Sound Choices

The 5 Best Headphones With Spatial Audio for Immersive Tunes

Want that surround sound experience? From Sony to Bose, these top-rated cans deliver

By Joshua Kanter

Joshua Kanter

Contact Joshua Kanter by Email

View all posts by Joshua Kanter

September 19, 2022

Add us as a Google Preferred Source

best headphones with spatial audio

Amazon

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Way back in the day, there was no place like the cinema for true surround sound. The booming speakers lined the walls around you, immersing you in the movie no matter which direction you turned your head and no matter where you sat.

Since then, home surround sound systems have evolved significantly, with a speaker in every direction, but headphone quality has too, and the next logical step in this progression is spatial audio capability. This latest tech paints a 3D audio landscape all around you, allowing you to hear sound from media just as you would in real life, where it changes with your movement and head placement using dynamic head-tracking, recreating a cinema-like experience.

The Best Headphones With Spatial Audio

From Apple to Sony, these top-rated wireless headphones deliver big on immersive spatial audio.

Apple AirPods Max

Amazon

For visual media, like movies, shows, and games, Apple’s AirPods Max Spatial Audio brings a whole new level to sound immersion. These are best for when your focus is ultimately in one spot, like a screen, since the sound will still be “coming from” in front of you no matter where you turn your head. The build quality of the headphones themselves are strong and the cushions are comfortable to wear for long stretches.

$387.45

Buy Now On Amazon

Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones

Amazon

Sony’s answer to Apple’s Spatial Audio is its own, aptly named 360 Reality Audio. The mix is what really shines through here, with precise instrument and frequency separation, and that there’s often no need to move your head around since you can already hear everything as how, and where, it’s supposed to be. Before you start listening with these, you’ll need to download the app and take a photo of both your left ear and right ear. It then scans the photos and optimizes the headphones to deliver the best possible sound for your ears’ shape. It’s an incredible step in technology that was previously only done for major recording artists and those who could shell out wads of cash for customized ‘phones. But it’s not just a gimmick, and you’ll hear the results right away.

Editor’s picks



The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far



The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time



The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time



100 Best Movies of the 21st Century

$226.20

Buy now On Amazon

HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless Spatial Audio Gaming Headset

Amazon

A 20-hour battery is just the beginning with this mic’d up headset. The 2.4GHz wireless proved to be reliable and fast with little lag in our testing, and Hyper X’s spatial audio creates a 3D soundscape all around you – perfect for perking up your senses during gaming. The noise-cancelling mic is detachable, and the aluminum frame is built to last.

$108.99 $199.99 46% off

Buy Now On Amazon

Razer Kraken V3 Wired RGB USB Gaming Headset

Amazon

Gamers will instantly recognize the Razer brand, as the company has been cranking out tons of gaming gear for years now. These over-the-ear headphones are filled with gel-infused cushioning, preventing uncomfortable overheating through long sessions. Plus, they feature the ability to personalize the soundscape you want, with 7.1THX surround sound that provides precise spatial audio all around.

$107.35

Buy On Amazon

Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless Premium Gaming Headset With Spatial Audio

Amazon

Corsair’s spatial audio headset can handle a wide range of audio frequencies – from 20Hz to 40,000Hz, enough to amplify even a small sound effect off in the distance, and rock your head during an action sequence. And that’s just wirelessly. When connected with a USB cable, you’ll get high-fidelity 24bit/96kHz sound with extremely low latency. The omni-directional mic carries your voice loud and clear, plus they’re versatile and work with Macs, PCs, PS4, and PS5.

Related Content

How to Watch 'The Assembly' Canada Season 2 Online In the U.S.

New York City Marathon Livestream: How to Watch the 2026 Race Online for Free

Canelo vs. Mbilli Livestream: How to Watch the Boxing Fight Online In the U.S.

Best Speakers for Small Apartments That Still Bring Big Sound

Buy On Amazon

What Is Spatial Audio?

“Spatial audio” is a term that you’ll find primarily refers to Apple’s premium headwear products, like AirPods, EarPods, and Beats, though for other brands it can sometimes be seen as “Spatial Stereo,” “360 Reality Audio,” or something similar. Either way, these play non-Dolby Atmos media and turn it into an immersive world of sound, usually with no extra subscription service needed. Think of it like strapping on VR goggles and being able to look around, but instead of visually, it’s all audio.

The biggest difference between Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio is that, while Dolby still provides an all-around enveloping soundscape, Spatial Audio is what keeps the sound centered and tracks your head (or device) movements, making it sound even more realistic.

Listening: When it comes to streaming services, some can’t handle the level of quality that these headphones can deliver. A few, like Tidal and Deezer, are specifically made for high-end listening that Spotify can’t quite handle. For movies and shows, the good news is that major channels like Netflix and Disney+ have been making it easier than ever to find content (like Stranger Things) that works with these ever-growing and amazing audio capabilities.

Trending Stories

Michael Douglas Gives Update on Jack Nicholson: He's 'Well' But Has 'Disappeared'

Martha Stewart 'Distressed' by Backlash to Her Homeless Halloween Costume

My Chemical Romance Tops the Billboard 200 With 20-Year-Old Album

Harry Styles Ended His Historic Madison Square Garden Run — And This Song Captured It All

How to Activate it on iOS: Once you’ve got a pair of these, and if you’re on an Apple device, go into Settings, scroll down until you reach Music, and make sure it’s on.

In this article:

More News

Read more

Top stories newsletter

A Cultural Force That Transcends Generations

Enter your Email

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services.