What is Windows Sonic for Headphones (& How to Enable It)?

Windows Sonic for Headphones is a software that artificially recreates the experience of listening to a 3D surround sound system.

It improves the audio in games and movies, making them life-like and immersive.

The best part? It’s free, and we’ll show you how to enable it on your device step by step (more on that below).

Traditional surround sound formats amplify sound immersion in watching movies and playing video games. However, they require many speakers.

To make the sound feel like it’s all around you with headphones, you can use software like Windows Sonic for Headphones.

In this article, you’ll find out:

What is Spatial Sound?

Spatial sound is a name for how audio is perceived in 3D space, mimicking a natural sound environment where sounds are coming from all directions around you.

The sensation is slightly different from the normal 7.1 surround sound, which only has a horizontal plane. Spatial sound adds height to the equation, making you hear things above and below, as well.

The effect can be done physically by using multiple speakers. Or virtually, by using headphones, software, and psychoacoustic tricks.

Psychoacoustics is a scientific study of how humans perceive various sounds.

How headphones fool you into hearing big soundstage

While we only have 2 ears, we can accurately pinpoint the direction of the sound with spatial sound technology.

How’s that possible?

When something emits sound waves (creates sound), one of your ears hears it sooner than the other. Then, your brain uses that delay information to calculate the approximate direction of the sound.

More specifically, this is called head-related transfer functions (HRTF).

These psychoacoustic tricks are also used when mixing audio. By adjusting reverb and delays, even headphones with 2 drivers can fool you into thinking the sound is moving around your head.

How does spatial sound work?

To experience the spatial sound effect, you require a surround sound mix (song, games, movie) and dedicated surround software to translate the mix to your headphones.

Sound designers make the sound mix. They create positional data of where all the sounds come from in a three-dimensional virtual space.

In games and movies, sound designers take a lot of time to carefully place each sound where it should be, making an immersive listening experience. However, those sound mixes usually work best with multi-speaker setups.

That’s where spatial sound software like Windows Sonic for Headphones comes in. It uses the positional data and converts it to adapt to regular 2-speaker headphones with a stereo sound.

The result is an enhanced audio experience as if you’re listening to a home theater system in your room, but you hear it with your headphones.

What is Windows Sonic for Headphones?

Windows Sonic for Headphones is a spatial sound software that enhances the listening experience by enlarging the soundstage. It gives you the illusion of sounds coming from far away and all around you.

Soundstage in headphones mimics 3D space around your head.

Though, virtual spatial sound experience often comes at a cost of sound quality. Sounds that are artificially pushed away can sound quiet and less crisp.

How does Windows Sonic for Headphones work?

Windows Sonic for Headphones uses spatial sound data to analyze the direction of sounds. Then, it virtually creates a larger soundscape for headphones and places the sounds in a surround sound.

As a result, you hear things further away from you as if they’re coming from multiple directions. Consequently, you feel like you’re hearing sounds the same way we hear them in real life. It makes the audio more immersive.

Windows Sonic uses sound processing, head-related transfer function (HRTF), and object-based audio techniques.

• Sound processing makes spatial sound by changing the audio signals to replicate a realistic sound environment.
• HRTF: Head-related transfer function, as mentioned above, simulates how humans hear audio depending on the sound source and the position of the head.
• 3D object-based audio places sound into virtual 3-dimensional space, which creates an immersive listening experience.

It is a great solution if you don’t have enough space for a real surround sound speaker system in your room.

How many apps use spatial sound data supported by Windows Sonic?

The audio source must be mixed in surround sound format for Windows Sonic spatial sound to work.

However, only Dolby Atmos and 7.1 spatial sound formats work, whereas DTS:X won’t.

Nevertheless, Microsoft points out that many developers use audio engines supported by Windows Sonic. Some apps are even tailored for it to fully use its potential.

When to use Windows Sonic for Headphones (Pros & Cons)?

Here’s when you should use it. you’ll gain the most benefit from using spatial sound technology like Windows Sonic.

