Samsung Expand Audio Support:Auracast,360 Audio,What About Dolby Atmos

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Samsung Expands Audio Support: Auracast, 360 Audio... But What About Dolby Atmos?

21-Feb-2024

Table of Contents

Introduction to Samsung's Expanded Audio Technology Support
Auracast: Expanded Broadcast and Receive Capabilities
360 Audio: Immersive Audio for Select Samsung TVs
- Head-Tracking for Spatial Audio
- Dolby Atmos Compatibility
Auto Switch: Seamless Transitioning
Technical Considerations
Model Compatibility

Introduction to Samsung's Expanded Audio Technology Support

Samsung is revamping its range of audio technologies, including Auracast, 360 Audio, and Auto Switch. These upgrades, while not entirely new, will enjoy broader compatibility across a greater selection of Samsung devices. Progressive rollout begins in late February 2024 for Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, Buds FE, and Buds 2 Pro.

Auracast: Expanded Broadcast and Receive Capabilities

Auracast, a cutting-edge Bluetooth standard, enables a single source device to transmit audio to a virtually limitless number of endpoints (e.g., headphones, speakers). Initially introduced by Samsung for its Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and high-end TV line, Auracast arrived on the Galaxy S24 series smartphones in January 2024. Samsung has now expanded compatibility for the technology to include a wider array of phones and tablets, both as broadcast and receive devices.

360 Audio: Immersive Audio for Select Samsung TVs

Samsung is bringing its 360 Audio experience to specific Neo QLED and OLED 2024 television models. This surround sound technology uses head tracking, creating the illusion that sound emanates directly from the screen. Previously limited to select phones and tablets, 360 Audio will now pair with the Galaxy Buds 2 and Buds 2 Pro (see Samsung's blog post for full TV model compatibility).

Head-Tracking for Spatial Audio: To fully enjoy 360 Audio, a firmware update (late February 2024) is required. This enables head tracking, creating a dynamic, immersive soundscape.
Dolby Atmos Compatibility: It's crucial to note that Samsung's implementation of 360 Audio will temporarily deactivate Dolby Atmos during video playback. This stands in contrast to Apple TV 4K's Spatial Audio, which functions seamlessly with Dolby Atmos for supported content.

Auto Switch: Seamless Transitioning

Samsung’s Auto Switch feature is now available on Galaxy Book laptops, adding to the existing Galaxy tablets and TVs. When Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are paired with these devices, users can seamlessly switch the earbud connection for answering incoming calls without manual re-pairing.

Technical Considerations It is speculated that a future collaboration between Samsung and Google could see a Dolby Atmos competitor emerge. This may potentially result in 360 Audio gaining object-based audio capabilities.

Model Compatibility

Auracast Broadcast Support: