Music that Gets Closer
Today, immersive music experiences are expected by audiences all over the world. Artists can establish even closer connections to their listeners and pull them right into their world. Immersive sound makes it possible for audiences to experience an audio scene as if they were right in the middle of it, taking them into a concert experience with the tap of a button.
360 Reality Audio, developed by Sony, is a next-generation music experience that uses object-based audio technology, powered by MPEG-H Audio, to create immersive, 360-degree audio experiences. Unlike traditional stereo, where audio is limited to left and right channels, 360 Reality Audio places individual elements—such as vocals, guitars, drums, and ambient effects—anywhere in a virtual spherical space around the listener. This allows artists and producers to craft music that surrounds the listener from all directions, closely replicating the sensation of being at a live performance or in the recording studio.
The format is designed for broad accessibility: users can experience 360 Reality Audio with any standard pair of stereo headphones and a compatible streaming service, such as Amazon Music Unlimited, Artist Connection, nugs.net, or QQMusic. For enhanced immersion, Sony offers personalization tools via its Headphones Connect and 360 Reality Audio Setup apps, which analyze the listener’s ear shape to optimize spatial rendering based on individual hearing characteristics. Select Sony headphones, smart speakers, soundbars or home theater systems further elevate the experience.
360 Reality Audio is made possible by MPEG-H Audio, which supports object-based sound mixing, spatial rendering, and dynamic playback adaptation. Originally built for next-generation broadcast and streaming services, the technology brings powerful personalization and immersive capabilities to music consumption for the first time.
Together, 360 Reality Audio and MPEG-H Audio represent a significant advancement in digital audio—delivering not just higher fidelity, but a deeply personal and spatially rich listening experience that transforms how users engage with music.
From Tears to Tenderness in any Listening Situation
Immersive sound also makes for great podcasts and audio dramas thanks to unprecedented spatial and narration options created by multidimensional, customizable audio.
With MPEG-H Audio, listeners profit from an unbridled immersive experience independent of their hardware setup: Emotional stories involve the same goosebump-inducing magic whether on high-end speakers or on plain headphones.
Thanks to the universal delivery feature, it takes only one mix that translates to any listening situation without extra effort.
