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ApplePatent applicationAudio & voiceInterest 6/10

Apple patents method to match headphone sound to your room and the song

Apple describes a way for headphones to adjust sound by checking the acoustics of the room you are in and the specific recording environment of the music file. The device uses sensors to measure your surroundings and applies digital filters to the audio, creating a 3D sound effect that blends the song's original vibe with your current space.

Why it mattersThis could make listening to music or movies feel more immersive by automatically tweaking the sound quality to fit both the physical room and the artistic intent of the recording.

In the filing’s own words

One or more acoustic parameters of a current acoustic environment of a user may be determined based on sensor signals captured by one or more sensors of the device. One or more preset acoustic parameters may be determined based on the one or more acoustic parameters of the current acoustic environment of the user and an acoustic environment of an audio file comprising audio signals that is determined based on the audio signals of the audio file or metadata of the audio file. The audio signals may be spatially rendered by applying spatial filters that include the one or more preset acoustic parameters to the audio signals, resulting in binaural audio signals. The binaural audio signals may be used to drive speakers of a headset. Other aspects are described and claimed.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method performed by a programmed processor of an electronic device, the method comprising: determining a first acoustic parameter based at least partially on 1) a second acoustic parameter of a desired acoustic environment of a user of the electronic device and 2) an acoustic environment of an audio file comprising audio signals, wherein the acoustic environment of the audio file being based on the audio signals; producing binaural audio signals by spatially rendering the audio signals according to the first acoustic parameter; and driving at least one speaker using the binaural audio signals.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
Determining a Virtual Listening Environment
Publication number
US20260281654A1
Application number
19467613
Filed
Feb 2, 2026
Published
Sep 17, 2026
Inventors
10
Claims
20

Classified under

H04S 7/304 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.