How to Use Spatial Audio on AirPods Max and Apple TV

Learn how to use spatial audio and apple tv with your airpods max to enjoy immersive sound quality and wireless convenience. Find out how to enable, adjust, and troubleshoot spatial audio on your airpods max and apple tv.

AirPods Max are the premium over-ear headphones from Apple that offer high-fidelity sound, active noise cancellation, adaptive EQ, and more. But one of the most impressive features of AirPods Max is spatial audio, which creates a surround sound effect that makes you feel like you’re in the middle of the action. Spatial audio works with compatible content that supports Dolby Atmos, 5.1, or 7.1 surround sound, such as movies and shows on Apple TV.

In this article, we’ll show you how to get the most out of your AirPods Max with spatial audio and Apple TV. We’ll explain what spatial audio is, how to enable it, how to adjust it, and how to troubleshoot it. We’ll also compare AirPods Max with AirPods Beats, another popular wireless headphone brand from Apple, and help you decide which one is right for you.

What is Spatial Audio and How Does It Work?

Spatial audio is a feature that uses dynamic head tracking to create a 3D sound field that moves with your head. This means that when you watch a movie or show on Apple TV with spatial audio enabled, the sound will stay in sync with the screen, even if you turn your head or move around. This creates a more immersive and realistic listening experience, as if you were in a movie theater.

Spatial audio works by using the gyroscope and accelerometer sensors in your AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to track your head movements and the position of your device. It then adjusts the sound accordingly, using directional audio filters and subtle frequency adjustments. Spatial audio also uses adaptive EQ to optimize the sound quality for your ear shape and the fit of your AirPods Max.

Spatial audio is compatible with content that supports Dolby Atmos, 5.1, or 7.1 surround sound, such as movies and shows on Apple TV. You can check if a content supports spatial audio by looking for the Dolby Atmos logo or the spatial audio icon on the description page or the playback screen.

How to Enable Spatial Audio on Your AirPods Max and Apple TV

To use spatial audio on your AirPods Max and Apple TV, you need to meet the following requirements:

• You need to have an iPhone or iPad with iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 or later.
• You need to have an Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD with tvOS 14 or later.
• You need to have AirPods Max with firmware version 3C39 or later.
• You need to have Bluetooth enabled on your iPhone or iPad and your Apple TV.
• You need to have the same Apple ID signed in on your iPhone or iPad and your Apple TV.

If you meet these requirements, you can enable spatial audio on your AirPods Max and Apple TV by following these steps:

1. Connect your AirPods Max to your iPhone or iPad.
2. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the info icon next to your AirPods Max.
3. Turn on Spatial Audio.
4. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Video and Audio and turn on Wireless Audio Sync. This will sync the audio and video signals between your AirPods Max and your Apple TV.
5. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Format and select Change Format.
6. Turn on Use Best Available and Dolby Atmos.
7. On your Apple TV, play a content that supports spatial audio, such as a movie or show on Apple TV.
8. Swipe down on the Siri Remote to open the Audio menu and select your AirPods Max as the output device.
9. Enjoy the spatial audio effect on your AirPods Max and Apple TV.

How to Adjust Spatial Audio on Your AirPods Max and Apple TV

You can adjust the spatial audio effect on your AirPods Max and Apple TV by changing the following settings:

• Follow iPhone: This setting determines whether the spatial audio effect follows the position of your iPhone or iPad or the position of your Apple TV. If you turn on Follow iPhone, the spatial audio effect will move with your iPhone or iPad, as if you were holding the screen in your hand. If you turn off Follow iPhone, the spatial audio effect will stay fixed to the position of your Apple TV, as if you were watching a TV screen. You can change this setting by going to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad and tapping the info icon next to your AirPods Max.
• Balance: This setting adjusts the balance of the sound between your left and right ear. You can change this setting by going to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual on your iPhone or iPad and dragging the Balance slider.
• Noise Control: This setting controls the noise cancellation and transparency modes on your AirPods Max. You can change this setting by pressing the noise control button on your AirPods Max or by going to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad and tapping the info icon next to your AirPods Max.

