For lack of a better description, though, I might say it felt like a slightly “shallower” bubble—I heard sounds coming from above ear level, but I don’t know they filled the room in quite in the same spacious way my ceiling speakers did. And that’s where Sony’s Z9F really excels, particularly when coupled with the sold-separately Z9R rear speakers. Dolby Atmos is highly scalable. WTF! For the most impressive performance, have your speakers at or slightly above ear level when seated. 5 Crucial Tips for Dolby Atmos Setups; 8 Best Demo Scenes Speaking at the Pacific Northwest Consumer Electronic Expo, Dolby director tells dealers that an all in-ceiling Dolby Atmos system is ‘not the right experience,’ why 5.1.4 is better than … Dolby thought of this, and allows room in their spec for up-firing speakers that bounce sound off the ceiling for those overhead effects. From Classic Surround Sound to Dolby Atmos. The ideal position is slightly in front and to the left and right of the listening position, based on Dolby’s recommended layout. Dolby Atmos speaker layouts parallel the 5.1 and 7.1 setups for surround sound. I tested my in-ceiling setup side-by-side with the Vizio system, and they both sounded great—Vizio has done a surprisingly good job of making rich audio come out of a large, but still-practical soundbar. What layout would you use to arrange the Atmos ceiling speakers? When I tried Yamaha’s YAS-209, for example—which can’t decode Dolby Atmos but does have DTS Virtual:X processing in it—I found the virtual surround feature to add some extra soundstage, along with a bit of sibilance to the soundtrack. Should I Use My Oppo Player to Upconvert to 4K? Though I feel I need to qualify that statement: If you’ve heard people say it’s a “night and day” difference, or that “overhead effects are a total game-changer,” temper your expectations just a tad. With the speakers pointed straight the front Atmos ceiling speaker must have consistent coverage out to ~70 degrees off axis! Dolby thought of this, and allows room in their spec for up-firing speakers that bounce sound off the ceiling for those overhead effects. While an all-in-ceiling Atmos system isn’t something I’d recommend, I do have in-ceiling overhead speaker installation suggestions based on Dolby’s guidelines. The Atmos-enabled category consists of integrated models containing both front and upward-firing driver sets, the latter meant to reproduce overhead effects by bouncing sound off the ceiling, or add-on modules with upward firing drivers that sit atop your main and rear speakers. If you’re reading this, and you’re currently contemplating installing ceiling speakers, we probably don’t need to … Some soundbars are starting to come with what they call “3D virtual surround,” often with a Dolby Atmos or DTS Virtual:X height processing. Type: SoundBar. If you understand typical speaker dispersion profiles then you’ll know that very few speakers have such wide coverage. You'll notice that none of the actual Atmos configurations have "height" speakers, though there is a 9.1 example at the beginning that does, but that's not Atmos. Dolby Atmos technology can be found in everything from expensive high-end sound systems to hardworking smart speakers. I’m often skeptical about things like this, but Sony has convinced me it’s possible—even if it doesn’t rival true 5.1.4 setups using in-ceiling speakers. It’s fairly easy to choose a Dolby Atmos speaker setup. But the vast majority of the time, you aren’t going to be hearing distinct, jaw-dropping effects come from above, even with a true in-ceiling Atmos setup. To give the real Atmos experience, you’d put your bookshelf speakers in the ceiling. My idea is to have the front left, center, and front right speakers in a straight parallel line close to the screen wall, and the surround speakers in the extreme rear corners of the room in-line with the front left and front right speakers. Simply add the number of ceiling mounted speakers being installed to the old surround sound standard. So I set up a few different options to test them side-by-side. What Are the Benefits of Bi-Wiring Vs. Bi-Amping? While Dolby is very specific about the requirements for listener-level speakers in Atmos systems, they’re more flexible about overhead speakers, which could be either in-ceiling, on-ceiling, or “Atmos-enabled” models. It seems that upmixing works significantly better on an actual receiver than it does on a soundbar, even if a soundbar does true Atmos pretty well. You can have up to 24 speakers … Sure, there are occasional overhead effects that are really “wow”-worthy. Dolby is licensing this technology for loudspeaker manufacturers who wish to offer a Dolby-certified Atmos Elevation module. The Pioneer SP-T22A-LR features on our list as one of the best ceiling speakers for Dolby Atmos currently available at the market. The set comes as a pair. See all In-Ceiling Speakers. We are even starting to see some tower speakers with the elevation speaker built into the top which is pretty cool. For instance, adding two new ceiling mounted speakers to a 7.1 surround sound system creates a 7.1.2 Atmos … Required coverage / dispersion, speakers pointing straight down. For a 5.1.2 setup, the same the rules apply, but the overhead pair should be positioned for a tighter elevation angle just in front of the main listening area. 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SVS Prime Elevation Speakers ($399 per p… Room treatment considerations for use of Dolby Atmos enabled speakers For optimal performance, the ceiling should be flat (not angled or vaulted), with a height between 7.5 and 14 feet (2.3 to 4.3 meters), and made of an acoustically reflective material (drywall, plaster, hardwood, or another rigid, non---sound-absorbing material). Is it possible to install a Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 or 5.1.4 configuration using only in-ceiling speakers with directional tweeters? It may not upmix well, but it handles true Atmos tracks better than it has any right to. Should I Replace My 20-Year-Old Subwoofer? Just remember that Atmos is the last step in the growth of a home theater setup. For the most cinema-like Dolby Atmos experience, you can add two or four of KEF’s Ci Series in-ceiling speakers to your existing home theatre set-up. Your front speakers still do most of the heavy lifting, but the ceiling speakers help to “fill out” the sound, and you can hear