From movie theaters to your own home, here’s how Dolby Atmos surrounds you with sound from all directions -- even above.
From the biggest commercial cinemas to the smallest of home theaters, Dolby Atmos is one of the latest ways to get surrounded by sound -- now from above! While Atmos soundtracks will work with a traditional five-speaker-and-subwoofer (5.1) system, one of its main benefits is a greater ability to work with as many (or few) speakers as you have.
In this explainer I'll break down how Atmos works, why height speakers and upward-firing soundbars are cool and everything you've ever wanted to know about Dolby Atmos but never bothered to ask.
Making sound surround
To understand what makes Atmos different than, say, its direct predecessor Dolby Digital, let's first take a look at how sound is mixed for movies and TV shows.
Everything you hear in a movie, from the music to the voices to the sound effects, all gets mixed into specific "channels." For simplicity's sake, we'll say these channels going around the room are left front (L), center (C), right front (R), right surround (RS), and left surround (LS). Some more complex systems add a "surround back" channel. All the low frequency noises go to the ".1" subwoofer channel.
So if two characters are speaking on screen, that gets mixed to the center channel. When the music swells during a dramatic moment, that's usually the front left and right channels. Zooming special effects might appear in the surround speakers. To an extent, this same mix also translates to the home. After all, if you have a 5.1 speaker system, you have all those same speakers.
Except… you don't. Not exactly. Where your speakers are, how powerful they are, and increasingly, how much range each has, varies greatly compared to a decent movie theater.
Atmos, for the most part, doesn't use channels. Instead, most sounds are treated as "objects." Instead of assigning a sound to a channel (and by extension, a speaker), Atmos lets filmmakers assign a sound to a place. Not "left surround speaker" but "left rear corner." Not "pan from left surround speaker to right sound speaker" but "pan smoothly across the rear wall." Not only does this give greater flexibility at the theater, but improves the experience in the theater and, potentially, at home.
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 the same-ish 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.
This includes the headline Atmos feature: height. With speakers hanging from the ceiling, sound engineers can now move sounds seamlessly over your head and all around. Done right, it's not only more convincing than before, but also less obtrusive. It's more natural, so you're less likely to notice the special effects and more likely to stay absorbed in the movie. And that's the point, right?
So what about the home?
Theaters are great and all, but most of us watch more movies at home. Let's get this out of the way first: obviously most people aren't going to install height speakers in their ceiling. That's fine because there are a growing number of speakers that either feature built-in height channels or fit on top of existing models. Imagine a standard tower or bookshelf speaker, but on top is an upward-firing driver that's addressed separately. These speakers bounce sound off the ceiling to mimic "real" height speakers. I've heard a few of these and they work surprisingly well. Not as well as real height speakers, of course, but it works and it's a far simpler option if you aren't interested in installing speakers in or near the ceiling.
So yes, if you want to take advantage of Atmos you'll need new hardware. But Dolby Digital is still the default for everything, so this isn't a required upgrade. If you're not interested in Atmos, your gear will still work. Even if you get a 4K Blu-ray player with dual HDMI outputs to connect to your older receiver, it will still work if it doesn't have Atmos. It will just play Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus track.
But if you want height channels, more channels or other benefits of Atmos, then you'll need a receiver that can decode it and a source that provides it. (Those sources include 4K Blu-ray players, some media streamers and some game consoles.) And you'll need Atmos content, of course, which we'll discuss in a moment.
Two Atmos home setup examples.
Dolby
To the right, you'll see a couple of Atmos home setup examples. At the top, specially designed upward firing speakers. Each is a traditional speaker but also has separate drivers that shoot sound to bounce off the ceiling. These are tuned so the bounced audio sounds correct to your ears. At the bottom, a soundbar designed to do the same.
Since you've got a greater number of possible speakers, how many could you have if you really wanted to go nuts? 24… plus 10 height speakers. Yep, 34 speakers if you want. You don't need to do that, of course. But if you've got a bunch of spare speakers and amps laying around and a room that can fit them, go for it.
On the left, a well installed Atmos home theater system with four in-ceiling height speakers. On the right... good luck with that.
Dolby
Dolby uses a slightly different twist to describe Atmos home systems. Traditionally a "5.1" system has three speakers up front, two on the sides or in back, and a single subwoofer. If you added two height speakers, Dolby would describe this system as a "5.1.2" system. I'm not sure that will catch on, but if you see "a 7.2.4 home theater" you can deduce that it's probably got three speakers up front, two on the sides, two in back, two subwoofers, and four height speakers.
