To produce this personalized tuning, Apple uses the iPhone\u2019s front-facing TrueDepth camera to scan your ears. The process, which involves holding your iPhone about 10 to 20 centimeters from the side of your head, takes under a minute, and the resulting data is then used to optimize spatial audio for your unique ear shape. \u201cThe way we all perceive sound is unique, based on the size and shape of our head and ears,\u201d Apple\u2019s Mary-Ann Rau said during the keynote. \u201cPersonalized spatial audio will deliver the most immersive listening experience by precisely placing sounds in space that are tuned just for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Apple isn\u2019t the first company to go down this path. Sony has offered \u201cpersonalized 360 Reality Audio\u201d since 2019 for supported music services like Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, and Nugs.net. Conceptually, it\u2019s very similar: both Sony and Apple are trying to determine your ear structure and adjust spatial audio processing to account for the unique folds and contours of your ears. The goal is to maintain that 3D audio experience and eliminate any audio quirks that lessen the sensation.<\/p>\n