One of the most exciting developments in the home theater world in recent years is Dolby Atmos. It adds top-notch overhead sound effects to your movie audio to take your surround sound experience to another level.
However, like any new technology, it poses questions about what you need to have before you can actually get one. How do you even get one in the first place? What are the usual problems it presents? Do you need a specific pair of speakers? Where and how do you install these speakers?
Before we start giving you the full lowdown on Dolby Atmos, we’ll answer one of those questions for you. To get the best sound experience from this technology, we recommend getting the Dolby Atmos speakers. This combination will truly deliver a movie experience to remember.
Ready to make the most of the Dolby Atmos technology? This comprehensive beginner’s guide should point you in the right direction.
What to Know About Dolby Atmos
Before anything else, what is Dolby Atmos? It’s an audio format that’s object-based and uses surround sounds and height to produce a 3D sound field. Basically, it’s an upgraded version of the standard surround sound that merely uses conventional audio channels.
Thus, you don’t just hear audio from around you; you also hear it from above you. While a traditional surround sound mix uses an LFE track and six different channels (front left, front right, surround left, surround right, center), the Dolby Atmos leverages 128 audio objects as opposed to specifying distinct channels.
Systems compatible with Dolby Atmos can add another 118 audio objects on top of that and anywhere around the sound field (front to back, back to front, to the side, and overhead), depending on what’s most suitable. This setup lets certain sound effects flow around the room independently and seamlessly while the channel-based sound bed carries on in the background.
Also, what’s great about audio objects is that playback is not determined by a single-speaker layout, and the Atmos soundtrack will adjust to the available speakers.
How Do You Experience Dolby Atmos?
The three main requisites of the full Dolby Atmos experience are:
Content
Blu-ray discs are the most ideal way to acquire Dolby Atmos content in your home theater. The Atmos soundtrack now includes a lot of films that are listed alongside traditional audio formats, such as 5.1 audio, DTH-HD master, and Dolby TrueHD.
That said, the Atmos soundtrack isn’t as common as these formats, so don’t expect all Blu-ray movies to possess one.
Another content format that Atmos is gaining popularity for is gaming PCs and consoles. You can also acquire such content through film streaming services. Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Netflix are some examples, though don’t expect all movies to have this type of audio. That means not all the movies you want to watch will have them.
Devices
It is important to remember that just because content offers Dolby Atmos audio, it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to have the sound experience.
Here are some common home theater components that support Dolby Atmos:
- PCs
- Gaming consoles
- TVs
- Mobile phones and tablets
- Blu-ray players
You can check your device or gadget to be sure, though modern devices with an HDMI connection should be compatible with Atmos audio. Smaller mobile devices usually use headphones and built-in speakers.
Ultimately, your device’s compatibility or incompatibility with Atmos will have the final say. If your case happens to be the latter, then you won’t get to hear Atmos audio, regardless of your source.
Sound System
Finally, there’s the sound system. This part decodes the Atmos audio format and runs it through the Dolby Atmos speakers. Atmos audio can be played in numerous ways, from your television speakers and headphones to your mobile phones, tablets, sound bars, and surround sound speakers.
An expert will tell you the best Dolby Atmos experience comes when you connect to an AV processor or receiver for decoding. Current receivers (manufactured from 2018 onwards) will likely support Atmos. Higher-end devices manufactured before 2018 should be compatible with it, too.
AV receivers that support decoding for Atmos will also have sufficient output channels for at least a pair of overhead speakers, the minimum requirement. The number of output channels your speaker has will determine how many Atmos speakers you can install.
Beyond the AV receiver, there are other solutions for playing Dolby Atmos in your home. Soundbar systems are one of many which have excellent Dolby Atmos compatibility. They’re also easier to set up because of their fewer options for configuration.
Dolby Atmos Can Make a Difference
Dolby Atmos is capable of giving you an off-the-charts movie experience when you know how to install and configure it correctly. Take note of the tips and above and unleash a magnificent soundstage with more immersive audio at home.
