A little over a year ago, I began experimenting with ways to expand my Dolby Atmos surround sound system to beyond the 7.1.4 limitation of current consumer hardware. My continued quest to achieve the best Atmos experience at home has recently driven me to make additional upgrades. These days, my home theater is so crazily complicated that I actually need to run three A/V receivers simultaneously to manage all my speakers.
In most home theaters, 7.1.4 channels of sound should be plenty enough. Even though the Atmos format (as well as its competitor, DTS:X) can support additional speakers, there hasn’t been much demand for that from consumers or much push from manufacturers to do it. Currently, only boutique high-end products such as the $37,000 Trinnov Altitude 32 will decode more than 11 channels at once.
Nonetheless, for some of us, a limit of four height channels isn’t enough to fill the top of the room with sound. My own home theater is a long room with a lot of space behind my seats. That, combined with a low ceiling, makes it difficult for just four speakers (two in the front of the room and two in the back) to image a sound above my head convincingly. This issue is compounded by the fact that the locations where I had installed speakers when I built the home theater (before immersive audio was a concern I gave any thought to) were less than ideal for Atmos. Those speakers are now fixed in place with wiring through the walls and ceiling, and I can’t move them without remodeling the room. That simply isn’t an option.
The better solution is to install additional speakers in the center between the other height channels (Top Middle position). Unfortunately, the asking price for that Trinnov processor is absurdly beyond my budget. I needed to find a way to jury-rig a similar effect for a fraction of the cost.
(Video) Dolby Atmos Beyond 7.1.4 - Where to next?
The First Attempt
I wrote an article last year explaining how I had cobbled together a convoluted system (jokingly dubbed “Zatmos”) utilizing a second A/V receiver to derive extra channels on my ceiling. I advise reading that piece to understand the basic concept of how such a thing is possible.
See Also
The Best VPN Server Countries to Connect Through"Unfair and irresponsible" claim? Pinoy vlogger sa South Korea, inimbestigahan ang "Hermes snub" kay Sharon Cuneta[Ver Gratis] Hocus Pocus 2 [] Ver Películas Online Gratis CastellanoEnglish Pronunciation Rules and How to Learn Them
Even at the time, I was not the only person experimenting with this, and I knew that my Zatmos system was not as ideal as I would have liked it. Over at AVSForum, a member named Scott Simonian had gone even further to use a total of three A/V receivers in unison to create a 7.1.6 configuration (affectionately known as “Scatmos”) more accurate to the intentions of the original Dolby Atmos sound mixers.
For a while, I decided not to go that far. The complexity of installing, connecting and configuring three A/V receivers seemed like overkill to me. I felt that the results I had with Zatmos were good enough to get me most of the way there, and I had a certain amount of egotistical pride that I’d figured out a way to do it with just one extra receiver rather than two.
However, in recent months, my attitude changed and I grew less satisfied with the Zatmos configuration. Eventually, I knew that if I was going to do this, I needed to do it right.
(Video) LG's Brand New 770 Watt 7.1.4 Sound Bar With Dolby Atmos & DTS X - LG SoundBar SN11RG REVIEW
Going Full Scatmos
The silly Zatmos and Scatmos nicknames can be more formally grouped under the heading of “Dolby Atmos Extended.” I want to be clear here that I did not develop the Scatmos process. Credit for that goes to Scott Simonian and others at AVSForum who helped him work it out. With his permission, I’m just trying to explain it here.
For as perhaps ridiculously complicated as they may be to install, one of the saving graces of these experiments is that they can be assembled relatively inexpensively. Although your primary A/V receiver must be a Dolby Atmos (or DTS:X) model capable of decoding 7.1.4 channels of sound from a Blu-ray or UHD immersive audio soundtrack, the secondary receivers don’t need to be nearly as fancy. Any receiver that has, at a minimum, Dolby ProLogic II processing will do. (If using multiple secondary receivers, I recommend that they be identical to each other.)
With a little patience while monitoring For Sale ads on my local Craigslist, I managed to pick up a pair of used Marantz SR4400s for well below $100 each. This is a no-frills, entry-level (or close to it) Dolby Digital/DTS model from 2003. It’s so basic that it doesn’t even have an on-screen menu system. I have to set it up using only the front panel display. The receiver doesn’t have HDMI and cannot handle lossless Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio signals, but it doesn’t need to. All it needs is a pair of analog stereo inputs (which any receiver will have) and ProLogic II.
