He Windows Spatial Soundalso known as Windows Sonic or Spatial Sound, is a technology developed by Microsoft to directly compete with other similar ones such as EAX (from Creative), THX (from Razer), Dolby either dts. Broadly speaking, what this technology seeks is to allow us to obtain precise 3D positioning using virtual surround sound systems.
Based on the fact that it is a technology specially designed by the software giant and creator of Windows, it adapts perfectly to the operating system. This means that the user experience of this audio system will significantly improve our enjoyment of games and multimedia content of all kinds.
It is interesting to know that the most advanced hardware speaker systems that support surround sound are usually of 5.1 or 7.1 morphology. However, even if it is virtually, here the support in terms of sound points is much higher, as we will tell you below. In fact, we can say, to give us an idea, that the Microsoft API supports up to a total of 17 different audio channels. Also, they are not all the same height, but there may even be raised channels, playing sounds above and below the user, known as an 8.1.4.4 configuration.
Without a doubt, this will allow us to enjoy our Windows computer to the fullest whether we are playing certain titles or enjoying our favorite movies and series. Obviously all this software also has to be compatible with the surround sound that we are talking about now, or at least in part. There are many technologies that are part of all this, and not all games or videos are capable of taking full advantage of them.
The main advantage of this type of surround sound is that, unlike others, it is totally free. Any Windows user will be able to activate it without problems, regardless of the headphone (or speakers) you connect, as long as it is stereo and uses Microsoft drivers. Nor does it depend on any additional software to activate it, since we can start it up with just a couple of clicks. With this tool we can provide new functionalities to our set of speakers in the event that we have a 5.1 or 7.1 sound system.
Microsoft uses this system in all its products, from a Windows PC to Xbox, passing, of course, Hololens. This means that in addition to noticing a very important improvement in terms of the image and graphics that we are going to obtain, the sound can also be considered spectacular. In addition, all this can be extrapolated to most of the multimedia devices that the technological giant makes available to us today.
How to activate Windows Sonic on PC
The first thing we should know is that this is a technology that is integrated into the operating system itself by default. Of course, it is also important to take into account that at first it is not activated, since it is not so widespread and requires a special configuration to start it up, as we will see below. This means that, in order to get the most out of this sound technology in our windows computer, the first thing we must do is activate it; let’s see how.
Windows spatial sound is installed by default in all versions of Windows after the Creators Update and, of course, it is also included in Windows 11. To use it, all we have to do is connect headphones, headphones or speakers to the computer. It does not matter the way, we can do it through the green connector (mini-jack) on the back of the tower, from the universal connector of the laptop, or by USB. It is also compatible with wireless helmets.
It goes without saying that these network hardware devices that we are talking about and that we must first connect to our computer should be compatible with surround sound. The higher the quality of these elements and their compatibility, the better the audio experience we will obtain when playing the corresponding ones. multimedia content.
Once the cases are connected, all we have to do is click with the right mouse button on the audio icon, which appears next to the Windows clock, and select “spatial sound”. Here we will be able to see all the options that we can activate. What interests us in this case is that of «windows sonic for headphones«.
Ready. We don’t have to do anything else. From now on, our stereo headphones will behave like 7.1 surround headphones, allowing you to enjoy games or movies much more. In case you want to deactivate it, we simply go back to the previous section and choose the “deactivated” option.
As we mentioned before, it is true that this is a virtualization of that surround sound that we have been talking about in these lines. But thanks to the development and technology of Microsoft itself, we can assure you that here we will obtain some really apparent results. Not comparable to a real 7.1 system with its corresponding speakers, for example, but it will significantly improve both the execution of games and the reproduction of videos.
Also activate DTS or Dolby sound in Windows
But when it comes to getting the most out of all this software and the audio that composes it, this Microsoft-owned technology isn’t the only one that we can activate and use on our Windows-based computer. And it is that at the same time we will be able to put into operation other similar technologies that are more well-known and widespread, as we will see below.
