I Figured Out How to Use the Spatial Sound Feature on the WH-1000XM6 and It’s Awesome!
The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are my pick for the best premium headphones of 2025. When I reviewed them , I found that they outdid themselves in almost every way. But in my opinion, Sony could improve even these fantastic headphones (beyond lowering the price) by making them more comfortable to use. When I tested them, I couldn’t figure out how to use their version of spatial audio, an immersive movie mode that makes sound seem like it’s coming from everywhere. So I turned to Sony for help.
Sony has its own name for spatial sound
Sony calls its spatial audio feature “360 Reality Audio Upmix,” but it’s essentially the same thing: The headphones mix the audio you’re listening to and process it to create a 3D (or spatial) sound effect. That means you can listen to music that’s not meant to be immersive, and the headphones will do their best to make it sound that way. And they do a great job of it.
How to Enable Spatial Audio on WH-1000XM6
To enable 360 Reality Audio Upmix, open the Sound Connect app (Sony’s app for controlling your headphones) and go to My Device in the main menu. In Listening mode, select Movie. That’s it. There’s no indication in the app that you’re using 360 Reality Audio Upmix, but you’ll hear the difference right away.
This is especially noticeable when you watch a Dolby movie on a streaming service like Netflix (or YouTube audio tests , which will sound pretty good on your phone ). Really, this feature is only worth using for movies/TV shows or video games. It works with music too, but you might be better off using your own equalizer. This feature replaces your own equalizer, so you’ll notice a difference in the sound.
That’s all there is to setup, but there’s more. Next, you’ll need a third-party app recommended by Sony to optimize spatial audio. (I know, it’s a pain.)
Optimize spatial sound
Before moving to another app, leave the Sound Connect app open. Follow the instructions to create a hearing profile. It’s simple: you’ll answer questions about what sounds you prefer. This will tailor the sound to your ears using personalized hearing analysis. This will ensure clarity and immersion across all apps, not just spatial analysis.
Next, you will need to download the 360 Reality Audio Live app to complete the spatial audio optimization. This is one of the few apps that supports 360 Reality Audio. You will know the optimization is complete when you see a screen that says “Optimization complete for WH-1000XM6.” Once the setup is complete, your headphones will be optimized for your ear for spatial audio. You can watch some videos in the app that support 360 Reality Audio to see how it works.
Now you can enjoy spatial audio to the fullest. While 360 Reality Audio Upmix will never match true surround sound, it does a great job of upmixing non-immersive audio. Just keep in mind that the optimizations in the 360 Reality Audio Live app only work with compatible apps. However, the hearing profile you create will work for anything, like watching Netflix or other media. I was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked — I just wish Sony made the app more user-friendly so it was easier to customize.