Dolby Atmos (7.1 file) Playback on Mac ?

[boxmusic]

I am using Audirvana Plus 3.2.18 (latest Sep.2019) for stereo and 5.1 but A+ does not support 7.1.
Two channels had gone when playing 7.1 on A+ but other 5.1 tracks are ok.
Audirvana 3.5 is fine for stereo but does not run 5.1 on my system. so my choice is A+3.2.

My Hardware:
Macmini (late 2009) with RME FireFace400 (firewire) and QNAP NAS
Macbook Pro (13-inch 2016) with Soundflower+Ladiocast (for testing)

I am trying to find out 7.1 capable players then nothing runs except Cubase and afplay (/w terminal command player).
afplay sounds really great and runs stably but afplay works only single track playback. no good for Album player.
I am still looking for 7.1 player on Mac. Does anyone know other 7.1 capable player(s) on Mac??

 

[boxmusic]

This shot is my display on Macmini 2009+RME FireFace400 when playing Guns In The Sky / INXS
aiff 7.1 file 48k/24bit from MKV+DVDAE.
FF400 has 6 channels output so I use front downmix from SW and Center to Front L/R monomix.
Rear L/R and Celing L/R are discrete. All channels are downmixed to Headphone L/R channels.
Using afplay in terminal window with -q 1 (high quality switch) option and a 7.1 file name.
7.1 outputs are assigned to discrete 8 channels of FF400 correctly. Sounds superb than any other players.
Inconvenient operation is afplay runs only a single file.

 

[antoine555]

Hello, I don't know about 7.1 or Atmos (I only have a 5.1 system myself) but when I plug A+ 3.5 via HDMI to my Amp (my good old Pioneer VSX 827), it reports 7.1 channels

Edit: MacOS too:

 

[boxmusic]

Hi, Thanks for the report on your system. A3.5 (not A+ may be) shows capable format on selected audio device (VSX827).
A3.5 output is not depends on Mac OS core audio setting.
You can play 7.1 file if A3.5 supports 7.1 but unfortunately A3.5 limted up to 5.1.
Also I tried my A3.5 and finally found out my old macmini cpu power is not enough.
A3.5 can play 5.1 on my MBP 2016 without "Exlcusive Access".
I would be happy if A3.5 or A+3.2 will support 7.1 playback in near future.

Two screenshot here to compare.
Playing INXS 7.1 on A3.5 and afplay. A3.5 did not sound out at channel 7,8. Afplay plays whole 7.1 out.

A3.5

afplay on terminal window

 

[boxmusic]

Quicktime (both 10.4 and 10.5) runs 7.1 /w eight channels output correctly. SQ is no good than afplay.

 

[antoine555]

Ok, I'll try with a fake 7.1 file, a fake sound card and my headphones to see if I have the 2 missing channels in A3.5.20 on my system

 

[boxmusic]

Abbey Road Atmos playback on my macmini(late 2009) with RME FireFace 400.
My friend makes apple script for me. Script runs afplay in m3u playlist and almost gapless between files.
Atmos sounds incredible quality.
Channel assignment as below
1 Front Left
2 Front Right
3 Center
4 Sub Wooer
5 Rear Left
6 Rear Right
7 Ceiling Left (Atmos)
8 Ceiling Right (Atmos)

 

[HomerJAU]

Abbey Road Atmos playback on my macmini(late 2009) with RME FireFace 400.
My friend makes apple script for me. Script runs afplay in m3u playlist and almost gapless between files.
Atmos sounds incredible quality.
Channel assignment as below
1 Front Left
2 Front Right
3 Center
4 Sub Wooer
5 Rear Left
6 Rear Right
7 Ceiling Left (Atmos)
8 Ceiling Right (Atmos)

You are playing back the TrueHD 7.1 'core' mix not the Atmos object mix. So that means your playing back the side channels in your ceiling speakers and rear channels in your sides if you have a 5.1.2 system based on your above channel listing.

 

[boxmusic]

You are playing back the TrueHD 7.1 'core' mix not the Atmos object mix. So that means your playing back the side channels in your ceiling speakers and rear channels in your sides if you have a 5.1.2 system based on your above channel listing.

Thanks. Yes, it's just a THD7.1 core. IIUC, True Atmos playback required object decoding from core and meta-data controlled renderer.