Comparing of Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3 focusing spatial audio

The world of mixed reality is not only defined by visual stimuli, but also by what we hear. In this exciting time, when immersive technologies are becoming more and more important, two devices play a central role: the Meta Quest 3 and the Apple Vision Pro.

While both MR headsets set new standards in their visual representation of virtual and augmented reality, it is the spatial audio that finally blurs the line between the real and virtual worlds.

Focus on 3D spatial audio

In today’s comparison, we take a closer look at the 3D audio capabilities of these two devices. How well can they immerse the user in an acoustic world? How do Meta and Apple’s approaches differ when it comes to implementing spatial sound?

The goal of this article is to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both mixed reality glasses and show which device comes out on top when it comes to 3D audio.

Objective

This comparison is designed to help you understand how both the Meta Quest 3 and the Apple Vision Pro use their 3D audio technologies to create immersive experiences.

We will explore the technical approaches of both devices, compare their performance, and analyze the areas in which they differ. Which VR headset offers a better listening experience, and which is the right choice for different needs and use cases?

The basics of 3D audio: how spatial hearing works

What makes 3D audio so special?

3D audio makes it possible to hear sounds as if they are coming from all directions – from the front, back, above, below and to the side. This is a crucial factor for the immersive experience in VR and AR. The technology is based on simulating natural hearing by precisely positioning sound sources in space.

3D Audio uses the so-called Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) to calculate how sounds are perceived from different positions. Differences in volume and the time it takes for the sound to reach both ears play a central role in this.

How does spatial hearing work?

Spatial hearing is based on the brain’s ability to process small differences in volume and time between the ears. When a sound comes from the left, the left ear hears the sound louder and slightly earlier than the right ear. This allows the brain to determine the exact position of the sound source.

In the virtual world, these effects must be precisely reproduced to give the user the feeling of actually being surrounded by sound. Both headsets, the Meta Quest 3 and the Apple Vision Pro, use this technology to provide an immersive audio experience.

Universal HRTF vs. personalized approaches: Which 3D audio system is better?

Universal HRTF on Meta Quest 3

The Meta Quest 3 uses a universal HRTF system that works well for most users. It is based on an average model of head and ear shapes to create 3D audio. The advantage of this system is that it requires no customization and is ready to use out of the box. However, it may be less accurate in some cases where anatomical differences are too great.

Personalized HRTF in the Apple Vision Pro

In contrast, the Apple Vision Pro relies on a personalized HRTF solution. This involves creating a 3D model of the user’s head and ears based on individual anatomical data. This enables more precise sound positioning that perfectly matches the user’s ears. The result is a more immersive and realistic sound experience, as the sound is optimally tuned to the listener.

Practical tests and experiences

In practice, the Apple Vision Pro with its personalized HRTF technology offers significantly more precise sound reproduction. Users report a more immersive experience because the sound is customized. The Meta Quest 3 also offers good spatial audio, but some users with specific head or ear shapes may notice inaccuracies.

Immersive Video and Spatial 360 Video:

screencapturing of the tech giants

The Meta Quest 3 and the Apple Vision Pro differ greatly in the way they handle screen recording and the audio bitrate, which has a significant impact on the immersive experience.

The Meta Quest 3 uses a relatively low screen recording resolution of 1024 x 1024 pixels, which, combined with an audio bitrate of 64 Kbps, results in rather below-average audio quality. This configuration can affect the quality of spatial audio when playing recorded content, as the low bitrate renders less detail in the sound.

By comparison, Apple Vision Pro offers a much better quality for screen recordings. It uses a 16:9 resolution and a significantly higher audio bitrate, resulting in clearer and more detailed sound. The higher bitrate ensures that audio details are accurately preserved and that the immersive experience is not diminished by compression artifacts.

Actual impact on the audio experience

Users report that the sound quality of Quest headsets often switches screen recordings to mono, which weakens the feeling of spatial audio.

In contrast, the Apple Vision Pro offers a better overall audio experience due to its better audio bitrate and screen recording quality.

Immersive Audio and Spatial Video Technologies: TBE vs. Dolby Atmos

Differences between TBE and Dolby Atmos

The audio technologies of Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro differ greatly in their approach to immersive audio and spatial video.

Meta Quest 3 uses the format developed by Two Big Ears (TBE), which was specifically designed for 360-degree audio. This technology is designed to precisely position audio sources in a 360-degree space and is used primarily for 360-degree video and content. The TBE format was revolutionary when it was introduced because it gave developers the ability to implement immersive audio for free.

In contrast, Apple Vision Pro relies on Dolby Atmos technology, which is particularly prevalent in movies and linear video content.

Dolby Atmos offers an advanced type of 3D audio in which sound objects can be precisely positioned in space, regardless of the number of available audio channels. This creates an immersive audio experience that is particularly effective for linear content such as movies and series.

Which format is more immersive?

In practice, both technologies have their strengths in different areas. The TBE format of Meta Quest 3 is particularly strong in interactive VR experiences and 360-degree videos, as it has been optimized for such content. It also has an optional head-locked stereo track, which is important for voice-overs or background music.