See Also
20 mejores campañas en redes socialesModes of Communication: Types, Meaning and Examples | Leverage Edu20+ best online marketplaces in Germany - E-commerce Germany News9 Creative Writing Jobs You Can Do From Home
The simple act of finding a place to put another A/V receiver in my system proved to be far more of an ordeal than I wanted. Because I didn’t have enough space for it on my main equipment shelf, I had to remove all my components, take the shelf apart, rearrange the levels, put most of the equipment back, and hook it up again. Then I had to do the same thing with the second shelf in order to add a level. My Blu-ray and HD DVD players, which had previously been on the main shelf, moved over to the second so that I could keep all the audio equipment together where the speaker wire will reach it. This, in itself, was a tremendous pain to do.
(Video) 4K Home Theater Tour! 7.1.4 ATMOS PLEX UNRAID!
With that finished, here’s the basic idea behind Scatmos: You want to mount six ceiling speakers – in the Top Front, Top Middle and Top Rear positions. (The following sketch does not represent my personal speaker layout, but I’ve drawn it this way to show how it should be done.) Your primary A/V receiver will be set to decode its maximum of 7.1.4 channels, configured as Top Front and Top Rear.
All four of the height channels should be routed to the analog pre-out connections on the primary AVR. You should not attach any speaker wire to those channels on the primary AVR. For all of the height channels, speaker wire will be attached only to the secondary AVRs.
The pre-outs for the Top Front Left and Top Rear Left channels will go into the Right and Left stereo inputs on AVR 2.
(Video) Trinnov Altitude Processors: Breaking the 7.1.4 Surround Barrier
The pre-outs for the Top Front Right and Top Rear Right channels will go into the Left and Right (reversed from AVR 2) stereo inputs on AVR 3.
See Also
Plumber Fawn Creek KS - Local Plumbing and Emergency Plumbing Services in Fawn Creek KansasTutorial: Azure AD SSO integration with Sage Intacct - Microsoft EntraTop 10 Best Audio Mixer Software for FREE [2022]Erikson's Eight Stages of Development - GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog
If that sounds confusing already, trying to keep it straight while actually connecting the cables and wires can be truly daunting. I strongly recommend drawing a chart that shows what should go where.
When working properly, each of the secondary downstream AVRs should take a stereo signal consisting of part Front and part Rear, and matrix a Middle channel between them using any mono information in common to both (much as ProLogic II would extract a center channel for dialogue in the front of your room between your left and right speakers under normal circumstances). Thus you get six channels of height information from an original four.
(Video) My 2021 7.1.4 Home Theater & Audiophile Stereo System!
That’s the theory, simplified to its most basic elements. Actually getting it to work properly after your connections are made has some added levels of difficulty that I’ll cover soon in Part 2.
Read Part 2
1. Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4 on Amazon|Raalmak
2. 747 DEMO DOLBY ATMOS 7.1.4
3. Dolby Atmos Object Demo on 7.1.4 Speakers - 360 Spatial Audio
4. The 5 best Dolby Atmos Movie Scenes to Test your System
5. Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4 Channel 600W Dolby Atmos Soundbar with 8 Wireless Subwoofer
6. New Heights in my Atmos Studio (Thanks Billie)
Article information
Author: Edmund Hettinger DC
Last Updated: 2023/07/01
Views: 6067
Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)
Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful
Author information
Name: Edmund Hettinger DC
Birthday: 1994-08-17
Address: 2033 Gerhold Pine, Port Jocelyn, VA 12101-5654
Phone: +8524399971620
Job: Central Manufacturing Supervisor
Hobby: Jogging, Metalworking, Tai chi, Shopping, Puzzles, Rock climbing, Crocheting
Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
FAQs
Is Dolby Atmos on Apple music good? ›
For movies and TV shows, it is absolutely superb. Whenever I use my AirPods Pro or AirPods Max in conjunction with my Apple TV, the head tracking and completely un-headphone-like sound reproduction never fail to amaze me.
Is Atmos music the future? ›The Future of Dolby Atmos
And even more immersive and engaging experience for music fans. Dolby Atmos is the future of music and sound. It's providing an immersive and engaging experience for music listeners and musicians alike.
A 7.1 system adds left and right rear surround speakers. A 9.1-channel system adds front height speakers to take advantage of Dolby Pro Logic® IIz, which derives height information from the signal. Dolby Atmos layouts add height speakers to the traditional 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound setups.
Which is better Dolby 7.1 or Atmos enabled? ›Expert-Verified Answer. The sound is deeper and more precise with Dolby Atmos than with conventional Surround 7.1 systems due to the addition of overhead sound and superior calibration software.