How to Troubleshoot Spatial Audio on Your AirPods Max and Apple TV

If you encounter any issues with spatial audio on your AirPods Max and Apple TV, you can try the following troubleshooting tips:

• Make sure your AirPods Max, iPhone or iPad, and Apple TV are updated to the latest software and firmware versions.
• Make sure your AirPods Max are connected to your iPhone or iPad and your Apple TV.
• Make sure the content you are playing supports spatial audio and has the Dolby Atmos logo or the spatial audio icon.
• Make sure the spatial audio setting is turned on on your iPhone or iPad and your Apple TV.
• Make sure the wireless audio sync setting is turned on on your Apple TV.
• Make sure the use best available and Dolby Atmos settings are turned on on your Apple TV.
• Make sure your AirPods Max are selected as the output device on your Apple TV.
• Restart your AirPods Max, iPhone or iPad, and Apple TV and try again.

AirPods Max vs AirPods Beats: Which One Should You Choose?

AirPods Max and AirPods Beats are two popular wireless headphone brands from Apple that offer different features and benefits. Here are some of the main differences and similarities between them:

• Price: AirPods Max are more expensive than AirPods Beats, costing $549, while AirPods Beats range from $149 to $349, depending on the model.
• Design: AirPods Max have a sleek and elegant design, with a stainless steel frame, a mesh canopy, and memory foam ear cushions. AirPods Beats have a sporty and colorful design, with a plastic frame, a rubber headband, and synthetic leather ear pads.
• Sound Quality: AirPods Max have a superior sound quality, with high-fidelity audio, adaptive EQ, and spatial audio. AirPods Beats have a decent sound quality, with balanced audio, active EQ, and no spatial audio.
• Noise Cancellation: AirPods Max have a better noise cancellation, with active noise cancellation and transparency modes. AirPods Beats have a good noise cancellation, with active noise cancellation and ambient sound modes.
• Battery Life: AirPods Max have a shorter battery life, lasting up to 20 hours with noise cancellation and spatial audio on. AirPods Beats have a longer battery life, lasting up to 40 hours with noise cancellation on and up to 60 hours with noise cancellation off.
• Compatibility: AirPods Max and AirPods Beats are both compatible with iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and Windows devices. However, AirPods Max have some exclusive features that only work with Apple devices, such as spatial audio, Siri, and Find My.

The choice between AirPods Max and AirPods Beats depends on your personal preference, budget, and needs. If you want the best sound quality, noise cancellation, and spatial audio, and you don’t mind the high price and the short battery life, you should go for AirPods Max. If you want a more affordable, durable, and long-lasting option, and you don’t care much about spatial audio, you should go for AirPods Beats.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: What is the difference between spatial audio and surround sound?

Answer: Spatial audio and surround sound are both audio technologies that create a 3D sound field that envelops the listener. However, spatial audio uses dynamic head tracking to adjust the sound based on the listener’s head movements and the position of the device, while surround sound uses multiple speakers to create a fixed sound field.

Question: How can I test spatial audio on my AirPods Max and Apple TV?

Answer: You can test spatial audio on your AirPods Max and Apple TV by following these steps:

1. Connect your AirPods Max to your iPhone or iPad.
2. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the info icon next to your AirPods Max.
3. Turn on Spatial Audio and tap See & Hear How It Works.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen and listen to the difference between stereo and spatial audio.

Question: How can I switch between AirPods Max and AirPods Beats?

Answer: You can switch between AirPods Max and AirPods Beats by following these steps:

1. Make sure both AirPods Max and AirPods Beats are paired with your iPhone or iPad.
2. On your iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the upper-right corner to open Control Center.
3. Tap and hold the audio card in the upper-right corner.
4. Tap the AirPlay icon in the lower-right corner.
5. Select the AirPods Max or AirPods Beats that you want to use.

Summary

In this article, we have shown you how to get the most out of your AirPods Max with spatial audio and Apple TV. We have explained what spatial audio is, how to enable it, how to adjust it, and how to troubleshoot it. We have also compared AirPods Max with AirPods Beats and helped you choose the best wireless headphone for you. We hope you have enjoyed this article and learned something new. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. We are not affiliated with Apple or any of the products or services mentioned in this article. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information in this article. You should always do your own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on the information in this article. We are not responsible for any damages or losses that may result from the use of the information in this article.