I imagine this makes no real difference for 90%+ of users when listening on their headphones.
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I’d say it’s a pivot-phrase: 90% of users with headphones wouldn’t care for a difference. But 10% will. I would certainly pay extra for a reliable delivery service of ‘hi-fi’ OTA/WiFi music to my device-with-connected ear/headphones.
I went from vinyl to CD for fidelity.
Then CD to iPod for convenience.
iPod/iTunes died the on-device death (inevitably) due to streaming, but the compressed convenience continues throughout. Time for a sea-change in streaming audio. It can be done (Apple spatial & Dolby Atmos binaural mix) - but at what ROI for the providers/shareholders?.. That’s the big question.
Is this the same Hi-Fi tier they’ve been attempting to launch since they did a big marketing splash with Billie Eilish four whole years ago?
I’ll believe it when I see it.
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Me too.
Apple did their own thing to kick it off with a proprietary spatial audio process. But a proprietary 
format may not work in the grand scheme. Dolby is already massively engrained in audio and the Atmos format is a winner in the theatrical (cinema) arena. shrink that down into headphones via binaural mixes and it’s a no-brainer.
Apple has since switched to Atmos. Creative audio tools (Pro Tools / Logic) now have Atmos-enabled panning - the big question is why Spotify has taken so long to deliver [insert-binaural-surround-format processing, preferably Atmos] audio to their customers?
‘Spatial’ was Apple’s safe way to market it back then. It became ‘true’ Atmos much later than that marketing vid.
I met with the Dolby Atmos licensing team in late 2023 and they hadn’t yet finalised the Apple deal, but were hopeful. I met with them last month and the Apple deal had been done.
(Capitol Studios in LA is an impressive facilty!)
EDIT: Audio nerds: Look out for the upcoming refurb of Abbey Road’s Studio 1 facility in a few months - world-class British audio engineering technology on another level!
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I use Apple Music. I have an iphone which I use my airposds pro 2 an apple watch and 2 Homepods and an Apple tv Box so makes sense for me to use Apple Music.
I hope they don’t do what Spotify did 
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