I never said that! I said that speakers sound best at ear level. While I do not see the need for the height dimension especially with music, I am not condemning it just pointing out it's pitfalls.
Last edited:
Dolby Atmos® FAQ
- Thread starter HomerJAU
- Start date
Help Support QuadraphonicQuad:
Well I wasn't singling you out, I've heard that before.
However on your part I stand corrected and apologize.
For me the thing is this. I do not have matched speakers in my current setup but I once did for many years, 5 identical NHTs. Again back to my current setup, they are all of the same brand (Emotiva), they all use the same tweeters, and some even use the same mid bass/midrange drivers.
in my experience, talking front mains only, even with identical speakers there are small differences in sound based on their position in the room. I have heard it across several speaker sets. But only hear it when testing with pink noise. With music, I can't detect it at all.
With respect to the center channel, the differences between center and fronts become larger. Its easy to hear with pink noise. But I can't really detect it at all with music. The whole front soundstage appears seamless. Weather stereo or MCH. No different than I perceived with identical fronts/center.
When we get to the surrounds, the differences using pink noise get larger still, but with music things could get panned across the sides and sound the same. During the pan there was typically a hole in the middle side, but it also happened with the identical. I hear nothing that would point to a difference in timber.
The worst are the heights. There is a fairly big difference using pink noise. I think I could hear a difference in timber if given a chance to test it, but in actual use, for the typical stuff that shows up there, I'm not convinced it matters. It definitely doesn't matter for ambience or effects. It might for discrete instruments, but its very difficult to perceived it.
In short I think the physical location of the speaker, and probably our listening position in relation to it, plays a significant part in its timber, but it not like we can do a whole lot about it anyway.
in my experience, talking front mains only, even with identical speakers there are small differences in sound based on their position in the room. I have heard it across several speaker sets. But only hear it when testing with pink noise. With music, I can't detect it at all.
With respect to the center channel, the differences between center and fronts become larger. Its easy to hear with pink noise. But I can't really detect it at all with music. The whole front soundstage appears seamless. Weather stereo or MCH. No different than I perceived with identical fronts/center.
When we get to the surrounds, the differences using pink noise get larger still, but with music things could get panned across the sides and sound the same. During the pan there was typically a hole in the middle side, but it also happened with the identical. I hear nothing that would point to a difference in timber.
The worst are the heights. There is a fairly big difference using pink noise. I think I could hear a difference in timber if given a chance to test it, but in actual use, for the typical stuff that shows up there, I'm not convinced it matters. It definitely doesn't matter for ambience or effects. It might for discrete instruments, but its very difficult to perceived it.
In short I think the physical location of the speaker, and probably our listening position in relation to it, plays a significant part in its timber, but it not like we can do a whole lot about it anyway.
Last edited:
MidiMagic
2K Club - QQ Super Nova
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2010
- Messages
- 2,275
Dolby is all about compatibility??? Then where is Dolby Pro Logic?
They dumped it to keep people from recording in it (because they no longer have control or license powers over it).
Dolby Pro Logic is from the old analogue days. Given everything's done digitally now, there has to be a cut-off somewhere!
MidiMagic
2K Club - QQ Super Nova
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2010
- Messages
- 2,275
No there does not have to be a cutoff. That cutoff is because the patent expired, so they can't make money on it.
There is no cutoff in phonograph disc records. My equipment can play anything from an 1890s Berliner to the new version of Revolver I got a few weeks ago. There are only a few disc records I can't play correctly:
- Pathe broad groove records (larger than 12-inch and groove needs a 7-mil stylus)
- Records larger than 12-inch (I used to have a 16-inch turntable and arm)
- 120 rpm records
- CD-4
Well, no, as I found recently, it still comes pre-loaded on AVRs that don't do Atmos.
(and who on earth wants to 'record in' DPL these days?)
But yes, DSU is a different approach than DPL, and for whatever reasons (we may speculate about them), new AVRs that have Atmos do not generally offer DPL in any flavor anymore. That pisses off a small market of aging surround fans: us. Far, far more surround fans would be pissed off if Atmos mixes did not have a built-in 'bed' mix for those who don't use height speakers. That is back-compatibility that matters far more to the market.
Of course there has to be a cut-off....
Analogue audio utilizes completely different recording, mixing, production, distribution and playback techniques to digital audio!
Just got the 2021-ish remastered Blu-ray (non-4k) LOTR discs which have the Atmos soundtrack too- both the visuals and the soundtrack are significantly improved. Unlike the 4k disc set, you also get the original special features on 3 DVDs per title. Pretty good deal for $40ish.
Thoughts on the new streaming Atmos mix?
I typically stream for convenience, not for appreciation or thoughtful listening. My Spotify account and two Bluetooth speakers are my streaming setup. Not a snob in any way, just really enjoy the physical copy and sitting in my basement absorbing the full experience. Have you heard it?
@EricKalet has and recommend it in a recent Life in Surround review video.
No commentary on snobbery. There is simply a massive and growing body of Atmos albums that exist only on streaming platforms and will likely remain that way.
If having and spinning a physical copy is a gate keeper for you, all good!
Personally, there are streaming-only albums, at this point, that are must-listens.
