I tend to be on the upbeat side myself...and, I enjoy your posts. But I've got a feeling something's not right with the Rhino Atmos series. Just checked my first bundle and the Doors lights up Atmos on my receiver, but not for Fleetwood Mac, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Alanis Morissette.
I understand your point.
I'll start with what Clement stated above.
This is my own personal experience visual signal strength only.
My foundation speakers have two amps with needles, easy to see what's working and not. As an example Steven Wilson style of vocals center channel, a no brainer, all the time.
My height speakers have there own amp, but works a bit different, the two needles are a average of the fronts and the rears. There is a signal strength light also, this is the main focus. Albums that have great height strength, those strength signal lights fire right up, and the two needles are all in. Sometimes when listening to streaming ATMOS the height speakers do not even have a signal, even though it is a Dolby Atmos signal.
Ok, that's my visual experience on my own personal rig.
Next my audio experience, ears only.
One thing that I like about a good strong signal in Atmos is the bubble of sound, however this does not mean objects are all over the place.
The different versions of Atmos music I have listened to are literally all over the place.
Most common with a good signal, meaning all speakers firing with great strength.
1. Full envelope of sound.
2. Full envelope of sound, heights kind of reverb only but a lot of action on the floor foundation.
3. Full envelope of sound, floor and height speakers getting a lot of fun movement, things moving and tinkling all over the place.
It goes without saying there are degrees, multiples, of my 3 versions above, but when I vote on a Atmos mix, the above 3 are my first criteria.
I know for a fact that others can explain better than me, but I am always by myself when I listen and I have learned how to listen better by being a member of QQ, but as I said, it's just me by myself.
To me a very important factor should be considered and that is my mood, if I am rushed, forget it. New release music usually sounds better to me after a full album listen, the second or third time. I don't like to comment generally on a one time listen. Sometimes I have pen and paper while listening. I always find it funny when a member of QQ types "I'm half way through the first track and this is great".
But I understand as sometimes I type and make mistakes also.