In this way, in addition to Windows Sonic, the operating system in turn is compatible with another type of spatial sound. For example, the most common are DTS:X and Dolby Access. However, both technologies are paid. We can download the respective apps from the store and activate them, but in order to use them we will have to go to the checkout.
Unless our headphones already come standard with the Dolby or DTS license. This is the case, for example, with the Logitech G935 (among others), which are already certified to work with DTS:X for headphones and therefore we can use the effect with such headphones for free. All of this and just like in the previous case, in order to improve the audio system available on our Windows-based computer. Surely it is something that we are going to notice from the first moment.
To activate the effect, the process is the same as to activate Windows Sonic, since by selecting the spatial sound option we can see the effects that are available, both dts like Windows Sonic.
If the headset comes with a license to Dolby Atmos or DTS, the programs will detect it instantly and allow us to use it without problems. On the contrary, we will have to pay a license ourselves to be able to make use of these spatial sound algorithms.
How much do Dolby and DTS licenses cost?
As we have already explained, Windows Sonic is completely free for all users of the Microsoft operating system, regardless of what device we use it with (speakers, headphones, sound bar, etc.). And, if we have some headsets that already include their own license, we can use them with these algorithms without paying. Of course, only with the corresponding peripheral (not with others).
But, if we do not have headphones or speakers with a Dolby Atmos or DTS license, and we want to take advantage of it, we can buy the license separately. In this way, we will be able to activate the algorithms in any speaker or helmet that we connect to the computer, regardless of whether or not it is prepared to work with these technologies. Of course, the licenses are not exactly cheap.
In the case of DTS, for example, we can do them with a full DTS headphone:X license for 19.99 euros, a single payment. In addition, we have a 14-day trial version, during which we can see if it suits our needs. On the other hand, the Dolby Atmos for Headphones license, the price of this license is 17.99 euros, and we can buy it from the Microsoft Store.
The best choice? It’s simple. If our headphones or speakers do not support it, then it is best to use Windows Sonic, since the experience is very similar, but free. However, if the headphones come with a surround sound license, either DTS or Dolbythen better take advantage of it and use it, which is why we have paid for it when buying the headphones.
At this point we must keep in mind that the acquisition of headphones or speaker systems that are natively compatible with any of these technologies will possibly be more expensive. This means that, although as a general rule almost nobody likes to pay for this type of application, over time the purchase will be very profitable for us. Obviously this is something that becomes evident in the event that we reproduce video content or enjoy games compatible with this type of surround technology in terms of Audio.
What if it’s not available
It may happen that when connecting headphones (for example, the Logitech that we have mentioned before) that, when trying to activate spatial sound, we do not get available options. This is because the driver that is installed by default is configured to take control of the device through specific software and therefore does not allow the use of other spatial sound systems.
We must bear in mind that the drivers of the hardware devices that we connect to our PC are the small pieces of software that are in charge of communicating the component as such with the operating system. Hence the availability of certain functions and technologies that we can use will depend to a large extent on these drivers that we are talking about. This is precisely why it is important to keep them updated to their latest version on most occasions.
Luckily, this has an easy solution: change the manufacturer’s proprietary driver for the Windows generic one. To do this, what we must do is open the Sound window, where all the playback devices will appear. We double click on our headphones to open its properties window, and in controller information we will click on the “properties” button. Now we will see the driver window. We select the “Driver” tab, and click on “Update Driver”.
If the option appears disabled, it means that we need administrator permissions to be able to make this configuration change. Now, we will search for a new driver manually on our computer, and we will choose the one that appears as “audio device”, which is the generic one from Microsoft.
Ready. If it asks us to restart the computer, we do it to complete the driver update process. When the PC starts up again, we try to activate the spatial sound again, and we can see how all the available options now appear. In our case, the helmets are Windows Sonic and DTS:X compatible for freewithout having to pay…
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