Immersive Audio

Definition

A category of audio formats and mixing approaches that place sound in three-dimensional space around and above the listener, beyond the conventional horizontal stereo or surround field. Includes Dolby Atmos, Sony 360 Reality Audio, and Auro-3D.

In Simple Terms

Sound that surrounds you in three dimensions — not just left and right, but above and behind. Dolby Atmos is the most common format. Think of the difference between looking at a photo of a room versus being inside it.

In Practice

Streaming a Dolby Atmos music mix through Apple Music with compatible headphones provides an immersive experience where instruments appear to exist in three-dimensional space around the listener.

Sources & Verification

• →
  ITU-R BS.2051-3 — Advanced sound system for programme production
  International Telecommunication Union, 2022
  https://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-BS.2051
• →
  ITU-R BS.2076-2 — Audio Definition Model
  International Telecommunication Union, 2019
  https://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-BS.2076
• →
  Sony 360 Reality Audio — Format overview and creator tools
  Sony Corporation
  https://www.sony.com/electronics/360-reality-audio

Last verified: 2026-05-05

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