Dolby Atmos Coming To Blu-Ray

[Smokey]

One of the big innovations filmmakers have been pushing recently is Dolby’s Atmos system, which is an immersive surround set-up which involves the sound not only surrounding you but also a series of speakers mounted overhead.

So now, Dolby Labs is bringing its Dolby Atmos surround-sound technology to the home via Blu-ray Disc, and the company’s doing it without the need for Blu-ray player owners to upgrade their hardware.

"Our partners will also offer home theater receivers to decode and deliver the Dolby Atmos experience in your home,” Brett Crockett, director of sound research, wrote in a blog post. Existing players that fully conform to the Blu-ray specification will be able to support Dolby Atmos content on a Blu-ray Disc.

Home entertainment set-ups that have ceiling speakers will get the most out of Dolby Atmos. But for those who can’t install speakers in the ceiling, Dolby’s hardware partners will offer Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers that produce overhead sound from where conventional speakers are regularly located. Or, without upgrading speakers, the company is also offering a Dolby Atmos-enabled speaker module that complements existing speakers.



Dolby Atmos: What is it? How can you get it? | whathifi.com

[JohnMichael]

Pioneer is making their Elite speakers to benefit from the Atmos system.

Elite Speakers | Pioneer Electronics USA

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

I hope this makes it past the censors, but mentioning DA on this website is going to go nowhere.

Most here are stuck in 2.0 channels, and there is no way in hell you are going to convinced anyone here to go to 11.1. Not going to happen.

Smoke, thanks for the info, but I am afraid it is a waste on this crowd.

As it stands now, how many here own a 7.1 system? So few of us, it is not worth mentioning. How many own a 5.1 system. A larger but smaller percentage of the folks that own a 2.0 system.

If you had mention this on AVSforum two months ago, it would have been a buzz. They have been talking(and quite frankly installing) 11.1 system there for at least that long. I installed a 12.4 system in my reference room 4 months ago - in spite of the fact there is only one Bluray disc that takes advantage of it. Because of Neo:X, I have been able to hear a ton of soundtracks with a matrixed height channel.

Pioneers idea of Atmos is totally low budget. Having actual information coming from above you(as opposed to reflecting from above you from ear height) does not afford the same effect. Pioneers effort is based on a non object based channel assignment. Those of use who have installed 4 discrete channels above us are at least ready for single object based Atmos(or four object based ceiling channels), so as the technology is scaled upwards for hometheater(it is unclear what is expected or desired now), it is not behind the times.

[Smokey]

Because of Neo:X, I have been able to hear a ton of soundtracks with a matrixed height channel.

I am guessing with low number of true Atmos coded blurays (discrete channels) available, for most blurays Atmos coded act like Neo:X and upmix height channels. Some poeple might say why even bother to upgrade-as you said, currently there is only one Bluray disc that takes advantage of it.

Pioneers idea of Atmos is totally low budget. Having actual information coming from above you(as opposed to reflecting from above you from ear height) does not afford the same effect.

So would you say upgrading to Atmos would be a waste for those that can not install ceilng speakers? Unless one have dedicated HT, most will fit into that catagory.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

I am guessing with low number of true Atmos coded blurays (discrete channels) available, for most blurays Atmos coded act like Neo:X and upmix height channels. Some poeple might say why even bother to upgrade-as you said, currently there is only one Bluray disc that takes advantage of it.

Right now I would not bother doing the upgrade, but I sure would be thinking about the pathway to the upgrade. With the Datastat processor, It can derive height channels by looking at the action in the 4 surround channels, and pull common information upwards. It can do this on a 5.1 and 7.1 soundtrack. It is not Atmos, but the effect is very dramatic and effective. Also the Datastat will be upgraded for 16.4 discrete channels later this year from 12.4. It can currently do Aero 3D 11.1 sound, but there is no soundtrack available to take advantage of it.

The price of the processor was right, so I jumped in.

So would you say upgrading to Atmos would be a waste for those that can not install ceilng speakers? Unless one have dedicated HT, most will fit into that catagory.

I would not say a waste, but the effect is greatly diffused - which is quite a different effect than ceiling mounted speakers.

I got a chance to hear Pioneer's Atmos set up, and I was impressed, but not fully satisfied. The ceiling effect was there, but the surround channels(because of the high location of the speakers)caused sound to pool around the speakers, giving them a bit to much directivity for my taste). Pioneers demo would have been better if all of the surround speakers were a bit lower to the ground, to match the fronts. That way the top mounted Atmos speaker would pool so much around the surround.

If you are on a budget and want Atmos, the pioneer speaker option is quite good. There will also be add on Atmos speakers you can put atop your existing speakers, but I find that option unpalatable.

Give Atmos another year or so, and it would be something for somebody to take a look at. 3D video with 11.1 sound(even no object oriented) is quite addicting, and I am glad I made the upgrade.

[3db]

All the big AVR manufacturers are releasing their new line with Dolby Atmos. The problem I see that a lot of us, me included do not have a dedicated HT room. Alot of the setups are in living rooms or dual purpose rooms (thats me). My room is not large enough to support 7.1. I have a 6.1 set up. Although I may benefit slightly from the 2 or 4 extra ceiling speakers, I don't think its worth the cash out lay. To make it worth one's while, I think that Dolby Atmos is only worth having in dedicated room. The other thing is getting Dolby Atmos source material and a player to support it.

[Smokey]

I got a chance to hear Pioneer's Atmos set up, and I was impressed, but not fully satisfied. The ceiling effect was there, but the surround channels(because of the high location of the speakers)caused sound to pool around the speakers, giving them a bit to much directivity for my taste). Pioneers demo would have been better if all of the surround speakers were a bit lower to the ground, to match the fronts. That way the top mounted Atmos speaker would pool so much around the surround.

But wouldn't lowering surroud rear speakers to front level compromise its performance as rear speakers?

Hopefully Atmos sofeware configuration take into acount the height of rear speakers for optimization of surround top firing speakers or module