How do I know if Dolby Atmos is working on Apple music? ›How can I see if a song is available in Dolby Atmos? Play the song, then check for the Dolby Atmos badge in Now Playing. If every song on an album is available in Dolby Atmos, you'll see the Dolby Atmos badge on the album's detail page. Some songs are available in Dolby Atmos only on a particular version of an album.
Why does Dolby Atmos on Apple music sound weird? ›Without Atmos-enabled headphones, Dolby Atmos tracks have an artificial wideness to them, unfamiliar placement of vocals and instrumentation, and just sounds weird and “echoey”. Typically, you'll need either a 5.1 speaker setup, a 7.1 speaker setup, or a soundbar.
Is anything better than Dolby Atmos? ›The higher the bit rate, the better. You'd think that Dolby Atmos, being the more widely known brand name, would be the one with the higher bit rate. However, it's DTS:X has the higher bit rate. Dolby Atmos delivers a slower bit rate.
Is it worth investing in Dolby Atmos? ›Is Dolby Atmos Worth It: An Overall Assessment. Dolby Atmos provides an immersive and realistic sound environment for your home theater, plus excellent film recording that makes Dolby Atmos definitely worth it. It mimics the technology in cinemas, with a surround sound coming from all angles.
Is Dolby Atmos better than high quality stereo? ›A standard stereo system will pan the sound from left to right as it passes the character, but can't emulate aerial sounds. Dolby Atmos, on the other hand, can do so. In fact, you don't even need multiple speaker outputs, many capable soundbars can recreate this overhead sound so long as its properly setup.
Which is better Dolby Digital or Dolby Atmos? ›Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology built on the codec of Dolby Digital Plus (Dolby Digital Plus is also known as Enhanced AC-3). In addition to the multi-channel surround sound capabilities of Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos adds additional height-based audio channels.
How many channels does Dolby Atmos have? ›
Dolby Atmos captures the director's intent and brings it intact to any theatre of any size and configuration, from 5.1 and 7.1 up to 64 channels. It ensures that the audience experience is always the best possible for your specific playback environment.
Do you need HDMI 2.1 for Dolby Atmos? ›You're in luck — all you need is a single HDMI cable to connect your TV and soundbar enabled with Dolby Atmos (HDMI 2.0 for ARC should do the trick while HDMI 2.1 is necessary for eARC setups). This is the simplest option and will send audio directly from your TV to your soundbar.
Do you need 7 speakers for Dolby Atmos? ›While two Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers, modules, or overhead speakers will deliver a compelling experience, we recommend using four if possible. This will deliver more precisely located and realistic overhead sounds.
Does Netflix support Dolby Atmos? ›You can watch Netflix in Dolby Atmos audio on select TV shows and movies. You need: A Netflix plan that supports streaming in Ultra HD. A Netflix-capable device that can play Dolby Atmos.
How do you know if you're actually getting Dolby Atmos sound? ›The one surefire way to confirm Dolby Atmos is working is to check the information panel on the front of your AV receiver or your soundbar (if it has one, or perhaps an on-screen display). It should display the kind of audio signal it's currently working with.
Does Dolby Atmos make music quieter? ›Like, it's a night/day difference in terms of max volume compared to standard. As soon as I enable Atmos, songs get so much quieter. Switch it off, and you can hear “real” full volume again. is a perfect example of this.
What's better lossless or Dolby Atmos? ›Dolby Atmos is a 3D surround sound technology, while lossless means that track was compressed without any data loss - tracks have higher bitrate, so they should sound better on supported devices than standard AAC, MP3 or any other tracks with lossy compression I guess.
Does Dolby Atmos make music sound better? ›With Dolby Atmos Music, the experience is better. Artists can create soundscapes that are much more seamless and compelling. They can precisely place sound “objects” in your listening space and engage your imagination by moving the objects around. Immersive music is now more affordable, too.
What resolution is Dolby Atmos on Apple Music? ›The Good News: Spatial Audio by Dolby Atmos
Apple uses its own codec, ALAC or “Apple Lossless Audio Codec” to stream every song within 16-bit/44.1-kHz all the way up to 24-bit/192-kHz.
In a nutshell, Dolby Atmos creates the effect of watching a movie at a cinema or listening to music at a live concert — the sound comes from all around you (center, left, right, above and behind) — and Spatial Audio adds another layer that makes you feel like you're in movie or moving around at the concert.
How do I get the best Dolby Atmos sound? ›
To get the best Atmos experience with your TV, you should send the audio output to a soundbar or AV receiver. For this, you will need an HDMI ARC connection and Dolby Digital Plus audio support.
Is Dolby Atmos the best sound quality? ›Dolby Atmos is an improvement on what came before and a leap forward from surround sound. It's ultimately designed to put you in the center of it all when watching movies or listening to music to give you the most immersive sound possible.