Not to mention frustration with surround mixes locked in expensive box sets, ever-rising costs of standalone releases, shipping, crappy packaging, and so on…
You are correct that the streaming options are increasing and that will only continue at the expense of physical copies. I need to get with Apple Music and take advantage of what’s available. Physical copies are not a true deal breaker - I don’t read a newspaper anymore! However, I am hopeful that streaming Atmos is not the equivalent of mp3 surround. I will explore this and read the review you so kindly forwarded. Thank you for the kick!
Also, is Who’s Next the most awful example of a Blu-ray trapped in a box? I would love to have it as a stand-alone.
Also, is Who’s Next the most awful example of a Blu-ray trapped in a box? I would love to have it as a stand-alone.
Hi!
As you're discussing streaming, I hope you don't mind these questions from a non-streaming person...
How does one go about streaming for Atmos music? For example, do I need to subscribe to an Apple movie channel and then Atmos music simply comes with it? I have no Apple devices, would that be a problem?
I do subscribe to Amazon Prime and I consistently receive Amazon emails telling me that I have 'unused benefits' - and one of those they cite is music. However, I see no button on the Amazon Prime channel for music.
One last question that's come to me ... if I do decide to subscribe to an Atmos music channel, is Apple regarded as the best?
Sorry, I know I'm extending this digression from the Allman Bros, but hopefully this is just a quick digression, and then things can go back to the topic at hand...
SharpKnight
Active Member
Hello everyone,
I kept searching for a thread only related to the accessories part of an Atmos setup and without any luck I have chosen to post my question here.
I was wondering if there are 4 channel speaker wires allowing me to run two channels off a single speaker unit with upward firing Dolby Atmos speaker. I would run two speakers wires, but it occured to me that there has to be 4 channel speaker wires too. But my search on Amazon has been futile. The wires are either too thick (I can't conceal to some extent) and black or brown in color, however now that I type this I occurs to me that I could simply paint the section of the exposed wires my wall color to camaflouge them. Nonetheless such 4 channel wires are pretty pricey on Amazon and too thick and...way too much for the small space that I have.
250ft 16AWG 4 Conductors (16/4) CL2 Rated Speaker Cable True Spec & Gauge Low Voltage LED Copper Clad Aluminum Wire, Pull Box (for in-Wall Installation) (16AWG / 4 Conductors, 250ft) https://a.co/d/jdGvIur
I kept searching for a thread only related to the accessories part of an Atmos setup and without any luck I have chosen to post my question here.
I was wondering if there are 4 channel speaker wires allowing me to run two channels off a single speaker unit with upward firing Dolby Atmos speaker. I would run two speakers wires, but it occured to me that there has to be 4 channel speaker wires too. But my search on Amazon has been futile. The wires are either too thick (I can't conceal to some extent) and black or brown in color, however now that I type this I occurs to me that I could simply paint the section of the exposed wires my wall color to camaflouge them. Nonetheless such 4 channel wires are pretty pricey on Amazon and too thick and...way too much for the small space that I have.
250ft 16AWG 4 Conductors (16/4) CL2 Rated Speaker Cable True Spec & Gauge Low Voltage LED Copper Clad Aluminum Wire, Pull Box (for in-Wall Installation) (16AWG / 4 Conductors, 250ft) https://a.co/d/jdGvIur
Ugh. I wouldn't use aluminum wire. But that's me.
As for concealing wiring that can't be "disappeared" into the walls, I use rectangular cable channel, the largest I could find. Many would consider it fugly but sure looks better than bare wire stapled across the walls. Plus it can be painted. If you are very patient, with the largest rectangular channel I could find, you can get four 12 gauge two-wire speaker wire even through corners.
My audio room has a main door, a closet door, and a "French" or double door I think it's called, necessitating making many curves and 90* corners.
The kits I bought had curved corner pieces, 90* turns, "T" shapes and straight connecting pieces. Also included was a really sticky backing tape but also drywall anchors and screws.
The only problem was finding extra corners and such, so I had to "overbuy". Each straight piece of channel is about 1 meter long and has the base and a "snap in" top.
My audio room has a main door, a closet door, and a "French" or double door I think it's called, necessitating making many curves and 90* corners.
The kits I bought had curved corner pieces, 90* turns, "T" shapes and straight connecting pieces. Also included was a really sticky backing tape but also drywall anchors and screws.
The only problem was finding extra corners and such, so I had to "overbuy". Each straight piece of channel is about 1 meter long and has the base and a "snap in" top.
SharpKnight
Active Member
That's all fine but my real question for options for 2 channel speaker wires. 16 gauge. Or do I just use the 100 feet roll of 1 channel wire, glue it together into a single wire so I don't have two wires dangling from a single speaker. Again, this is upward firing Atmos speaker so it's handling 2 channels.
Owen Smith
2K Club - QQ Super Nova
I bought QED Profile 4x4 speaker cable decades ago and still use it for bi-amping my front left/right pair. So speaker cable that could drive two speakers certainly used to exist. Here's some on ebay UK, though they've wired it mono wired. Picture 3 shows the layout clearest. Best of all this stuff is the same colour as my living room carpet.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224656045567
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224656045567