All around
In addition to the gear, you'll also need Atmos content. That's actually pretty easy. If you're streaming you can find it on Netflix and VUDU. On disc it can be found on 4K and regular Blu-ray discs. It's even in a handful of video games including Star Wars Battlefront and Overwatch for PC and Xbox One.
Chances are if the movie is 4K, it's also Atmos -- though that doesn't mean it's in Atmos everywhere you can find that movie. It might be available with Atmos on the 4K Blu-ray, Amazon, for example. Just keep in mind there won't be compatibility issues. If you buy a movie that features Atmos it will also have an audio track your current gear can play, minus the height channels.
Is it worth upgrading all your gear to take advantage of Atmos? For all your Need your are one step away
Home theater provides an exciting entertainment experience, but at what price?
Many consumers are confused on how to get started in home theater and how much to spend. Contrary to popular belief, those on a budget can still afford a modest system that will do the job.
What you ultimately spend depends on reconciling your desires with your available cash. There are inexpensive and mid-range options that provide great value and performance, while some very expensive options only deliver a marginal increase in performance and may not always be the best value.
The following tips will enable you to merge your desires with some practical, cost-effective, strategies for assembling your home theater.
1. Think About What's Most Important for Your Home Theater
A home theater system is an exciting entertainment option that provides the consumer with an immersive viewing and listening experience. Your home theater system can be just a TV and modest sound system or a sophisticated custom-built system with a high-end TV or video projector, in-wall and ceiling speakers, expensive home theater seating.
Here are the basic questions you need to seek answers to: Do you want the biggest viewing image possible? Will you be spending more time watching TV, watching movies, listening to music, or playing video games? Do you want to incorporate the internet into your home theater system?
As you get excited about your home theater plans, also be aware of common mistakes that can impact both your budget and enjoyment of your new system.
2.Decide Whether to Upgrade or Start From Scratch
Take stock of what you already have and think you might want to keep—at least for now. As you survey what you have, take into consideration what you want your completed home theater system to include. Here are some examples:
A Display Device - In order to watch video content, you need a TV or video projector/screen.
One or More Sources - You need something to provide you with the content you watch or hear. Home Theater source component options include Blu-ray or DVD players, game consoles, network media player/streamers, antenna, cable, or satellite TV box.
A Sound System - In order to hear your movies, TV shows, or other video content, you need to connect your source to a stereo or home theater receiver and speakers.
Equipment Rack or Cabinet - You need a place to put your TV or source components, and if own CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays, having a place to store them is a good idea.
Seating - To complete your home theater setup, a nice, comfortable chair or couch is a great way to add to the enjoyment.
3.Consider a Home-Theater-in-a-Box or Sound Bar
If you have a small room to work with, or just don't want the hassle of putting together an elaborate setup, consider an appropriate TV and either a home-theater-in-a-box or soundbar system.
Home-theater-in-a-box systems are affordable packages that contain most of the components needed, including speakers, a surround receiver, and, in some cases, even a DVD or Blu-ray player.
A sound bar is a device that creates a wider surround-like field from a single speaker cabinet, which can be placed above or below a TV. Some sound bars have their own internal amplifiers and most also come with a separate subwoofer. Soundbars save a lot of space and eliminate the need for extra surround speakers in a modest setup.
If you dream of the day when you can afford your ultimate home theater system but don't have the cash, a home-theater-in-a-box or sound bar are definitely affordable.
4.Evaluate the Hidden Benefits of Blu-ray Players
Although Blu-ray players are more expensive than DVD players, many are priced at Rs.20000/- or less. There are some real money-saving advantages to owning a Blu-ray player over a DVD player. Blu-ray players not only play Blu-ray discs but also play DVDs and CDs as well.
Also, most Blu-ray players can also play audio, video, and still image content from USB flash drives via an onboard USB port. Lastly, almost all Blu-ray players incorporate internet streaming capability. These players can be connected to the internet via a router, allowing you to stream online audio and video content directly to the player for viewing on your TV or video projector. Check for these, and other features, when shopping for a Blu-ray player.
