Apple Spatial Audio vs anything else

[SimmoW]

Hi, I’ve been trying Tidal’s Sony 360 Audio files for awhile, but although I love its Master quality tracks, I find the 360 files lacking and, just strange sounding. I use Grado 500 and Sennheiser 600 headphones.

so I’m starting to explore the other 360 formats, particularly Apple’s. Is it worth trying? With the AirPods Pro? I’m really looking for an exciting, wide soundstage, with effects to the rear if it can be achieved. So very few real impressions on the interwebs though. Then I see the consoles have Dolby Atmos. So I’d really appreciate some opinions, before I force myself to upgrade to ultra expensive headphones?! Even a 3D, open front soundstage would be great.

TIA

 

[AmericanSpirit]

Hi, I’ve been trying Tidal’s Sony 360 Audio files for awhile, but although I love its Master quality tracks, I find the 360 files lacking and, just strange sounding. I use Grado 500 and Sennheiser 600 headphones.

so I’m starting to explore the other 360 formats, particularly Apple’s. Is it worth trying? With the AirPods Pro? I’m really looking for an exciting, wide soundstage, with effects to the rear if it can be achieved. So very few real impressions on the interwebs though. Then I see the consoles have Dolby Atmos. So I’d really appreciate some opinions, before I force myself to upgrade to ultra expensive headphones?! Even a 3D, open front soundstage would be great.

TIA

I have airpods pro and not aware any songs utilizing spartial audio technology yet, I believe it accompanies with Dolbly atoms for movies at this moment.

My suggestion is that upgrading Upper sourcing before upgrading final sound reproduction unit(iem&headphone).

The time I was able to see holographic sound experience, was when I got FiiO M11Pro, it goes@$650 on amazon, you can try it with “all to DSD” mode, that’ll do upsampling all digital media (movies, youtube, streaming services, your own songs) into 2,822kHz sampling rate, the SACD standards.

That DAP came with THX AAA high-end portable amps, as THX is wellknown Movie theater acoustics , the couple of Dolby, as you see the logo before each Movies begin.

It does help to bring “out-of-head” experience for value-to-money.
As you know HD600’s sound stage, it’s hard to find IEM with headphone like sound stage. I would suggest you to look on Diffusion Field (DF) based IEM&cans with specialities on technicalities (imaging, separation, positioning).
For that UM MEST ($1.4k) is highly regarded of that. Or something lower, I’d like to recommend Softears RSV($730); it sounds pretty close to HD600 (maybe a tad more base, so more of HD650ish).

For lower range, Moondrop blessing2($310) might worth the try it has great tonality and technicalities for the price.

But again, the DAP plays more role than end-units.