Netflix has announced a series of brand-new features for members on its Premium plan, including Netflix spatial audio.
Members on Netflix’s Premium plan using a stereo system will now be able to experience immersive cinematic audio, powered by Sennheiser’s AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio technology, on more than 700 top titles – all on their existing hardware.
Developed in partnership with Netflix, this Sennheiser technology delivers an immersive experience over stereo speakers while fully respecting the creative intent of the original surround or immersive mix.
Netflix members do not need any additional hardware to experience this new benefit.
“We are very pleased that Netflix has expanded its partnership with Sennheiser and has chosen to roll out our game-changing AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio experience to more of its catalogue,” said Renato Pellegrini, Manager Pro Labs, AMBEO Immersive Audio.
In addition to content mixed for Dolby Atmos, Netflix’s spatial audio catalogue will also include non-Atmos surround content.
“As a brand-new feature, the AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio renderer is now also able to process surround mixes, unlocking huge catalogues of content available in these formats,” shared Pellegrini.
“For members on Netflix’s Premium plan, this means they will be able to enjoy more of their favourite content immersively, however they watch.”
AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio rendering was created hand-in-hand with mixers and provides them with granular control of the amount of spatialization.
A preview tool allows mixers to compare standard stereo to AMBEO and adjust rendering settings by individual stems or groups.
Specific stems, such as dialogue, can be completely excluded from spatialization and music mixes can be kept on their left and right channels while immersive rendering is applied to any other stems.
The renderer seeks to translate mixer intent while giving an impressive immersive audio experience previously inaccessible on two speakers.
Members on Netflix’s Premium plan can now experience AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio on hundreds of Netflix’s most popular titles, including Stranger Things, The Watcher, Wednesday, and Knives Out: Glass Onion. Netflix will add forthcoming titles, such as You, Your Place or Mine, and Luther: The Fallen Sun.