They can make you frustrated, with tinny sound, audio crackling, and low bass creating an underwhelming audio experience.

There's no denying that renting a place comes with its advantages - no mortgage, no property taxes, and flexibility to move around when needed. Consider it this way: The audio washes over you in a single horizontal plane when you utilize standard surround sound.While you can’t improve the actual hardware components in headphones like this, you can work on the software.

He's been reviewing laptops and accessories full-time since 2016, with hundreds of reviews published for Windows Central. We cover Windows, Mac, software and apps, and have a bunch of troubleshooting tips and how-to videos. Because this is the data that Dolby Atmos-enabled receivers use to mix their spatial sound, Windows Sonic includes full Dolby Atmos support in the latest versions of Windows 10. Windows Sonic for Headphones works through virtual means, which is obvious because it has to fit the requirements of all devices.In your speaker or headphone properties, switch to Windows 10's “Spatial sound” tab and change the dropdown from “Off” to “Windows Sonic for Headphones”. Spatial sound forms the basis of Windows Sonic for Headphones and is required as a way in which to 'create audio objects that emit audio from positions in 3D space'. Windows Sonic for Headphones is its official name, but it isn’t the only spatial sound option accessible to Windows 10 users.

The Spatial Sound feature doesn’t work with all devices, such as inbuilt speakers, but headphones support it in all sizes.

If you want to enjoy virtual surround sound but don’t want to spend money on subscriptions or additional equipment, Windows Sonic is the best option. He is an avid PC gamer and multi-platform user, and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing about tech. You have a better chance of hearing subtle nuances when watching a film with Windows Sonic for Headphones activated. With it, you can hear not just the side an audio cue is coming from, but precise angle and elevation. Windows Sonic for Headphones only works with applications, games, or movies that are capable of rendering to 7.

Windows Sonic, thankfully, also works with any pair of headphones – and a good pair of stereo headphones can sound surprisingly realistic. The problem with that is, if your settings aren’t right, then you still won’t get the quality you’re after. Windows Sonic works best with games and movies that already support spatial audio as a result, but it can also “upscale” regular audio for a better experience. Windows Sonic for Headphones is available on Windows 10, but it’s disabled by default, so you’ll need to enable it first.Sound designers spend a lot of time in games and movies carefully placing each sound where it should be, creating an immersive listening experience. However, if you already own a good pair of headphones with a large soundstage, it may not be necessary. Windows Sonic spatial sound can shift audio around your complete body, making it sound like it’s coming from above your head or below your feet.