Oliver Haslam on May 2, 2019, 8:27 pm

Netflix Adds ‘Studio Quality’ Audio To Movies And TV Shows

There’a Always a lot of attention on video quality when it comes to streaming services, but audio is another important factor for those looking to get the very best out of their movie and TV show watching experiences. Now Netflix has announced that has increased its audio quality to never before seen levels.

Following the upgrade, Netflix claims that viewers will be able to experience its content in a way that closer mimics the sound that content creators heard in the studio.

In order to make that possible, Netflix’s new maximum audio bitrate is 640 kb/s for devices that support 5.1 sound, and 768 kB/s for those that support Dolby Atmos.

To take advantage of that Dolby Atmos support, users will need to have an accompanying Netflix Premium subscription.

Most TV devices that support 5.1 or Dolby Atmos are capable of receiving better sound. Depending on your device and bandwidth capabilities, the bitrate you receive may vary:

5.1: From 192 kbps (good) up to 640 kbps (great/perceptually transparent)

Dolby Atmos: From 448 kbps up to 768 kbps (Dolby Atmos is available for members subscribed to the Premium plan)

Netflix also says that anyone with low bandwidth or devices that don’t support the higher audio quality will not have any issues thanks to the adaptive its nature. It also says that it will continue to work on new techniques for getting audio into users’ ears, as its bitrates “evolve over time.”