Spatial audio not available - Monterey

Hi tmunix,

As of right now Dolby Atmos in Apple Music on Monterey is available when You download entire album. Unfortunately, there is no Dolby Atmos while streaming. ;/

so to sum up: (of course if You have compatible headphones)

streaming via music.app on Monterey with M1 Macs = no Dolby Atmos

downloading whole album in Dolby Atmos = You can hear in Dolby Atmos.

I hope this workaround will help You, until Apple fix this.

I can confirm the same issue. I had to open Music, go to preferences, ensure that Atmos downloads were enabled, and actually download the song. This is not very intuitive, as this limitation isn't indicated anywhere, and this even happens when browsing "Made for Dolby Atmos" music.

I have discovered that this option is only disabled when Music app is the active application.

If I’m watching videos on YouTube via a browser, for example, the option was enabled.

Also I was pleasantly surprised when audio in a video game I was playing was “spatial”.

Hi tmunix,

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities. We understand you have some questions about spatial audio. We're happy to share some information to help.

Make sure you have automatically enabled, and that you are listening to supported songs for Dolby Atmos. See more on that here: About spatial audio with Dolby Atoms in Apple Music

Thanks

Special Audio Working after u download the songs on ur Mac so get apple music subscription and download the music and enjoy until apple fix this issue.

it appears that the spatial head-tracking feature is only applicable when you are playing video - no matter on Apple Music or Youtube. (sharing the screenshot of the demonstration video of SA from Apple Music App - it won't allow me the cut the playing screen tho...)

Ive beeping trying my AAP with the latest firmware with all the configurable parameters but still can't activate the head-tracking feature...

Hello,

I think I have a similar issue with a MacBook Pro 14'' 2021 with Monterey 12.0 and AirPods Max (can't really say witch firmware's on it)

When looking for spatial audio on audio control center, its greyed out just like you. In Music preferences, although, I can set Dolby Atmos preferences, unlike you. When I tried to play Dolby Atmos content from music app (streaming) the spatial audio toggle from control center is still greyed out but the mini player

If I disable the automatic or always on option in music preferences the dolby symbol disappears and the sound changes (becomes less engaging).

Despite this, I still get the spatial audio greyed out in control center.

The same tracks played through my iPhone get the Spatial sound option in control center. None of the tracks are downloaded so that it will only work with downloaded tracks must not be true.

I'm updating to Monterey 12.0.1as I type, lets see if it changes anything...

Just my two cents to the discussion as I bugs the **** out of me too...

Same here, except I have Airpods Max.

Most songs seem to play in stereo though, but spatial audio is a bit of a crapshoot, especially when using videoconferencing software (Teams, Zoom)

I've switched to listening via iPhone until a few more Monterey upgrades.

@Buckanzai,

I am having the exact same issue! I am running a 2021 M1 14' MBP, Running Monterey 12.1, and this is still greyed out. I don't think I have ever been able to play spatial audio with head tracking on this machine which is quite annoying since it IS one of the macs that should have the feature, according to apple.

Thank you for explaining this!! I guess we’ve finally gotten to the bottom of the issue: we need to be playing a *video* for true spatial audio to work.

Interestingly enough, when Apple originally released Dolby atmos for iOS, they didn’t enable spatial audio with head tracking— that came months later in iOS 15. However, head tracking was *always* available from launch if you watched music videos on Apple Music (on iOS, not mac).

Pretty bummed about this release. This is yet another thing that seems to not work with Monterey (including Apple watch unlock, window management,...).

also another funny thing(guess you guys are aware as well) - on iPhone, SA head-tracking feature is automatically activated for most apps - even the games, if you are on SA mode already.

that solved nothing..... I spent more than 3000k on this computer and airpods, so that this does not work and that there is no solution available! How great..