THX Announces New THX Spatial Audio+ Architecture for Immersive Audio in Laptops, Soundbars, and Headphones

THX has announced the expansion of its THX Spatial Audio technology, introducing a feature-rich new immersive audio architecture for enjoyment of gaming, movies, and music. The technology introduces support for 7.1.4 multichannel content, head tracking, and content-based audio optimization while listening on laptops and soundbars with speaker arrays, or binaural reproduction on headphones and earbuds.

The new THX Spatial Audio+ immersive audio technology was developed to ensure that users can pinpoint audio accuracy and true-to-life realism of immersive entertainment, even when listening on consumer electronics and mobile devices. THX Spatial Audio+ improves the core spatial experience with an enhanced and flexible architecture designed to support continued innovation, including such unique features as adding height channels to the immersion and camera-based AI head tracking, depending upon the demands of the device.

“The market is moving to integrated immersive audio for the enjoyment of all entertainment. Our research indicates consumers want to enjoy entertainment that has accurate and lifelike audio with emotional depth and realism,” says Tuyen Pham, THX chief executive officer. “THX continues our mission to bring entertainment to life with immersion and fidelity. THX Spatial Audio+ is our step toward this with its first set of new features. Look to THX for even more such advanced features to come.”

According to THX, with THX Spatial Audio+, the listener will gain an enhanced realistic and immersive entertainment experience founded on physics-based room simulation, due to behind-the-scenes development to the core THX Spatial Audio technology topology. These include a flexible, future-proof spatial engine that is designed for over-the-air updates to add new features and support for emerging and future audio formats. 

The THX renderer can be configured for any number of channels, ensuring support for any future format, even beyond 7.1.4 for true 360-degree surround sound. Also, THX’s exclusive high-performance general Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF) with timbral compensation is built based on the analysis of 400 spatial points and applied seamlessly to all filters, avoiding the timbral distortion of similar solutions, leading to a more neutral HRTF for unmatched audio quality with no tonal distortion.

 

Plus, for consumer electronics devices that have multiple speakers, such as laptops, the THX Spatial Audio+ transaural speaker optimization with advanced central vocal image processing ensures a best-of-class accurate and lifelike spatial experience, delivering binaural, three-dimensional sound field over stereo speakers.

Beyond this core modern technology architecture, THX Spatial Audio+ also makes any consumer electronics product more dynamic and future-proof with its robust suite of innovative new features. Consumer electronics products boasting the THX Spatial Audio+ brand will come at launch with at least one of the announced features, such as support for 7.1.4 multichannel content, AI head tracking, parametric EQ, or content-based audio optimization. Those can also be added with over-the-air updates; while additional THX Spatial Audio+ features can also be added over time, extending the life and feature richness of the product.

7.1.4 (for games on Windows 11 that support height channels) – Allows users to fully experience the growing list of content that provides audio cues from above without an expensive speaker set-up through virtual height speakers that are adjustable to fine-tune for the intended environment.

 

AI Head Tracking – Using a built-in or third-party attached webcam or six degrees of freedom Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU sensor), users will experience even greater realism when their head moves, as the environment remains fixed in response to low-latency adaptive spatial audio cues that faithfully recreate the real-world experience of human movement within the virtual environment.

Parametric EQ – Highly professional studio-grade 7-band parametric EQ for fine-tuning critical sound cues. Includes adjustable high and low shelf, visual response curve of parameters, and ability for users to load, save, and share with others.

Intelligent Audio Optimization – AI-based detection maximizes settings based on content type and audio format and notifies the user when optimal settings are selected or modified.

THX Spatial Audio+ features will be available in the summer of 2025, on products from key THX partner brands. THX also confirms that a further robust list of THX Spatial Audio+ features will be rolled out in Q4 2025 and into 2026. A list of products and brands that have THX onboard can be found here. Manufacturers interested in bringing THX Spatial Audio+ to new products should send a message by email to THX.

www.thx.com