Is DTS or Dolby better for music? ›DTS is encoded at a higher bit rate and therefore is considered by some experts to be better quality. Others argue that Dolby Digital's technology is more advanced and produces better sound quality at a lower bit rate.
Who is Google Dolby Atmos competitor? ›One of Atmos's prominent competitors is Sony's 360 Reality Audio, but another may be on the way… from Google. Tech site Protocol reported that Google is developing two new 'open media' formats for 3D audio and HDR video under the working title of 'Project Caviar'.
What is the latest sound technology? ›Dolby Atmos® is the latest development in realistic cinema sound.
Is Dolby Atmos lossless? ›Dolby Atmos averages around 6,000 kbps when a 48kHz sampling rate is used. But Atmos can be encoded losslessly at up to 24-bit/192kHz, which results in bit rates that can soar as high as 18,000 kbps.
Why pay for Dolby Atmos? ›Advantages of Dolby Atmos for Headphones
This is mainly attributed to the increased height to spatial sounds which provides a more realistic sound experience. Can also work for Home Theaters: This software isn't only exclusive for headphones. It works on any other sound system like your home theater setup.
The Right Subscription Plan
Netflix hosts a few different subscription plans for its users. You'll need the Premium subscription plan which gives you access to Dolby Atmos and Ultra HD (4K) content.
Dolby Atmos for Headphones will work with any headphones, since the software still outputs to just two channels to simulate sound from all directions.
How much does Dolby Atmos mixing cost? ›Dolby Atmos Up-Mixes
The average price for a Dolby Atmos up-mix of an existing stereo mix is $150. Atmos up-mixes are mastered and ready for release.
Does speakers matter for Dolby Atmos? ›
Most conventional overhead speakers with wide dispersion characteristics will work in a Dolby Atmos home theater. Dolby Atmos audio is mixed using discrete, full-range audio objects that may move around anywhere in three-dimensional space.
Does Netflix use Dolby or DTS? ›You can watch Netflix in high-quality audio on most titles available with 5.1 surround sound or Dolby Atmos.
What is the highest Dolby Digital? ›The maximum audio bandwidth of Dolby Digital 5.1 on a Blu-ray disc is 640 kbps – although encoded bitrates may range from 384-640 kbps. On DVD, the maximum bitrate for surround sound is 448 kbps. The bitrate for stereo Dolby Digital will usually be around 192 kbps.
Is Dolby TrueHD same as Atmos? ›What's the difference between Dolby TrueHD and Atmos? Dolby TrueHD is a lossless audio codec with support for up to 7.1 audio channels and is used with Blu-ray Discs. No major streaming platforms use it. Dolby Atmos is a 3D surround sound technology that allows sounds to be placed anywhere in a 3D environment.
What is the maximum Dolby Atmos? ›Dolby Atmos technology allows up to 128 audio tracks plus associated spatial audio description metadata (location or pan automation data, data about the sound's movement, type, intensity, speed and volume) to be distributed to theaters for rendering to loudspeakers based on the theater capabilities.
Is everything everywhere all at once Dolby Atmos? ›Everything Everywhere All at Once, directed by Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, premiered in 2022 and the movie is available in the US and/or internationally in up to 4K Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on the home entertainment market. Available formats are 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Apple TV (iTunes).
Is HDMI or optical better for Atmos? ›The biggest difference is that HDMI can pass higher-resolution audio, including the formats found on streaming services such as Dolby Atmos and DTS HD Master Audio. These formats can't be transmitted across optical.
Does HDMI cable affect Dolby Atmos? ›Dolby Atmos sound can be transmitted through any HDMI cable, including HDMI 2.0. However, you also need to be sure that all devices involved, such as the TV, are capable of delivering Atmos. For equipment that can handle HDMI eARC, HDMI 2.1 cables are recommended, but HDMI 2.0 cables will work fine.
Can Dolby Atmos go through optical? ›Dolby Atmos content is not delivered through optical connections or through wireless connections of Bluetooth, AirPlay, or Chromecast. Most video streaming services that offer Dolby Atmos content use the Dolby Digital Plus codec. Physical media, like Blu-ray discs, typically use the Dolby TrueHD codec.
How far away should Dolby Atmos speaker be? ›In most standard Dolby Atmos setups, listener level is set at 3.9 feet, or 1.2 meters. For some users, space constraints prevent the rear and front speakers from being placed at the same height.
What is the best height for Atmos speakers? ›
Atmos upfiring speakers work best at ceiling heights between 7.5 and 12 feet.
