Optimizing the Aural Experience on Android Devices with xHE-AAC
Article Summary
Phill Williams and Vijay Gondi from Netflix reveal how a codec upgrade is solving one of mobile streaming's most annoying problems: constantly adjusting your volume.
Netflix deployed xHE-AAC audio codec to Android 9+ devices, bringing sophisticated loudness management and dynamic range control to mobile streaming. The team A/B tested against their existing HE-AAC codec to measure real-world impact on member behavior.
Key Takeaways
- Members switched away from built-in speakers 16% less for high dynamic range content
- Volume change interactions noticeably decreased, especially for high dynamic range titles
- Fewer members maxed out volume, suggesting improved satisfaction with output levels
- MPEG-D DRC boosts soft details in noisy environments without affecting dialogue
- Adaptive bitrate audio now scales from studio quality to congestion-proof streaming
Critical Insight
xHE-AAC's intelligent loudness management and dynamic range control reduced volume adjustments and audio sink switching by up to 16%, proving that codec-level intelligence directly improves user experience.
