One of the least talked about features of the PS5 is AudioTech's Tempest 3D, which could bring a new level of immersion to gaming on the platform. It might sound like a marketing buzzword, but there's more to this gaming soundtrack than meets the eye...or looks.
Tempest 3D Audio isn't featured in all PS5 games, but developers have used the technology in more than 25 games since the console launched in 2020. It's not limited to third-party exclusives: third-party developers are also implementing 3D audio , including some of the best PS5 games.
3D Audio is a form of surround sound unique to the PS5 console. It all comes down to AudioTech's Tempest 3D engine, housed inside an Oberon GPU with AMD RDNA 2 microarchitecture. This object-oriented audio engine simulates the sound around you by running an accelerated algorithm that can emulate local and remote sounds from hundreds of sources in one 360 degree coverage.
This is similar to what we've seen with the Dolby Atmos support available on the Xbox Series X or Windows Spatial, which has been a part of PC gaming for years. The main difference is that Sony's 3D AudioTech is exclusive to this platform and targeted at supported PS5 games, while the latter two are more general in how games support Virtual 7.1. You'll be able to capture the nuances with a PS5 headset like the official Pulse 3D Wireless Headset, or a third-party option like the SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless.
The number of 3D audio games on PS5 has been growing steadily since the console's launch in November 2020. More than 25 games on the platform can now use proprietary and third-party technologies. Some of the more famous names include Spider-Man: Miles Morales , Gran Turismo 7 and Horizon: Forbidden West .
It can be used with some of the best gaming TVs through the built-in speakers or localized with any of the best PS5 headsets. However, you don't necessarily need fancy audio equipment to get the most out of it. To configure 3D audio on your console, go to PS5 settings and the Sound section. There you will find two separate configuration screens; 3D audio for TV speakers and 3D audio for headphones.
You also have the option to measure the acoustics of the room using the TV speakers. In this process, the keyboard emits a series of tones at different volumes to gauge the size of the room to simulate surround sound. It's also possible to listen and compare the main stereo mix and 3D audio side-by-side.
Is 3D sound important?
I found the 3D sound to be definitely better than stereo when playing games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Ghost of Tsushima . Although the list of games that support this technology is not very large at the moment, it is worth a try, as it does not require expensive equipment.
Is 3D audio better than surround sound?
3D audio is an advanced form of surround sound that simulates hundreds of sources using an object-oriented engine instead of more generic instructions. Since the PS5 Tempest GPU supports AudioTech 3D, it can capture even the best sounds for deeper, richer sounds.
