Under tvOS 15, the Apple TV will also support Spatial Audio if the set-top box is used with AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Since the Apple TV does not have a U1 chip for head tracking purposes, it was previously unclear how the whole thing would work. However, Apple has now released an explanation.
How Spatial Audio will work on Apple TV under tvOS 15 has been a mystery until now. But now Apple has explained the whole thing to Engadget explainedWhen the user is watching a TV show or movie on Apple TV, the head tracking feature (supported by AirPods Pro and Max) detects that the user is looking in the same direction. It calculates the likely head orientation and activates the Spatial Audio effect. The mode is designed to activate when the user stands up.
tvOS 15 includes support for two HomePod Mini speakers
When you sit down to watch a movie or TV show, the built-in head tracking feature kicks in after detecting that you've been looking in the same direction for a while. As soon as you stand up to walk around, it kicks in.
Spatial Audio works with stereo, 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos content, and connecting AirPods to an Apple TV running tvOS 15 has been made easier. When users wear AirPods and are near the Apple TV, they'll see a pop-up on the screen that lets them connect with a click of the remote. Spatial Audio is designed to provide a cinematic listening experience with sound that seems to come from all around you. tvOS 15 also gets new SharePlay features for watching TV with friends over FaceTime calls and support for pairing two HomePod mini speakers to an Apple TV. (Photo by Unsplash / Jeremy Zero)