Video games are the best use of Windows Sonic for headphones.

Games: Video games are all about spatial sound, using special audio engines to ensure a listening experience with pinpoint accuracy. This is the best way to test Windows Sonic. Try it in a 1st person shooter or open-environment game for the most obvious difference.

Movies: You’ll see the biggest difference in movies using 5.1 or 7.1 audio mixes. Remember that Windows Sonic can also use data from audio mastered for Dolby Atmos.

Advantages

• It’s FREE: No need for expensive equipment and license purchasing. Windows Sonic for Headphones comes with Windows 10/11 operating systems for free.
• You can use any headphones: Windows Sonic isn’t restrained to specific headphones like DTS or Dolby Atmos. You can use it with any ordinary stereo headphones you have at home.
• Saves space: If you have a small room, placing multiple speakers is impossible. Using headphones to create a similar effect is very practical.
• Easy to enable: You turn on Windows Sonic with a few clicks. The setup is simple.

Disadvantages

• Possibly worse sound quality: Unlike Atmos or DTS, content isn’t explicitly mastered for Windows Sonic, leaving software some “room for interpretation.” As a result, you can end up with an inaccurate sound.
• Not as good for music: Music typically isn’t mastered in surround or spatial sound format, so it behaves strangely when run through Windows Sonic.
• Only for headphones: As the name suggests, Windows Sonic for Headphones works best for headphones. You might experience distortion when using it on a desktop or built-in laptop speakers.
• It doesn’t work with audio that isn’t formatted for 7.1 channel surround sound.

Windows Sonic for Headphones doesn’t create better sound quality; instead, it changes the way you hear the sound, in a more realistic 3D way.

Bad and good headphones sound more immersive, while the audio quality stays the same.

Should You Use Windows Sonic?

If you want to experience virtual surround sound but don’t want to spend money on subscriptions or extra equipment, then you should use Windows Sonic. It’s free, and you can always turn it off if you don’t like it.

However, all audio content doesn’t sound good with it. You have to know when to use it and when to leave it off (check the sections above if you haven’t).

Here’s a comparison of Windows Sonic, DTS Headphone:X, and Dolby Atmos.

Does Windows Sonic work with all headphones?

Windows Sonic works with all headphones, but not all provide an equal experience.

• More gaming-oriented headphones and those with already big soundstage perform better.
• In-ear headphones show the least improvement when enabling Windows Sonic.

How to Turn on Windows Sonic for Headphones? (step by step)

Windows Sonic comes integrated with Windows 10 and 11 operating systems. Since it’s targeting gamers, you’ll find it on Xbox consoles as well.

How to activate Windows Sonic on Windows 10

Here’s how you enable spatial sound (Windows Sonic) on Windows PC:

1. Right-click on the speaker volume icon in the right corner
2. Hover over “Spatial Sound”
3. Select Windows Sonic for Headphones. And you’re set to go.

How to activate Windows Sonic on Windows 11

Here are the steps:

1. Right-click on the speaker icon in the bottom right corner and select “Sound Settings.”

2. Under the “Output” section, click on “Speaker.”

3. At the bottom, under the “Spatial Sound” section, you can select Windows Sonic for Headphones.

How to activate Windows Sonic on Xbox One

1. Navigate into Settings > All settings > Display & sound > Audio output > Headset format.
2. In there, you can select Windows Sonic (or any other supported surround sound, for that matter).

How to activate Windows Sonic on Xbox Series X (and S)

1. Go into Settings > General > Volume & audio output.
2. Under the “Headset audio” section, click on “Headset format” and select Windows Sonic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Peter Susic

From a childhood fascination with sound, Peter’s passion has evolved into a relentless pursuit of the finest headphones. He’s an audio expert with over 5 years of experience in testing both audiophile and consumer-grade headphones. Quote: “After many years, I can confidently tell which headphones are good and which are terrible.” Find his honest opinion in his reviews.