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Sony’s WH-1000XM6 are my decide for the most effective premium headphones of 2025. After I reviewed them, I discovered they excelled in virtually each class. However a method I feel Sony might enhance even these incredible headphones (aside from reducing the worth), is by making them extra user-friendly. After I was testing them, I could not work out find out how to use their model of spatial audio, the immersive film mode that makes it sound just like the audio is coming from throughout you. So I reached out to Sony to determine it out.
Sony has its personal identify for spatial audio
Sony calls its spatial audio characteristic “360 Actuality Audio Upmix,” but it surely’s primarily the identical factor: The headphones upmix the audio you are listening to and course of it to create a 3D-like (or spatial audio) impact. This implies you’ll be able to take heed to issues that aren’t meant to be immersive and the headphones will do their greatest to make them sound like they’re. And so they do an excellent job of it.
How you can activate Spatial Audio on WH-1000XM6
Credit score: Daniel Oropeza
To activate the 360 Actuality Audio Upmix characteristic, open the Sound Join app (Sony’s app for managing the headphones) and head to “My System” in the principle menu. Below listening mode, choose “Cinema.” That is it. There isn’t any indication inside the app that you simply’re now utilizing the 360 Actuality Audio Upmix characteristic, however you can hear the distinction immediately.
It is extra apparent while you pull up a film with Dolby from a streaming channel like Netflix (or in YouTube audio assessments like this one, which can sound fairly cool in your cellphone). It actually ought to solely be used for films/reveals or enjoying video video games. It really works with music too, but it surely is likely to be higher to stay along with your custom-made EQ. The characteristic replaces no matter EQ you could have in place, so you’ll discover the distinction in sound.
That is all it takes to set it up, however you are not performed but. Subsequent, you want a third-party app that Sony recommends to optimize the spatial audio. (I do know, it is a ache.)
What do you assume up to now?
Optimize the spatial audio
Credit score: Daniel Oropeza
Earlier than we get to that different app, hold the Sound Join app open. Comply with the directions there to create a listening to profile. It is quite simple, with questions on which sounds you like. This may tailor sound to your ears utilizing a personalised listening to evaluation. This helps with readability and an immersive really feel throughout all apps, not simply with the spatial characteristic.
Credit score: Daniel Oropeza
Then, you will have to obtain the 360 Actuality Audio Dwell app to complete optimizing your spatial audio. This is without doubt one of the few apps that assist 360 Actuality Audio. you have accomplished the optimization while you see the “optimization accomplished for WH-1000XM6” display. When you’re completed, your headphones can be optimized to your ears for spatial audio, and you may strive a few of the movies within the app that assist 360 Actuality Audio to see the way it works.
At this level, you can benefit from the spatial audio to its fullest. Whereas the 360 Actuality Audio Upmix characteristic won’t ever match true encompass sound, it does an excellent job at upmixing non-immersive sound. Simply be conscious that the optimization on the 360 Actuality Audio Dwell app will solely work with suitable apps. However the listening to profile you created will work for something, like watching Netflix or different media. I have been pleasantly shocked by how properly it really works—I simply want Sony would make its app extra user-friendly so it might be simpler to arrange.
