Set up Apple’s custom spatial audio in iOS 16 with just a few taps. This feature is not only available for the new AirPods Pro 2, but also for AirPods Max and older AirPods Pro, among others. kwgeek shows you how to enable this feature and use it properly.
Good news, you don’t necessarily need a brand new iPhone. Apple is bringing custom 3D audio or custom spatial audio to older iPhones with iOS 16. According to the manufacturer, this works on all iPhone models that support iOS 16 — even the iPhone 8 (Plus).
In addition to the new AirPods Pro 2, Custom Spatial Audio also supports older AirPods Pro, AirPods 3, AirPods Max and Beats Fit Pro.
What exactly is Apple’s custom spatial audio?
With headphones, the sound that reaches the eardrum is very different from what the sound source actually emits. Sound waves do refract at the level of the pinna and head. It is through these refractions that your brain can accurately determine the direction and distance of the sound source.
However, this factor disappears in headphones because the sound source is directly in or on the ear. The solution is the so-called HRTF (Head Related Transfer Function). This head-related transfer function is the mathematical model your head and ears make of the sound and ensures a more realistic reproduction. Here’s the challenge, though: every head and every ear is different.
iOS 16 calculates HRTF that fits your head / © Apple
Apple allows you to scan your head with iOS 16 instead of applying HRTF to standard ears and head to scan your head – and create your personalized and adapted head related transfer function.
How do I enable Apple’s custom spatial audio?
Setting up custom spatial audio takes just two minutes. The option is in the settings for AirPods paired with an iPhone in iOS 16.
Options for custom spatial audio or personal spatial audio are in your headset settings. / © kwgeek
Just scroll down the page until you find that option. Then just follow the instructions for iOS 16.
Swipe forward, swipe right and left and voila, custom spatial audio is configured / © kwgeek.
The further your HRFT is from the standard applied by default, the more you will feel the difference. The sound should be better spatialized and you should be able to “visualize” the stereo scene better. ANC should also be a bit more efficient.