[OtinG]

Since my hearing is crap, I never really stayed up with the latest tech in audio, other than to be aware of it.

I remember when THX came out with the Stars Wars era and the Lucasfilm company. THX was not an audio format though, it was probably best described as a system of physically constructing the cinema theaters using specific materials, architectural designs, speaker placement, etc. However, once you heard it in a cinema theater that could properly deliver it, you were impressed. I did feel like I was immersed in the sound. But like I said, this was a delivery system designed for action films rather than an audio format designed for listening to your music at home. It was still very much the era of cassette tapes and LP vinyl records. The CDs were yet to catch hold as they were only being first introduce in the early 1980s.

I'm not sure how well any of the current audio formats or systems like Spatial Audio will work on two speaker systems like headphones/earbuds, but if they can truly make you feel immersed in the sound then great. But like everything else in a world of privately owned formats, getting others to use that format with their equipment and services can easily kill off a good idea. Trying to get content providers to use it, and trying to get service providers like Netflix, Youtube, etc. to offer streaming in Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, Spatial Audio, or any other proprietary format is often frustrating. Time will tell if Spatial Audio ever takes off. Assuming it works well, I can see its benefits if used in video, especially action movies and shows. I'm still unconvinced about how well it would improve listening to music though.