the difference when switching between the 5.1 and Atmos tracks in those scenes. Options: Walnut (# 1066508) (loading price...) Per Pair. Both ceiling speakers and Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers … What’s a listener-level speaker? And if in-ceiling speakers are too complex or pricey, you can always put them on the wall for front or rear heights, as described in Dolby’s setup guide. Can I Use an OLED TV for Bright Room Viewing? I’ve tested a number of Atmos products over the past few years, and recently installed up a true in-ceiling Atmos setup in my house. Which you specify will depend on the size of the area and your power handling needs. If in-ceiling isn’t an option, you can attach the speakers to the ceiling or high up on a wall. A lot of guides like this would start on the lower end and work their way up to the more expensive, complex stuff. Micca M-8C 2-Way in Ceiling in Wall Speaker, 8 Inch Woofer, 1-Inch Pivoting Silk Dome Tweeter, 9.… Dolby Atmos A comprehensive listening test comparing Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers vs in-ceiling speakers was conducted using a Denon AVR-X5200W A/V receiver in the two listening rooms: 1. If you can get speakers that are all from the same series, that’s ideal, but not crucial. Here’s where things get interesting. A number of speaker companies have add-on modules for their tower speakers that do just this, including the aforementioned ELAC Debut series. It’s rather impressive, and useful when you have a room with vaulted or textured ceilings, where up-firing speakers won’t work. Dolby Atmos is the new hotness when it comes to home theater gear, but there are a lot of different ways you can incorporate Atmos into your setup. Compromise is not a bad thing—most home theaters have to compromise somewhere, unless you have a truly dedicated theater room with full reign to perfect the room’s acoustics. These are front upward firing Atmos speakers that reflect the sound of the ceiling creating surround effect from the ceiling. Plus, while soundbars are great for space savings, their size can also be their Achilles’ heel—2.5-inch drivers can never compete with a real set of large speakers, and Sony’s bar doesn’t sound as good as larger Vizio or Samsung models (or true bookshelves and towers, for that matter). In an Atmos system, those are the ones used for the main left/right, center, surround left/right, and rear left/right speaker positions — essentially, the same layout you’d use in a standard 7.1-channel surround speaker setup. This configuration involves a lot of complexity, but it’s definitely the best-sounding Atmos setup you can get. The Atmos-enabled category consists of integrated models containing both front and upward-firing driver sets, the latter meant to reproduce overhead effects by bouncing sound off the ceiling, or add-on modules with upward firing drivers that sit atop your main and rear speakers. Almost all new AV receivers that support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X give you a variety of setups for the ceiling speakers. I’m using the VSX-LX303, which is one of the less expensive 5.1.4-capable receivers on the market, but if you’re only going for a 5.1.2 setup, you could use the Sony STR-DH790 for a bit less money. RP-500SA. Speakers; Ceiling; Angled Dolby Atmos Ready; 6.5" Angled LCR Dolby Atmos Ready Ceiling Speaker, Each; 6.5" Angled LCR Dolby Atmos Ready Ceiling Speaker, Each. 98 Likewise, the units can also be used as surround speakers. Enjoy immersive, dynamic audio with this Polk Audio VT60 in-ceiling speaker, which features a 6.5" Dynamic Balance polypropylene cone and a 0.75" swivel-mount, aimable silk-dome tweeter for clear low, high and midrange tones. Dolby Atmos is on the one hand a new technology / standard in which audio objects can move freely in space (you no longer have the feeling that a sound comes from a specific speaker with it in the middle of the sound, it surrounds you) and on the other hand a new speaker setup. The up-firing “Atmos-enabled” speakers (as Dolby calls them) also worked well, but they weren’t as great at producing the distinct, coming-from-high-above-you effects. JBL BAR 9.1 True Wireless 3D Surround Sound System with Dolby Atmos, Black. And if you want to eschew the receiver entirely, you could go with a soundbar setup like Vizio’s beautifully-named SB46514-F6. … For some assistance, HERE is the official Dolby page showing a wide variety of Atmos speaker configurations. Polk Audio 5.1 Channel Home Theater System with Powered Subwoofer... Polk Audio MC60 2-Way in-Ceiling 6.5" Speaker (Single) | Dynamic... Pioneer VSX-LX303 9.2 Channel 4k UltraHD Network A/V Receiver... Sony STR-DH790 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV Receiver: 4K... Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle [4K Ultra HD+ Blu-ray + Digital], ELAC Debut 2.0 A4.2 Dolby Atmos Modules, Black. Commerce Content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, The Practical Alternative: Up-Firing Speakers and Soundbars, Making the Best of a Bad Room: Virtual Surround. (Rolls right off the tongue, doesn’t it?). solution, so minor variations from these recommendations are unlikely to materially detract from the immersive Dolby Atmos experience.”, Looking for a TV-Worthy Interface for Streaming Music. My idea would be to place the four Atmos speakers in a smaller square in the room, with my sofa in the middle to get the sweetest spot. Do All 4K Discs Support High Dynamic Range (HDR)? Features a 4" spun-copper IMG woofer, 1" Aluminum LTS tweeter mated to a 90x90 square Tractrix Horn, and 100 Watt Power Handling. Do what you can with the space you have, and don’t fret about it being 100% ideal—it’s all about watching the movies as best you can in your space, and any of the setups above are capable of a good experience. But in this case, I think it’s important to first talk about what the ideal setup looks (and sounds) like, so I can more accurately explain how the compromises measure up. Dolby ATMOS Ceiling Speaker Placement 9.2.6, 9.2.4, 9.2.2 Made EASY!! I love my Atmos setup, but for different reasons than I originally thought I would. You’ll also need an Atmos-capable receiver for a setup like this. Installing all of the speakers in the ceiling will not give the optimal experience and is not recommended.”. CEILING BOUNCE ATMOS ELEVATION SPEAKERS. 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