February 2, 2023, 12:36 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Netflix now offers four different subscription models, with options previously differing mainly in resolution. However, the premium tier is now getting additional features.
The main advantage of Netflix’s premium option has been the support for 4K UHD resolution. Additionally, users could save downloads for later viewing on up to four devices simultaneously. But now the company is expanding the feature set to further distinguish the highest subscription tier from the cheaper alternatives.
Exclusive Audio Feature for Netflix Premium Users
In a press release, the company announced that more than 700 of the platform’s most-watched titles now support Spatial Audio–or “Netflix 3D Audio.” This includes series such as Stranger Things, The Watcher, and Wednesday, as well as the film Knives Out: Glass Onion. Upcoming series and films will receive the new audio feature right from the start. This also applies to already announced titles like You, Your Place or Mine, Luther: The Fallen Sun, and Tour de France. Users can find compatible series and films by entering “Spatial Audio” or “3D Audio” in the search function. If a title supports the feature, a small logo will appear.
Learn more: Netflix’s new audio feature enables cinema sound
Spatial Audio–or 3D Audio–may already be familiar to some from Apple’s AirPods. It describes a software feature that can simulate immersive surround sound–regardless of the audio source. No elaborate surround system is necessary; Spatial Audio is primarily optimized for tablets and laptops. However, TVs and smartphones with stereo speakers also benefit from it. The only requirement is playback in stereo audio–the feature is not compatible with 5.1 surround sound.
Netflix Now Offers Cinema-Quality Sound With New Audio Feature
What Exactly Is 3D Audio?
Downloads on More Devices Simultaneously
Previously, the Netflix premium subscription allowed downloads for offline viewing on up to four devices simultaneously. The standard subscription supports two, and the basic subscription only one device for downloads. Now the company is increasing the limit for the premium tier to six devices. The other subscription tiers remain unaffected.
3D Audio and the increased download limit are now available for Netflix premium users. The subscription costs 17.99 euros per month and includes other exclusive features such as 4K UHD, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and Dolby Atmos.
Sources
- Netflix: “New Features for Netflix’s Premium Subscription” (accessed February 2, 2023)
- The Verge: “Netflix introduces spatial audio to a lot more movies and shows” (accessed February 2, 2023)