Is 3-D sound the future of audio?

New technologies enable listeners to fully immerse themselves in an aural environment

Thunderspace
(Image credit: (Thunderspace/Facebook.com))

Is it possible to close your eyes and trick your mind into thinking you're in a completely different place? 3-D sound hopes to provide that kind of immersive experience, putting you right in the middle of a crowded street or an opera house — all without leaving your living room.

3-D movies have become the norm for big summer blockbusters, but haven't quite made the jump into people's homes, despite the fact that technology companies have been relentlessly pushing them on consumers. 3-D sound, on the other hand, is a largely forgotten technology with far more potential for mass adoption.

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Tyler Hayes is a freelance writer living in Southern California. He's just as obsessed with discovering new music as he is with trying new technology.