Sony Headphones’ Hidden Spatial Audio Mode Revealed

Unlock Immersive Sound with a Simple App Tweak

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones, lauded as premium audio leaders, harbor a powerful spatial audio feature often overlooked due to its user-unfriendly interface. This “immersive movie mode,” designed to surround listeners with sound, requires a specific setting within the Sony companion app to activate.

Unveiling “360 Reality Audio Upmix”

Sony brands its spatial audio technology as “360 Reality Audio Upmix.” This feature enhances standard audio, even content not originally mixed for immersion, by processing it to create a three-dimensional soundscape. While it doesn’t replicate true surround sound, the effect is remarkably convincing.

Activating Immersive Cinema Mode

To enable this enhanced audio experience, users must access the Sony Headphones Connect app. Navigate to the “My Device” section and under listening modes, select “Cinema.” Although the app offers no explicit confirmation, the change in audio quality is immediately noticeable, particularly with Dolby-enhanced content from streaming services or specialized YouTube audio demonstrations.

For instance, YouTube’s growing library of 3D audio tests, like those designed to showcase spatial effects, can be significantly amplified. One such test, which garnered over 5 million views, demonstrates how effectively these headphones can simulate a wider soundstage (YouTube audio test example).

Despite the effectiveness of the “360 Reality Audio Upmix” feature, its discovery within the app remains unintuitive. The manufacturer could significantly improve user experience by making this setting more accessible.