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.