Which is better Dolby 7.2 or Atmos? ›Overall, you need a lot of space both in your entertainment room and your budget to maximize the benefits of using the Atmos. The 7.2 channel system will have more compatible equipment for less money, but it won't have the same cinematic sound quality.
Does Amazon Prime have Dolby Atmos? ›Amazon Prime Video offers Dolby Atmos as part of its standard subscription. To fully experience Dolby Atmos, you need to first make sure you are watching a series created in the audio format. Be sure to look for the Dolby Atmos badge on the title pages of your favourite series.
Does Roku support Atmos? ›The Roku Ultra offers everything we want in a streaming box. Roku's current flagship is also the best bet for most people. It supports 4K/HDR (including Dolby Vision), Dolby Atmos sound and an impressive selection of streaming services, including Apple's own TV app.
Can any ceiling speaker be used for Dolby Atmos? ›DOLBY ATMOS CEILING SPEAKERS
When installing two speakers as Dolby Atmos channels the speakers should be almost directly overhead and, in this case, any ceiling speaker with a reasonable sound dispersion can be used.
Select the audio quality you want for each of streaming and downloading. Choose whether you want Dolby Atmos to work automatically or always. Hit the OK button. Enjoy your music in Spatial Audio and a Lossless quality!
Is Dolby Atmos better on Spotify or Apple music? ›When the same track is directly compared, Spotify's sound quality is noticeably inferior to Apple Music, specifically when it comes to Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and Lossless audio. Apple Music's Spatial Audio provides a fully immersive 3D sound experience that is not currently available on Spotify.
Does Dolby Atmos make a difference? ›Does Dolby Atmos Really Make a Difference? Dolby Atmos really makes a difference as it brings a higher sound quality and makes it seem like the sound is coming from all directions. It is the benchmark for theaters, so it makes a huge difference to your home setup.
Should I enable Dolby Atmos for music? ›Yes, Dolby Atmos for Headphones makes a difference, even with only two speakers at its disposal. You get a more expansive soundstage that makes your audio sound dynamic and alive.
Which sound is better than Dolby Atmos? ›The higher the bit rate, the better. You'd think that Dolby Atmos, being the more widely known brand name, would be the one with the higher bit rate. However, it's DTS:X has the higher bit rate. Dolby Atmos delivers a slower bit rate.
Which Dolby Atmos mode is best? ›
Dolby Atmos - use Music mode at all times
Auto sometimes made my music / movies sound honky, with a slight bump in the mids. Movie and Voice modes have a weird mid scoop, which makes audio sound a bit "hollow" to me. Music seemed to be the best out of the bunch — and for every type of media, too.
The Good News: Spatial Audio by Dolby Atmos
Apple uses its own codec, ALAC or “Apple Lossless Audio Codec” to stream every song within 16-bit/44.1-kHz all the way up to 24-bit/192-kHz.
In the Music app , Apple Music subscribers can listen to available tracks in Dolby Atmos. Dolby Atmos creates an immersive, three-dimensional audio experience on stereo headphones and speakers or receivers compatible with Dolby Atmos. Note: Dolby Atmos music isn't available in the Apple Music Voice Plan.
Which is best Dolby Atmos or lossless? ›Dolby Atmos is a 3D surround sound technology, while lossless means that track was compressed without any data loss - tracks have higher bitrate, so they should sound better on supported devices than standard AAC, MP3 or any other tracks with lossy compression I guess.
Which music app support Dolby Atmos? ›- Echo Studio or mobile device.
- Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.
- Music mixed in Dolby Atmos.
Apple Music also streams content at 256kbps utilizing the AAC audio format and streams via one high-quality Bluetooth codec: AAC, which is far more efficient than most other open-source lossy alternatives.
How many speakers do you need for Dolby Atmos? ›We recommend installing four Dolby Atmos enabled speakers whenever possible. The use of four speakers will make the placement of overhead sounds more accurate, and you'll get more precise, realistic sounds when an object, such as a helicopter, passes overhead.
What is the difference between true Dolby Atmos and Dolby Atmos? ›Dolby TrueHD is a lossless audio codec with support for up to 7.1 audio channels and is used with Blu-ray Discs. No major streaming platforms use it. Dolby Atmos is a 3D surround sound technology that allows sounds to be placed anywhere in a 3D environment.
How noticeable is Dolby Atmos? ›Anyone can hear the diffenrence between tradition 5.1/7.1 and Atmos. If you know anyone who has a Dolby Atmos surround set at their place, go there and listen to it. To my ears, Atmos delivers the most complete surround sound today. The added height speakers will make you feel like you're in the movie.