greatly in recent Android versions, some limitations remain:

Virtual surround is still simulated over stereo speakers or headphones. Multiple physical speakers provide the best experience.
Head-tracking with motion sensors only works when using the phone’s built-in speakers. Headphone audio doesn’t change.
Game console-style controllers with integrated motion sensors are required for motion tracking in mobile games.

Spatial resolution is dependent on the number of audio channels available. Stereo audio cannot locate sounds with as much precision as 5.1 surround, for example.

So while the immersion of spatial audio on Android has improved vastly, there are still some technical constraints compared to dedicated systems like gaming PCs with surround speaker setups.

Spatial audio on headphones

While dedicated speaker setups provide the most immersive spatial audio experience, headphones can also create a convincing sense of 3D space using the techniques below:

Binaural recording

As mentioned previously, binaural audio uses two microphones to capture subtle differences in how sounds reach the left and right ears. This creates natural acoustic cues that the brain interprets as direction and distance.

When played back over headphones, binaural recordings let you perceive sounds in 3D space all around you. The effect is extremely realistic and immersive.

HRTF filtering

Head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) model how sound waves are filtered by the anatomy of our head, ears, and torso. HRTFs consist of complex impulse responses that define how a given sound wave will reach each eardrum.

By applying these filters to ordinary stereo audio, a convincing 3D soundscape can be created. Sounds seem to come from specific points in space based on subtle timing and volume differences between left and right channels.

Object-based audio

Object-based spatial audio like Dolby Atmos models sound sources as distinct objects that can be precisely positioned and moved in 3D space.

Advanced filtering applied during headphone playback creates audio objects that seem to originate from different parts of the surround sphere. This adds dimensionality and space to the mix.

While these technologies have their differences, they all leverage psychoacoustic effects to spatialize sound over headphones. Directional cues, reverb, and frequency shaping place you at the center of an immersive audio environment.

Using spatial audio on Android

Here are some tips for getting the most out of spatial audio on your Android device:

Use over-ear closed-back headphones to block out real-world sounds and focus on the spatial audio mix.

Sit in a quiet space without too much ambient noise or echo.
Enable Dolby Atmos in Audio settings if your phone supports it.
Try rotating and moving your phone to see how head-tracking affects the spatial effect.

Listen to content created specifically for spatial audio, like Dolby Atmos music on Amazon Music.
For movies, devices like the Amazon Fire TV Cube support Dolby Atmos spatial audio.
Play spatial audio games like PUBG Mobile with 3D headphone mode enabled.

A bit of experimenting will reveal the types of content that showcase spatial audio best on your device. Take advantage of free trials of streaming services to find the optimal formats for immersive listening.

Troubleshooting spatial audio

Here are some common spatial audio issues on Android and how to resolve them:

No spatial effect – Make sure surround sound output is enabled in Audio settings. The content itself may also not have proper spatial encoding.

Effect only in one earcup – Confirm that the correct Left/Right channels are connected. Check for debris or damage in headphone wiring.
Effect cuts out during motion – On phones with head-tracking, shake or rotate the device gently to re-initiate motion sensing.
Voices seem distant – Some mixes place dialogue in the center channel only. Enabling dialog enhancement in settings may help.

Effect reduced outdoors – Ambient noise and environmental reverb can work against virtual spatial processing.

If issues persist in multiple apps, try toggling off Dolby Atmos or other spatial processing to see if that helps. Resetting audio settings to default may also resolve configuration problems.

The bottom line

Immersive spatial audio is increasingly becoming a must-have feature on modern Android devices. The latest hardware and software provides sophisticated surround sound capabilities for cinematic entertainment on the go.

Object-based technologies like Dolby Atmos allow precise audio objects to be placed and moved in 3D space. And innovations like head-tracking give mobile spatial audio true dynamism and realism.

While there remain technical limits compared to dedicated cinema setups, the spatial audio experience possible on smartphones today is hugely impressive.

As Android hardware and spatial formats continue to evolve, the line between physical and virtual immersion will only blur further. The next generation of mobile content, games, AR and VR will take advantage of these spatial technologies to provide unparalleled realism, presence and dimensionality.

So whether listening privately on headphones or casting to an external surround system, spatial audio unlocks the next dimension of entertainment for Android users today.