After WWDC, Apple kicked things up a notch on Apple Music. They released lossless audio and Dolby Atmos support for all subscribers, at no additional charge. They even put together a playlist of popular songs with Apple’s new Spatial Audio through Dolby Atmos. I didn’t know what I was expecting. A wider sound stage? Big deal! I have open back headphones, I’m used to wide sound stages. More detail? Again, I do have good headphones and plenty of lossless tracks. Some fun 3D effect? Neat, but would it really do it for me? Nah.
Then I listened a bit on Tuesday night.
Holy shit.
Spatial Audio reveals details in songs that usually get washed out. It opens and widens your sound stage, even on open back headphones. It’s music that surrounds you, music with details crystal clear even when another part of the music is swelling because they’re coming from completely different areas in space. It’s complimentary, encompassing, and just… wow.
I had been wondering if I’d go back to Spotify after my trial. I have made up mind.
Dolby Atmos has me hooked and Apple Music got me as a customer, for sure.
More Details
For high quality listening, this is what I use.
I’m going to use a bit of a simile to explain this. Imagine you have an empty glass. You fill it with five different drinks and take a gulp. Maybe you can find the notes of ginger ale, a note of whiskey, maybe a bit of lemon. Okay. Fine. But instead of that, imagine having two glasses. In one glass you pour three of the ingredient, two in the other. Sip each, and it’ll be easier to taste all the notes because they’re not overpowering each other. That’s like mono sound (one speaker) vs stereo sound (two speakers).
Now grab five glasses.
That’s sort of like how I’d describe Dolby Atmos, what Apple’s using for Spatial Audio on their platforms. Except you still get to sip all the items at once, because it’s sound, not a drink.
Listen, it’s not a perfect comparison.
With Atmos, can hear more details in the guitar. Close your eyes and you can point to where the backup guitar is in Guns N Roses’ Sweet Child of Mine, then point straight to Slash. You feel like you’re sitting in the middle of a recording studio or practice space, but it’s better than that, because it’s not as deafening as doing that. There are details you normally miss because they’re not separated from other sounds. In a normal recording, the vocalist sings over the piano part and you almost forget the piano’s there. But with Dolby Atmos, nothing gets washed out. All the detail’s there. And yet, nothing feels lost. It’s the same song, just more of it, all at once. It’s a difference audiophiles and casual listeners alike will notice.
New Favorites
I went back and listened to a few old favorites. Come Together by The Beatles sounds crisp, clear, and like it’s all around me. I’m noticing details I’ve never heard before. Olivia Rodrigo’s sound fills a room, gives the air texture, and it’s just in my headphones. Rush’s Tom Sawyer is an absolute trip. I’m falling in love with old and new songs like I’m hearing them for the first time. Actually, it’s better because the first time I heard Taylor Swift’s Cardigan was over a small shower speaker, and now it sounds a lot better.
Don’t worry, I got a better speaker for showers.
When you listen to music in person, it has a sort of excitement. You can feel the bass in your chest. The guitar squeals. The bass hums. The lead singer meets your eyes and you grin and point at them, cheering them on. You feel lighter, like you can bounce around and dance all night. And you do. It’s magical. It’s the best feeling.
But it’s not the best for analytical or just casual listening. I love both, I have a clear preference for live music, but I do love both. Dolby Atmos gives your music more energy alongside more detail. And, sure, it doesn’t feel as great as vibing with a band and a crowd and just experiencing the magic of live music. But, wow, it’s fantastic. The extra detail, the depth of the sound, the way it surrounds you with something that sounds real. That’s worth the price of admission. If you love music, you’ve got to experience this.
Well done, Apple, you actually made me love streaming music.