What is Dolby Atmos?
Dolby Atmos is the most advanced surround sound format to have ever existed. Developed by Dolby Laboratories, it expands on existing surround sound systems by adding height channels, allowing sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects.
In the earlier iterations of surround sound systems sounds were projected through channels. For example, dialogue was mixed into the center channel, music was mixed in the left and right channels and sound effects were placed on the surrounds, etc. But with Dolby Atmos sound is treated as objects that are placed in space, therefore referred to as spatial audio, which leads to a much more realistic and immersive cinematic experience.
DOLBY ATMOS FOR HOME
Following the release of Atmos for the cinema market, a variety of consumer technologies have been released under the Atmos brand. True Dolby Atmos at home is now a very accessible technology. Dolby Atmos is an end-to-end change in theater and home audio. The mixing is different, as we've discussed, but so is the decoding. At different theaters the number of speakers can vary dramatically, but Atmos will scale with them regardless. Most theaters have many speakers along the walls to ensure everyone gets a similar experience. With Atmos those speakers can be individually addressable and a sound designer can pinpoint the exact location in a theater where they want to place a sound. A smoother experience for everyone. There are several options to bring Dolby Atmos.
Ceiling Speakers
The first option, obviously being the closest to a theatre like experience, is to install height channels in addition to your home theatre system and choose an AVR that can decode the Dolby Atmos format. These speakers can be mounted to ceiling by either making a provision for it in the false ceiling or mounting it as a pendant from the true ceiling.
Up-Firing Speakers
Up-firing speakers are a popular alternative to ceiling speakers. They do a similar job without all the hassle that comes with the installation of ceiling speakers. They basically reflect sound off the ceiling to give an illusion of sound projecting from the ceiling. These speakers also need an AVR that can decode the Dolby Atmos format.
Soundbars
The third and the most convenient way to achieve Dolby Atmos at home is through Atmos Soundbars. That's right, surround sound from one single soundbar. Soundbars like the Sennheiser AMBEO, Yamaha YSP-5600, Sonos Arc, etc, all provide Dolby Atmos surround sound without the need of additional speakers. They use a combination of reflection and delay, through multiple drivers firing in different directions, to achieve this effect. Combine them with a good subwoofer and that's all you'll need to get a theatre like experience at the comfort of your couch without the cost and hassles that come with setting up complete home theatre systems.
Looking for a Dolby Atmos setup for your home? Qubix is a One-stop solution for all your AV needs. Call us at +91 80502 00008 or fill up this form and we will get back to you.
