Netflix sound to improve as it reveals ‘high-quality audio’ update

Changes might not be immediately obvious – but can make a 'profound' difference, says company

Problems became clear when reviewing Stranger Things, Netflix said (Netflix)

Netflix is about to sound a lot better.

The company is rolling out a new "high-quality audio" update that should mean the sound is vastly improved – so long as you have the right equipment to actually hear it.

It says the new feature was inspired by the fact that many of its shows – such as Stranger Things – might not actually sound right unless they are sending down the best quality sound. But that sound quality is limited by people's internet connection, and if it is slow enough then they might miss out on key bits of the audio.

Now it says the new feature will improve the sound that people hear vastly. And it is made to be "adaptive", allowing it to deliver the best audio it can over whatever internet connection people are using.

Netflix already uses such technology in video, which is why the quality of a stream might improve while you watch it, as the internet connection speeds up or there is enough time to download more high quality video. Using it in audio will allow people to get high-quality sound even if they have a limited connection, in the same way.

Anyone with a TV that can play 5.1 audio – which is just about every modern TV and audio system – should be able to use the update, Netflix said. While the improvements might not go immediately noticed, they can make an important difference to the experience of watching film, the company said.

"Some of the most iconic moments in TV and film are defined by their score," it wrote in an announcement. Without its beautiful theme music, would The Crown be as majestic? Would the eeriness of Stranger Things come across in the same way?

"Often the subtlety of sound may go unnoticed, but it can have a profound impact on the atmosphere of a scene and fundamentally change how a viewer responds to it."

The feature came about when the company was reviewing Stranger Things 2 with its directors, doing so in a living room environment that allowed them to watch as viewers might experience it. The sound appeared to be limited, Netflix said, and they consulted with sound experts and engineers to make sure that it sounded right.

The fix involved sending out a higher bitrate for the audio, and those improvements have now been brought to the rest of the app and shows, Netflix said.