5.Don't Over-Pay for Accessories
When you buy a TV, Blu-ray player, home theater receiver, speakers, and sub woofer, the cost for those items isn't your final total. You still need cables, wires, and possibly other accessories, such as a universal remote control and surge and Stabilizer to get it all set up and working. Accessories can be expensive, but they don't have to be. use right accessories for smooth and long life experience
6.Consider the Long-Term Costs of Using Your Home Theater System
It doesn't do any good to spend money on a home theater if you don't have the money to enjoy it on an ongoing basis. Here are some things to take into consideration:
Discs - The average price of a DVD movie is about Rs.100/-, while the average price of a Blu-ray movie is about Rs.300/-. Always watch for sales. Consider Online media streaming DVD/Blu-ray movies in internet if you are not interested in keeping them.
Cable and Satellite Fee - The amount you pay depends on the package that you contract for HD Setup box you purchased
Pay-Per-View Fees - The prices vary, can be a little as Rs.150/- per view or Rs.1000/- or more for certain newer film releases or special events in internet sources like Youtube, amazon prime or netflix.
Internet Streaming Fees - Some providers require a monthly subscription, while others impose pay-per-view fees. One cautionary note is that even though internet streaming is a very attractive alternative to cable or satellite, costs can be just as high depending on how you manage what you watch. One benefit though is that you only pay for the service or specific content you want.
Video Projector Lamp Replacement - If you opt for a video projector, rather than a TV, most projectors incorporate a lamp that needs to be periodically replaced. Although lamp costs have come down in recent years, depending on the projector, it could still be as much as several hundred dollars. Typical video projector lamp life ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 hours.
7.Saving Money is Good; Acquiring Great Value Is Better
A home theater can be a real money saver—if you buy smart. The key things: Don't buy the cheapest, but don't overpay for just a minor increase in performance. Be comfortable with your purchase. If you can't afford everything right away, a practical way to start is to buy a good TV and build out from there.
When shopping for your home theater components, keep the following in mind:
Be Realistic - When buying a product, budget for additional expenses such as sales tax, delivery charges, and needed accessories. When looking at the purchase price of the product, add an additional 20 to 25 percent. This will more accurately reflect your final register total.
Research Before You Buy - Before buying any type of home theater component, check out information on both internet and print on the type of products you are considering. On the web, there are resources such as manufacturer sites, comparative reviews, online price guides, and more that can help you with your choices. Don't ever tell a salesman you know nothing about the item you are trying to purchase, especially if he/she is on commission.
Read Those Ads Carefully - One important way to prepare for the shopping experience is to learn how to interpret the different types of ads that clutter the Sunday ad inserts in your newspaper.
Understand Store Return Policies - During the excitement of making a purchase, asking about the store return policy is often overlooked. Make sure you know right up front what the return policy is. This is especially important if you are buying the product as a gift for someone. Some retailers have restocking fees (usually 15 percent) on some, or all, items (once opened) whether defective or not. Although some retailers may be lenient in a specific case, most are strict on this policy. It is possible that even if you are even just one day past the return policy cutoff, the product is yours, even if the product is unopened. A store's return policy should be posted at the cash register stations, and may also be imprinted on the back of your receipt. If you don't see it—ask.
Extended Service Plans - To Buy or Not to Buy? - When making a home theater product purchase on a strict budget, you may be highly resistant to buying a service plan or extended warranty. However, if you are buying anything mechanically based, such as a CD/DVD/Blu-ray player, or you are buying a large screen LCD or OLED TV, consider buying extended service. Of course, the cost of the plan, the type of coverage offered, and the price of the plan are also important considerations. Make sure you look at the fine print of the contract before buying.
Buy Everything You Need The First Time - Buy EVERYTHING a product needs to make it work. Make sure you buy any needed cables or other accessories so the item can be used when you get it home. If you are buying a DVD or Blu-ray player, buy a couple DVD or Blu-ray movies. If you are buying a DVD Recorder, make sure you buy a package of blank DVDs in the correct format.
Know the Rules of Mail Order and Online Buying - To find the right product at the right price, many consumers are buying more and more off of the internet, mail order, or from QVC and other shopping channels. However, as attractive as those internet and mail order shopping prices are, there are some pitfalls. Make sure you understand the total costs of shopping online or via mail order.For home Theater better to purchase from local vendor after visiting them ,seeing demo and checking SLA terms with Local vendors
Dolby Atmos for the home brings the ultimate cinema sound experience to your home theater to create powerful, moving audio that flows around you.
Dolby Atmos for the Home Benefits
Moving Audio That Flows Around You
You'll feel like you're inside the action as the sounds of people, music, and things come alive with breathtaking realism and move all around you in three-dimensional space.
