This guide will show you how to enable Spatial Sound on Windows 11 PC/laptop (3D Sound in Microsoft-speak) and Enhance Audio. Spatial Sound offers a more immersive audio experience on your device.
While Enhance Audio lets you configure certain audio settings to improve performance. Netflix recently started rolling out Spatial Sound support for iPhone and iPad, and Apple itself rolled out the feature for Apple Music globally earlier this year.
So without further ado, let’s see how we can enable Spatial Sound and Enhance Audio on your Windows 11 PC/laptop.
Also read: How to Install Dolby Home Theater v4 on Windows 11
What is Spatial Sound in Windows 11?
Spatial Sound is an immersive audio enhancement experience in a three-dimensional virtual space where sound can flow around you, including overhead. With the flick of a switch, this feature lets you enjoy more immersive audio.
”
This provides a better atmosphere that ordinary surround sound formats cannot do
” according to Microsoft.
Movies and games sound better on your Windows 11 PC with Spatial Sound, especially those that support the technology natively.
While native compatibility provides the most immersive audio and location accuracy, the technology can also enhance standard surround sound to create a superior overall audio experience.
What Spatial Sound Formats Does Windows 11 Support?
Windows Sonic for Headphones, Dolby Atmos for Headphones, Dolby Atmos for Home Theater, DTS:X for Home Theater, and DTS Headphone:X are some of the Spatial Sound formats supported by Windows.
Windows Sonic is a proprietary Microsoft technology included in Windows 11 and works with all headphones and earphones. Support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, on the other hand, must be obtained separately.
You can get Dolby Atmos license and DTS Sound Unbound license for free using Dolby Access and DTS Sound Unbound apps respectively.
After 30 days free trial, you have to pay $14.99 for Dolby Atmos license in order to still enjoy the multidimensional sound experience.
Spatial Audio is known as 3D Audio in Windows 11. You can enable it in two different ways – via Settings App and Control Panel. We will demonstrate both methods in this article.
1. How to Enable Spatial Sound in Windows 11 from Settings App
1. Open Settings by pressing the button
Windows+i. Now, open System -> Sound.
2. Next, below Outputclick on the card that says
Choose where to play sound. You will now see a drop-down menu with a list of all connected audio output devices.
Select the one you want to enable Spatial Sound for. Then, press
arrow (>) next to it.
3. Now, scroll down to the bottom and click on the drop-down menu Type under section Spatial Sound. Finally, choose
Windows Sonic for Headphones as your Spatial Sound option.
Notes: As already mentioned, Windows Sonic for Headphones is the only spatial audio option available by default on Windows 11 PCs. For other options, you have to download or purchase a third-party app from Microsoft Store.
Also read: How to Change Audio Output in Windows 11
2. How to Enable Spatial Sound in Windows 11 from From Control Panel
1. First, open Control Panel on your Windows 11 computer. To do that, type control in the Windows search bar and select Control Panel of the results.
2. In Control Panel, make sure you are using view Icons view (small). Then, select Sound.
3. In the next window, select the tab Playback. Now, find your sound output device, right click on it, and move to the window Properties from the pop-up menu.
4. In the next pop-up window, go to the tab Spatial Sound. Then, click the drop-down menu below Spatial sound format and select Windows Sonic for Headphones
or any other Spatial Sound app that you may have purchased online. Finally, click OK to save your preferences.
What is Enhance Audio in Windows 11?
Enhance Audio in Windows 11 is a collection of configurable settings which help you to tune the overall sound output of headphones or earphones on PC as per your wish.
Using this feature, you can normalize the audio output to prevent ads from playing louder than the actual content.
This feature also lets you use the stereo speakers for a surround sound experience, as well as boosting the bass output from the speakers. So let’s see how you can improve your audio experience in Windows 11 with just a few clicks.
How to Enable Enhance Audio in Windows 11
Enabling the Enhance Audio feature in Windows 11 is very easy as you just need to head to the sound settings on your PC. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open Settings -> System -> Sound, as previously described above. Then, scroll down to the section Advanced and click All sound devices.
2. Now, below Output devices, select Output devices for which you want to enable audio experience. For example: headphones.
3. Then, below Output settings headphones Bro, turn on the switch Enhance Audio. Microsoft says it should “automatically improve sound quality. To further fine-tune and customize your audio preferences, click on options
Advanced.
4. Now, in the pop-up window, select audio enhancements according to your preference. Finally, make sure to click Apply before you close the window to save changes.
That’s how to activate Spatial Sound and Enhance Audio on Windows 11 PC/laptop. I hope this article helped you! Thank you for visiting and don’t forget if you find this article useful, please share it with your friends too.
