Netflix Begins Rolling Out Spatial Audio Experience Starting With Stranger Things and The Witcher

By Patrick Cavanaugh

There are many elements of the theatrical experience that can't quite be replicated in your own home, but Netflix is attempting to capture that sense of spectacle more authentically when it comes to the audio they deliver, as the streamer has begun to roll out spatial audio for select titles. The audio upgrade began to roll out last week with some of the streamer's most popular titles, such as Stranger Things, The Witcher, and The Adam Project, with more movies and TV series getting the upgrade in the near future. Fans can quickly check out the titles that have gotten the upgrade by typing "spatial audio" into the search window.

"Often, the subtlety of sound goes unnoticed, but it can have a profound impact on the atmosphere of a scene and fundamentally change the audience's response," Netflix announced in a blog post. "Some of the most iconic moments in TV and film are defined by the immersive moments they create through sound. Without its excellent sound design, would the final fight scene in The Adam Project be as electric? Would Eddie Munson's epic guitar scene in Stranger Things 4 bring the ǝpᴉsdn uʍop to life the same way?"

Current titles with spatial audio are as follows:

  • Stranger Things
  • The Witcher
  • Red Notice
  • The Adam Project
  • Resident Evil
  • Raising Dion
  • Keep Sweet Pray and Obey
  • Locke & Key
  • Castlevania
  • Interceptor
  • Jennifer Lopez's Halftime
  • The Unforgivable
  • Selena the Series
  • The Order
  • Fear Street: Part One – 1994
  • Fear Street: Part Two – 1978
  • Fear Street: Part Three – 1666
  • True Story
  • The Haunting of Bly Manor
  • Black Summer
  • Seoul Vibe
  • Slumberland
  • The Good Nurse
  • Archive 81
  • Warrior Nun
  • Kate
  • Lulli

"We feel AMBEO Spatial Audio offers a meaningful improvement for Netflix members," Scott Kramer, manager for sound technology at Netflix, shared in a statement. "Re-recording mixers often tell me that it better translates their detailed immersive mix work to stereo. Crucially, this process preserves the original sound mix and respects creative intent with a remarkably clean sound."

"Netflix spatial audio helps to translate the cinematic experience of immersive audio to any stereo, so the work creators do to bring you into the story happens no matter what device you use to watch Netflix," Netflix's blog post continued. "This magical combination of sight and sound will bring viewers closer to the story, and we're excited to add this capability to other features we support like 4K, HDR, Dolby Atmos, and Netflix Calibrated Mode."

Stay tuned for details on Netflix's upgrades.

What do you think of spatial audio? Let us know in the comments!

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