Reproduces All the Audio Objects in the Original Cinema Mix
Reproduces up to 128 simultaneous audio objects in a mix for rich, realistic, and breathtaking sound.
Compatible Playback
Dolby Atmos® discs and online content are fully compatible for playback on conventional stereo and on 5.1- and 7.1-channel systems, giving you the same outstanding experience you’ve always enjoyed.
A Growing Library of Content
As movie directors increasingly choose Dolby Atmos for their soundtracks, you'll find a growing library of movies and other content on Blu-ray Disc™ and online from premium services.
What a Dolby Atmos Setup Looks Like
With a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar, or as few as six speakers in a conventional home theater system, you can enjoy Dolby Atmos.
Freeing Sound from Channels—the Dolby Atmos Concept
Traditional surround soundtracks must confine all sounds to the 5.1 or 7.1 channels of a typical home theater setup. If a scene requires, say, a helicopter taking off, that sound has to be assigned to specific channels and mixed together with other sounds.
While that helicopter can move across channels, it can't go above you. You hear it only from the small number of predetermined locations defined by the speaker setup, not as you'd hear it in real life.
Dolby Atmos, by contrast, frees sound from channels. It's the first cinematic audio format in which sounds exist as individual entities, called audio objects. In Dolby Atmos, any sound—the helicopter, a car screeching around a corner, a melodic bird call—can exist as an independent audio object, free of channel restrictions. They can be precisely placed and moved anywhere in your room, including overhead, to flow above and around you in three-dimensional space.
Through the use of audio objects, overhead sound, and all the richness, clarity, and power of Dolby sound, Dolby Atmos turns your room into an amazing place for entertainment. You'll feel like you're inside the action, in ways you've never before experienced.
Brief Tech Overview
Dolby Atmos for the home represents every sound in the original cinema mix as an audio object. Extensions to our Dolby Audio™ codecs, along with an advanced scalable algorithm, allow Dolby Atmos to be delivered via Blu-ray Disc and streaming media. A Dolby Atmos audio/video receiver (AVR) adapts the cinema experience to your home theater from seven speakers to as many as 34, recreating the original artistic concept.
Supports up to 128 simultaneous independent audio objects in a mix for rich, realistic, and breathtaking sound
Recreates the director's original concept through descriptive metadata to provide customized playback for home theater
Delivers sounds above you through overhead speakers, special upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar
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With a flat screen TV, you want speakers to match. Really flat. More importantly, you also want to fill the room with high definition 3D sound that’s every bit as involving as what’s on screen.
Slim speakers, serious sound
KEF's revolutionary T Series is in a different league from any low profile speaker you've ever heard. As one of the world's thinnest high performance home theatre systems, the T Series combines several landmark innovations: a radical new ultra-low profile bass and midrange driver, and a large, fully vented new tweeter. By incorporating both in cabinets only 35mm (just over 1.25in.) deep, the T Series brings you all the pleasures of true audiophile quality sound in a speaker that perfectly complements the aesthetics of the latest flat screen TVs.
Ultra-slim bass driver
Clean, forceful response that brings the action vividly to life.
Instead of a cone, the radical new twin-layer bass and midrange unit has a flat diaphragm whose rigidity throughout the frequency range is maintained by very fine stiffening ribs, with the driver as a whole acting as a stressed member to help eliminate any unwanted resonance from the slim cabinet. The resulting response is as clean, accurate and distortion-free as a quality conventional speaker, with none of the bulk.
In addition to minimising the height of the magnets, we placed the entire suspension outside the magnet system so that it adds nothing to its height. Whether you opt for the standard satellite and centre speakers or the larger models with additional bass/midrange drivers, the result is an exceptionally shallow unit that allows the enclosure to have the same installed depth as current flat screen TVs without compromising acoustic integrity in the slightest. Lush yet well controlled, it's the kind of performance that brings soundtrack effects to life with a real sense of drama.
Large new vented tweeter
A warm, natural sound that's so real you feel you're there.
The generous size of the sophisticated new 25mm (1in.) vented tweeter specially developed for the T Series allows exceptionally accurate reproduction, especially of the human voice. And silken, effortlessly pure high notes. The clarity is outstanding, even played loud.
KEF's unique 'Tangerine' waveguide helps to disperse the sound image evenly throughout the room. The combined effect is remarkable: you find yourself immersed in a dense three-dimensional sound picture that completely engages you with what's happening on screen.
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