Asking for the impossible? -- A Streamer for Dolby Atmos

[AVphile]

I have a very good 7.2.0 audio system. It includes a standalone two-channel streamer/DAC and a Roon Nucleus+ as well as an OPPO 203 4K/SACD player; and my preamplifier/processor has multi-channel HDMI 2.0 inputs and its own embedded 12-channel DAC. I subscribe to Tidal and Qobuz. I do not own, and don't want to have, an AVR added to my system. Also, I don't have a TV connected to this system, nor do I want include one either.

What I would really like to do is to be able to play Tidal's Dolby Atmos recordings through my system. Roon does not, and never will, support multi-channel audio, so I need some other way to access Tidal's multi-channel inventory of Dolby Atmos recordings. Ideally, I would like to own a simple multi-channel streamer with an HDMI 2.0 out port with which I could use the Tidal Connect app on my iPad to select an album or track that would be played back via this streamer and my preamp/processor.

Does such a streamer exist? (I was hopeful that the Hifi Rose RS130 might, but it solely two-channel even though it has HDMI outputs).

 

[somethingcleveridunno]

I think the Nvidia Shield supports both Tidal Connect and Tidal's Atmos library.

Does your surround processor have Atmos support? If not, you'll be limited to the 5.1 bed of the Atmos stream.

 

[minimumtumbleweed]

Ideally, I would like to own a simple multi-channel streamer with an HDMI 2.0 out port with which I could use the Tidal Connect app on my iPad to select an album or track that would be played back via this streamer and my preamp/processor.

Does such a streamer exist? (I was hopeful that the Hifi Rose RS130 might, but it solely two-channel even though it has HDMI outputs).

As far as I know, not possible. You would not be able to get Atmos via an external device i.e. and iPad or a phone. Your best bet, if you really don't want a TV, is some sort of small screen connected with HDMI to an NVIDIA SHIELD or similar streaming device. Then you would use the built-in TIDAL app which supports Atmos.

 

[jimfisheye]

At present, Dolby refuses to license their Atmos decoder to ANY other software media player app beyond their own Dolby Reference Player. Atmos is a push to sell hardware first, and an extension to surround sound second.

Unless some Lunatic releases their 7.1.4 mixes in standard wavpack files, you need the decoder. (See what I did there?) That's either a corporate and software dance (vetting and licensing) with dolby for their reference player app or purchasing a device with the decoder hidden in firmware like an AVR.

Huge fan of this creativity and 12 channel mixes! About as salty as it gets with the strong armed push to require a hardware purchase. Buying a whole new AVR for the software inside just for lossy streaming is a very difficult sale IMHO.

Streaming is actually harder than lossless bluray playback. For Apple Music you need both the decoder software and an approved Atmos compatible device connected. (Some of the newer Macs themself are an approved device even though no 12 ch output ability is built in.) If you don't have one of the newer "approved" Macs, the requirement becomes a very expensive dongle when you don't need a new computer or new amps/AVR for your surround system. Tidal might 'only' need the decoder.

I refuse software spoofing to sell me hardware too. You're not wrong to be put off by that!

 

[AVphile]

Thank you all for confirming my worst fears!

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Does such a streamer exist?

No but an Atmos-capable streamer connected to an Arvus decoder would probably do it.
https://shop.arvus.com/shop

 

[AudiophileStyle]

I have a very good 7.2.0 audio system. It includes a standalone two-channel streamer/DAC and a Roon Nucleus+ as well as an OPPO 203 4K/SACD player; and my preamplifier/processor has multi-channel HDMI 2.0 inputs and its own embedded 12-channel DAC. I subscribe to Tidal and Qobuz. I do not own, and don't want to have, an AVR added to my system. Also, I don't have a TV connected to this system, nor do I want include one either.

What I would really like to do is to be able to play Tidal's Dolby Atmos recordings through my system. Roon does not, and never will, support multi-channel audio, so I need some other way to access Tidal's multi-channel inventory of Dolby Atmos recordings. Ideally, I would like to own a simple multi-channel streamer with an HDMI 2.0 out port with which I could use the Tidal Connect app on my iPad to select an album or track that would be played back via this streamer and my preamp/processor.

Does such a streamer exist? (I was hopeful that the Hifi Rose RS130 might, but it solely two-channel even though it has HDMI outputs).

There are other ways. I don’t use an AVR or processor or have any screen in my room. 7.1.4 from Apple Music, which has the largest Atmos library, on my MacBook Pro, straight out to my audio system.

 

[gorman]

There are other ways. I don’t use an AVR or processor or have any screen in my room. 7.1.4 from Apple Music, which has the largest Atmos library, on my MacBook Pro, straight out to my audio system.

How? AmI I missing the obvious?

 

[AudiophileStyle]

How? AmI I missing the obvious?

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/immersive/the-digital-side-of-my-immersive-atmos-music-system-r1128/

 

[gorman]

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/immersive/the-digital-side-of-my-immersive-atmos-music-system-r1128/

Respect for your setup. While I definitely like to tinker with computers and software, this is not my cup of tea, for several reasons.

But still, lots of respect.

 

[AudiophileStyle]

Respect for your setup. While I definitely like to tinker with computers and software, this is not my cup of tea, for several reasons.

But still, lots of respect.

As a used car salesman once told me, there's an ass for every seat. It's great that there are different ways we can all approach this stuff and find a way that makes us happy.

I completely understand the desire to NOT go down the path I've gone down :~)

 

[pat bateman]

I have 2 ideas that I will test tomorrow. 1. If your processor supports Airplay 2.0, and your iPad has iOS 18+, Apple introduced Atmos over Airplay in iOS 18. 2. If your processor doesn't support Airplay 2.0, I would think you could use a headless Apple TV, Airplay to the Apple TV, and HDMI into your processor. Tidal says Atmos works via Airplay.

 

[pat bateman]

Good news/bad news. 1. Bad, option 1 does not work. Probably because Apple is restricting Atmos via Airplay to devices they deem worthy. 2. Good/bad, option 2 - Airplay to a headless Apple TV works, but only with Apple Music, not Tidal. What's interesting, is asking this question in Google, the AI generated response says it wont work, but Tidal's official documentation says it does work as linked in the previous post.

 

[johnbs]

I have a very good 7.2.0 audio system. It includes a standalone two-channel streamer/DAC and a Roon Nucleus+ as well as an OPPO 203 4K/SACD player; and my preamplifier/processor has multi-channel HDMI 2.0 inputs and its own embedded 12-channel DAC. I subscribe to Tidal and Qobuz. I do not own, and don't want to have, an AVR added to my system. Also, I don't have a TV connected to this system, nor do I want include one either.

What I would really like to do is to be able to play Tidal's Dolby Atmos recordings through my system. Roon does not, and never will, support multi-channel audio, so I need some other way to access Tidal's multi-channel inventory of Dolby Atmos recordings. Ideally, I would like to own a simple multi-channel streamer with an HDMI 2.0 out port with which I could use the Tidal Connect app on my iPad to select an album or track that would be played back via this streamer and my preamp/processor.

Does such a streamer exist? (I was hopeful that the Hifi Rose RS130 might, but it solely two-channel even though it has HDMI outputs).

I do not understand the claim that Roon does not support multichannel - my setup is proof that it can work well

Roon to Zidoo Z9X to Platin Surround hub to 5.1 Buchardt active speakers.

I also use Apple Music on Apple TV 4K and Blu-ray on Oppo 203 to the Platin Surround hub, so I am considering adding 2 active height speakers, as Platin supports 5.1.2

Platin is also working on Roon Ready support, which would allow me to remove the Zidoo Z9X.

John