Do not be surprised if the next time you watch a show on your Android phone marathon, Netflix sounds nicer. Netflix has upgraded its Android app to stream audio in xHE-AAC (Extended HE-AAC with MPEG-D DRC; yes, it’s a mouthful), and promising ‘studio-quality’ audio that is also more consistent – it that is, you should enjoy it in more places.
The new format offers a variable bit rate that can improve the sound quality if your connection allows it, and can scale down if you are on a flaky mobile link. Noise management, meanwhile, prevents shocking volume changes (think of jumping from an action movie to a silent drama) and compensates for noisy environments without the risk of making the loudest noises. You can listen on the speakers of your phone without understanding the dialogue.