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 great 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 Sony app and go to My Device in the main menu. In Listening mode, select Movies. 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. It’s even more noticeable when you’re watching a Dolby-enhanced movie on a streaming service like Netflix (or YouTube’s audio tests , which will sound pretty cool on your phone ).
While 360 Reality Audio Upmix will never match true surround sound, it does a great job of upmixing non-immersive audio. I was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked — I just wish Sony would make its app more user-friendly so it’s easier to find.