Netflix Now Sounds Better With "High Quality" Audio
Netflix is looking to improve the way you experience its content by bringing studio-quality sound to the streaming platform. Today the company is rolling out new "high-quality audio" for devices that support 5.1 or Dolby Atmos.
The improved sound technology transmits a higher bitrate to your TV, albeit this is determined by each device and differing bandwidth capabilities. The bitrates for 5.1 range from 192 kbps, which is considered good, to 640 kbps, which is considered great, while Dolby Atmos offers 448 kbps to 768 kbps. According to Netflix, the bitrates will improve as the company enhances its encoding.
Netflix ultimately decided to update its sound quality following an episode of Stranger Things 2 from 2017. The company's sound engineers were tasked with improving the audio after a car chase scene wasn't sounding up to par. To remedy the issue, the team utilized a higher bitrate.
To hear about how Stranger Things inspired Netflix's improved sound quality, press play below. Again, the feature launches today.