Razer"s higher-end gaming headsets have included support for THX Spatial Audio for some time now, promising a more immersive surround sound experience. The problem was that feature was exclusive to headsets that cost $100 or more, which created a significant price barrier. Starting today, you can add THX Spatial Audio support to almost any headset you use thanks to a new Windows 10 app.
THX Spatial Audio aims to provide "authentic positional audio experiences", simulating 7.1 surround sound even if you"re using a regular stereo headset. The app comes preloaded with a handful of profiles you can choose from depending on your usage, but there"s a customizable equalizer, for each profile, plus the ability to create different profiles with more equalizer profiles. There"s also an HRTF calibration tool so you can fully customize the virtual speaker placement, volume, and distance to suit your personal preference.
The tool will work with just about any kind of stereo headset, and they don"t have to be Razer branded either. It will work with headsets using the 3.5mm headphone jack, USB, or even Bluetooth.
As you might expect, the THX Spatial Audio app isn"t free - after all, the feature was exclusive to Razer"s higher-end headsets. If your current headset already supports 7.1 Surround sound - as in the case of Razer"s Kraken X, for example - THX Spatial Audio is a $9.99/€12.49 upgrade. The standard price is otherwise $19.99/€24.99, and there"s a free trial you can download if you"re unsure whether it"s something you want or not.