Sony has officially launched its 360 Virtual Mixing Environment (360VME) in the UK, in partnership with HHB Communications, and after trying it himself, Matt Gregory reckons it is nothing short of revolutionary for professionals working in immersive sound.
I had the chance to experience the Sony 360 Virtual Mixing Environment (360VME) in person yesterday, and it is clear that Sony is setting a new benchmark for how creators, engineers, and video professionals can work with spatial audio.
The principle of 360VME is simple but powerful. Traditionally, mixing immersive sound requires a multi-speaker setup in a purpose-built studio such as the (incredible) 7:1:4 Dolby Atmos studio I experienced today at HHB’s Soho space. However, these facilities are rare, can be costly, and/or geographically limited. Not helpful if working on a relatively small budget and you aren’t 20 minutes away from London or LA.
The 360VME changes that by replicating the acoustic field of a professional multi-channel studio inside headphones. Using a personal measurement session at HHB’s London studio (they can also come to your home/ studio for a small fee), the system creates a custom profile for each user. I now have mine and can take the HHB studio, anywhere (even on the train where I am writing this). That profile, combined with Sony’s dedicated software and the new MDR-MV1 open-back monitor headphones, delivers a virtual studio monitoring experience that feels indistinguishable from the real thing.
The result is the freedom to make critical mixing decisions in almost any location, without compromise, for an annual fee of approx £350 (that's roughly $460). That seems incredible value when weighed against travel expenses and dry hire costs of established studios.
During my demo, the first thing I did was smile. Apparently this is a typical reaction! I was immediately struck by the accuracy of imaging and depth. The set up was simple, I was positioned in the optimum position for a sound engineer at the centre of the desk, I had two mics placed in my ears and a series of test sounds were played through the 360VME set up software. Once this was completed I was good to go (5 minutes max) with my personal profile created. Sounds could be placed overhead, behind, and across the soundfield with absolute clarity. Dialogue, effects, and music translated with a natural sense of space that simply does not exist with traditional headphone monitoring. The HHB studio had a 14-channel Genelec setup, the 360VME set up was an exact match.
This was not a “good enough” substitute. It genuinely felt like sitting in a world-class immersive studio when I tried it with a laptop at a space 2 streets away.
Compared to other pro headphones, the MV1 provides a noticeably more open and natural soundstage, which is crucial for spatial workflows. They fit comfortably and are part of the Sony headphone family used as the de facto choice for audio pros.
For RedShark readers, the implications are huge. Immersive sound is no longer confined to blockbuster films or big studio projects. Streaming services, gaming, broadcast, and even independent productions are adopting spatial formats.
Until now, serious monitoring meant access to a costly Atmos or Auro-3D room. Alternatives, such as binaural plugins, are useful but rarely accurate enough for final mixes. Sony’s 360VME is different. It is professional-grade monitoring over headphones, finally delivering mobility without sacrificing confidence.
This means editors, sound designers, and filmmakers can review or even finalise immersive mixes anywhere, whether in a small studio, on location, or working remotely.
Oh, and another thing - this setup is not limited to Dolby Atmos workflows. You can go higher, up to 16 channels, but crucially you can use it in stereo too.
Sony’s decision to launch through HHB Communications makes perfect sense. HHB has been the UK’s trusted pro audio supplier since 1976, with a reputation for supporting broadcasters, post facilities, universities, and studios. Its London base will provide measurement services and expert guidance, ensuring creators get the most out of 360VME from day one. Its team will also travel to customer's studios outside of London for a small fee to cover expenses.
We have known the team at HHB for years, they are like the pro equivalent of walking into a Richer Sounds store (UK High Street AV specialist with a great reputation - Ed.), all massive audiophiles and keen to share their knowledge and experience with their customers.
Right now the service is already available in the USA and Japan. It is soon to be coming to the Netherlands and other regions (Europe, Latin America, China and beyond) quickly as well.
Sony’s 360VME is not just another tool. It is a breakthrough that makes immersive audio workflows accessible, flexible, and reliable for professionals at every level of video production.
If you are working in film, broadcast, or games, you owe it to yourself to experience this. Book a measurement session at HHB and prepare to rethink what is possible with headphones.
For me, the 360VME delivered exactly what Sony promised: studio-quality immersive monitoring, anywhere, anytime. And I’ll be providing a more comprehensive review here on RedShark when I’ve finished using the software and headphones for a few days.