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I tested Amphi Hi-D, the AI audio tech that rivals Dolby Atmos
During a recent demo with Audioscenic at CES 2025, I experienced their new Amphi Hi-D technology first-hand. While Dolby Atmos has long dominated immersive audio, this AI-powered alternative surprised me with its ability to create convincing 3D sound from basic device speakers.
How Amphi Hi-D works
Amphi Hi-D’s approach to 3D audio builds on years of development in the field. While Apple has used head tracking with AirPods for spatial audio, and Dolby Atmos has appeared in laptops with mixed results, Amphi Hi-D takes a different technical approach. The system combines beamforming technology with advanced cross-talk cancellation and AI-powered head tracking, enabling more precise control over sound reproduction. The result is improved frequency response and reduced reflections — advantages I noticed immediately in my testing session.
Amphi Hi-D works with various speaker configurations, from three-speaker ultrathin laptops to six-channel gaming displays. In my evaluation, even a laptop with four speakers demonstrated accurate spatial positioning. What stands out is the system’s ability to handle shifting listener positions in real time.
The system tracks your head position to deliver precise spatial audio.
The technology tracks listener movements using either a dedicated sensor or a camera-based solution. Though both performed admirably with minimal latency, the camera-based tracking showed even more precise positioning. This dual approach offers manufacturers flexibility in implementation.
Immersive gaming made easy
Gaming is where Amphi Hi-D truly excels. My experience with a QD-OLED monitor equipped with bezel-mounted speakers showed much more potential. As I moved around the room in a gaming chair, footsteps tracked with pinpoint accuracy, explosions felt properly placed in the soundscape, and subtle environmental effects like electricity maintained their position in space.
Every sound maintains its position as you move - so long as you are facing the screen.
The system’s capabilities shone brightest while playing Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. The game’s signature whispered voices, representing the protagonist’s psychosis, maintained distinct positions around each ear, similar to what I’ve experienced from upper-midrange gaming headsets.
Another showcase featured meteorites crashing through a Jurassic landscape, and the vertical sound positioning impressed me the most. The sensation of objects passing overhead felt authentic despite coming from basic laptop speakers. While bass response couldn’t overcome the inherent limitations of small drivers, the localizability of sounds remained accurate.
Making spatial audio accessible
Unlike most Dolby Atmos setups, which require multiple speakers throughout a room or specialized headphones, Amphi Hi-D achieves comparable results with minimal hardware. The system leverages advanced signal processing and machine learning to create convincing directional audio from just a few strategically placed speakers.
You don't need a complex speaker setup to experience immersive audio.
Audioscenic’s initial focus on gamers makes sense — they’re a market seeking immersive audio solutions without the space or budget constraints of complex speaker arrangements. By integrating the technology into monitors and laptops, users get sophisticated spatial audio capabilities built right into their existing devices.
The technology is already available in select products like the Razer Leviathan V2 Pro soundbar and Dell’s latest monitors, though the version I tested showed significant advances. Audioscenic also indicated to me plans for expansion into the headphone market, which would offer another welcome option for personal spatial audio.
Conclusion
Based on my testing, Amphi Hi-D makes a compelling case for simplified spatial audio. While bass response and occasional head-tracking latency show room for improvement, the technology delivers surprisingly effective 3D sound from basic laptop and monitor speakers. For gamers and content creators working in small spaces, it offers a practical alternative to complex speaker setups — though home theater enthusiasts will still prefer their dedicated Atmos systems.
The real achievement here is making convincing spatial audio accessible in everyday devices. As more manufacturers adopt the technology, I think Amphi Hi-D could help standardize spatial audio in places where traditional solutions aren’t practical.