Dolby Atmos, as used in the Apple Vision Pro, on the other hand, offers an extraordinary experience with linear content such as movies or spatial video clips. The technology enables precise placement of sound objects in space, which provides an intense experience, especially with movies and shows that have been optimized for Dolby Atmos.

Overall, Dolby Atmos offers a more immersive experience for cinematic content, while the TBE format of the Meta Quest 3 shows its strengths in dynamic 360 video and interactive content.

Microphone quality and audio recording: Which headset is better?

In this section, we take a detailed look at the audio hardware of the two mixed reality headsets, the Meta Quest 3 and the Apple Vision Pro. We focus on the differences in audio recording and playback, especially the performance of the microphones and headphone compatibility.

We also compare how the Meta Quest 3 and the Apple Vision Pro use their respective technologies to ensure optimal sound quality and which hardware offers the better audio experience for virtual and augmented reality.

Competitor microphones

The Meta Quest 3 has a simple microphone system designed for basic audio recording. It provides sufficient sound quality for voice recordings, although there were initial sound quality issues that have only been improved by updates.

However, the Quest 3’s microphones cannot always provide clear sound in noisy environments, which can affect immersion. External microphones or audio recorders are recommended when high-quality sound recordings are important.

The Apple Vision Pro uses a much more advanced solution with six integrated microphones that enable precise noise cancellation. This ensures that ambient noise is filtered out, focusing on clear voices and specific audio sources. This advanced microphone arrangement is ideal for immersive mixed reality experiences, where the user should be completely immersed in the virtual environment, including acoustically.

Use of the best headphones

The Meta Quest 3 offers a great deal of flexibility when it comes to the choice of headphones.

It has a 3.5mm audio jack that allows users to use almost any type of headphone, from simple in-ear models to professional over-ear headphones. For a more immersive VR experience, it is recommended to use headphones with noise cancellation, especially for gaming experiences where disturbing external noise could affect immersion.

The Apple Vision Pro, on the other hand, uses a tight integration with the AirPods Pro, which are specifically designed for Apple’s Spatial Audio technology.

These provide excellent sound quality and integrate seamlessly into the Vision Proexperience. The AirPods Pro with active noise cancellation ensure that the user is fully immersed in the virtual realitywithout being distracted by ambient noise. The integrated audio pods of the Vision Pro offer solid sound quality, but for the best audio experience, the AirPods are the best choice.

Developer tools for Unity: Meta’s XR Audio SDK vs. Apple’s minimalist approach

Unity Development Tools: Meta’s XR Audio SDK

Meta Quest 3 offers developers an advanced XR Audio SDK designed specifically for mixed reality headsets.

By integrating with Unity, developers have maximum control over audio playback and the positioning of 3D sound. This is particularly useful for creating VR experiences where precise spatial sound enhances immersion in virtual worlds. The Meta Quest SDK also supports development for Quest headsets, including the Quest 2 and the new Quest Pro.

The SDK allows developers to work with various audio formats, including pass-through audio to integrate the real environment into the virtual experience. This SDK is ideal for gaming, but also for creative applications that use immersive audio.

Apple’s minimalist approach

The Apple Vision Pro takes a rather minimalist approach. Rather than giving developers a wide range of controls, Apple offers seamless integration of Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, which means that audio playback is optimized without much effort. This method is aimed at developers who don’t want to go deep into audio development but still want to create impressive mixed reality experiences.

Apple’s Vision Pro is particularly suitable for developers who want to create content for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), where audio tends to work in the background while the visual focus is on the Micro OLED displays.

SDK comparison: What developers need to know

For developers who need deep control over 3D audio creation, the Meta XR Audio SDK is the best choice. It allows precise control over audio playback in different VR environments and scenarios, which is especially helpful to play games. Meta Quest 3 and other Quest headsets provide the necessary hardware support for these extensive audio adjustments.

The Apple Vision Pro headset, on the other hand, offers a more elegant solution for developers who want to focus more on content than on audio fine-tuning. The close connection to iPhone apps and other Apple products such as Apple TV offers the advantage of easy integration without the need for a lot of individual audio customization.

Watch the full presentation here:

Apple Vision Pro vs. Meta Quest 3 – Which headset offers the best 3D audio?

Both mixed reality headsets offer impressive 3D audio experiences, but in different ways. The Meta Quest 3 impresses with a flexible audio SDK that gives developers maximum control while providing users with a personalized soundscape thanks to open headphone compatibility. It is ideal for VR gaming and developers who want to delve deep into audio design.

While both the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 integrate advanced technologies, the Apple Vision Pro places a stronger emphasis on eye and hand tracking, enabling more intuitive controls and immersive interactions compared to the Meta Quest 3’s approach.

The Apple Vision Pro relies on Dolby Atmos and audio ray tracing to provide a seamless AR experience, especially for users who value ease of use and premium audio.

If you are looking for support with audio development for mixed reality glasses or want to delve deeper into 3D audio, feel free to contact me.