The 3D viewing experience might be dead and buried for most consumers when it comes to their living room TVs — but gaming is another rabbit hole that might actually have legs.
Consumers hated glasses; I have a drawer filled with passive and active glasses that have been gathering dust for years.
I warned consumers in other publications that 3D was going to fail because it doesn’t work very well on a small screen sitting 8 to 10 feet away and that everyone would tire of the glasses.
Ahem.
But what if 3D could work on a gaming monitor without glasses?
Samsung, Audioscenic, and Acer have some interesting solutions that have been introduced at CES 2024 and we think a lot of younger gamers might be rather attracted to the technology if it works.
Audioscenic, the UK-based developer of the Amphi AI Beamforming spatial audio technology, have announced their collaboration with Acer, one of the world’s top ICT companies, to integrate their technology with Acer Immerse Audio. The technology is available on its newest SpatialLabs 3D monitors: the Acer SpatialLabs View Pro 27 and the Predator SpatialLabs View 27.
Combined with Acer’s industry-leading naked-eye 3D visualisation solution, the 27-inch SpatialLabs monitors offer enveloping 3D gaming and viewing experiences with Audioscenic’s proprietary audio technology to provide a completely immersive listening experience without the need for headphones.
“Enhanced by Audioscenic’s Amphi 3D audio beamforming technology, Acer Immerse Audio complements the sensual stereo 3D experiences on the 27” SpatialLabs monitors. Rich soundscapes are echoed from dual 2.5 W speakers for truly encapsulating experiences for gamers, cinephiles and developers. These efforts prove our dedication to providing an intuitive and natural, yet captivating digital adventure without the need for additional components such as headphones or glasses,” comments Jane Hsu, Head of Business Development, Spatial Computing BU at Acer.
A new threshold for the immersive experience
The SpatialLabs 27-inch 4K 3D displays are Acer’s flagship monitors designed for a ground-breaking 3D experience. Acer collaborated with Audioscenic to power its Acer Immerse Audio with Audioscenic’s Amphi AI Beamforming technology that elevates the audio-visual experience. The displays are fine-tuned in every facet of the audio system to craft a virtual headphone experience that takes advantage of the latest spatial technologies without the need for headphones or aid from 3D glasses.
“We’re proud to cooperate with Acer in pushing this technology forward, and are eager to see the impact it has on consumers and creators in the industry alike. The beamforming technology in Amphi has been tuned to utilise the dual speaker system in the SpatialLabs 27 monitors which allow for great immersion,” explained Audioscenic Chief Technology Officer, Marcos Simon. “This implementation, alongside Acer’s SpatialLabs 3D vizualisation solution, creates a heightened level of experience for the viewer that is different from any other monitor on the market.”
The Predator SpatialLabs View 27 follows the first collaboration between the companies, with the Acer SpatialLabs View Pro 27 monitor announced in October 2023. This monitor geared toward professionals like visual designers and developers now grants an opportunity to create realistic content for video, education, retail, museums, simulations and training accompanied by an unmatched life-like audio experience.
The Predator SpatialLabs View 27 is Audioscenic’s latest collaboration to merit a high-profile launch at CES and the brand’s latest venture in consumer products. Previously the brand partnered with Razer and THX to integrate Amphi technology in the Leviathan V2 Pro gaming soundbar, which received several ‘Best of CES’ awards in 2023. Looking forward, the brand continues to explore new and exciting applications for its unique approach to spatial audio technology within a wide array of platforms.
“The strength of Amphi is its flexibility — it can be implemented in any device that has a pair of speakers and a camera as most consumer devices today do,” stated Audioscenic CEO David Monteith. “Our technology offers an accessible, and affordable alternative to existing spatial audio implementations and we are eager to explore new product implementations that will deliver a no-compromise spatial audio experience for everyone and make it an essential part of everyday life.”
