Windows Sonic for Headphones is Microsoft’s new take on spatial audio. The company wants to create a surround sound experience for everyone, even with a regular stereo headset.

Windows Sonic was added to Windows 10 as part of an update in 2017, and was quickly rolled out in an update for Xbox One owners. While there’s always the option to also use Dolby Atmos headphones for a surround sound experience (with pros and cons to both), there are plenty of reasons to stick with Sonic Audio over Windows Sonic for Headphones.

Spatial sound forms the basis of Windows Sonic for Headphones, and is required as a way to "create audio objects that emit audio from positions in 3D space." Essentially, it's as if Windows created multiple speakers spread around your room and then emulated the results through your headphones. It's an easy way to get the surround sound experience, but with less physical equipment.

It mixes sounds before they are sent to your headphones. So for example, a gunshot in a game that comes from the right corner is 'repositioned' so that you actually hear it from that direction through your headphones.