We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Sony’s WH-1000XM6 are my pick for the best premium headphones of 2025. When I reviewed them, I found they excelled in almost every category. But one way I think Sony could improve even these fantastic headphones (other than lowering the price), is by making them more user-friendly. When I was testing them, I couldn’t figure out how to use their version of spatial audio, the immersive movie mode that makes it sound like the audio is coming from all around you. So I reached out to Sony to figure it out.
Sony has its own name for spatial audio
Sony calls its spatial audio feature “360 Reality Audio Upmix,” but it’s essentially the same thing: The headphones upmix the audio you’re listening to and process it to create a 3D-like (or spatial audio) effect. This means you can listen to things that are not meant to be immersive and the headphones will do their best to make them sound like they are. And they do a very good job of it.
How to turn on Spatial Audio on WH-1000XM6
Credit: Daniel Oropeza
</div>
To turn on the 360 Reality Audio Upmix feature, open the Sound Connect app (Sony’s app for managing the headphones) and head to “My Device” in the main menu. Under listening mode, select “Cinema.” That’s it. There is no indication within the app that you’re now using the 360 Reality Audio Upmix feature, but you’ll be able to hear the difference right away.
It’s more obvious when you pull up a movie with Dolby from a streaming channel like Netflix (or in YouTube audio tests like this one, which will sound pretty cool on your phone). It really should only be used for movies/shows or playing video games. It works with music too, but it might be better to stick with your customized EQ. The feature replaces whatever EQ you have in place, so you will notice the difference in sound.
That’s all it takes to set it up, but you’re not done yet. Next, you need a third-party app that Sony recommends to optimize the spatial audio. (I know, it’s a pain.)
What do you think so far?
Optimize the spatial audio
Credit: Daniel Oropeza
Before we get to that other app, keep the Sound Connect app open. Follow the instructions there to create a hearing profile. It’s very simple, with questions about which sounds you prefer. This will tailor sound to your ears using a personalized hearing analysis. This helps with clarity and an immersive feel across all apps, not just with the spatial feature.
Credit: Daniel Oropeza
Then, you will need to download the 360 Reality Audio Live app to finish optimizing your spatial audio. This is one of the few apps that support 360 Reality Audio. You know you’ve completed the optimization when you see the “optimization completed for WH-1000XM6” screen. Once you’re finished, your headphones will be optimized to your ears for spatial audio, and you can try some of the videos in the app that support 360 Reality Audio to see how it works.
At this point, you’ll be able to enjoy the spatial audio to its fullest. While the 360 Reality Audio Upmix feature will never match true surround sound, it does a very good job at upmixing non-immersive sound. Just be mindful that the optimization on the 360 Reality Audio Live app will only work with compatible apps. But the hearing profile you created will work for anything, like watching Netflix or other media. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well it works—I just wish Sony would make its app more user-friendly so it would be easier to set up.
