Poll: What's your current Atmos speaker layout?

[JediJoker]

...Kii Three...

Those are some mighty speakers! Hope to hear them someday, along with the Dutch & Dutch 8c. Cardioid dispersion is such a neat idea.

 

[ar surround]

Will I get a significant improvement experience if I upgrade from 9.2.4 to 9.2.6?
My space is around 3.7m by 6.7m (12'x22'). The additional 2 height speakers would be right on top of the seat (at no angle).?

I am max'd at my AVR, so if so, I'd need to upgrade it as well (to the Denon AVR A1H (Denon's flagship)

It sounds like you'd like to try this upgrade to 9.2.6 regardless whether the improvement is 'significant' or not. As long as you have the funds, the time to make the conversion, and don't get thrown out of the house, then why not give it a shot?

Maybe also go to 4 subwoofers to even out the bass response more than you're getting from 2 subwoofers? Really, I'm not giving you a hard time about this. I've personally heard two salesmen in an audio salon argue about whether 2 or 4 subs were necessary.

Besides, what others consider minor improvements may be significant from your perspective.

 

[ar surround]

Will I get a significant improvement experience if I upgrade from 9.2.4 to 9.2.6?

One other thing. My setup when I use Auro 3D has the fifth speaker, which is also called the Voice of God (VOG) because it is directly overhead. When I upmix to Auro 3D and go from 4 to 5 speakers, I wouldn't call the improvement significant, but the feeling I get when going back to 4 speakers is that 'something isn't quite right.'

So while subtle, I personally consider that VOG speaker to be important in my particular setup.

 

[zeerround]

for 9.2.4 to 9.2.6, I think would make some content with objects moving from from front heights to rears, and with content in all 4 heights in 9.2.4, to see if 9.2.4 was "good enough" before replacing an AVR (unless there is some other compelling reason to upgrade).

I could create the tests, if needed.

Re: Auro 3D Voice of God, yeah I didn't mention I have a 13th genelec in my "13.1"/7.2.4 setup in the studio, directly over head. Almost never used. If I had the Auro 3D enocder I would use it more.

On my Marantz AV7704 that forces a trade off between "stereo" subs and mono to both subs (which I doubt matters) with the VOG. Same for 16 line outs from the Realiser A16.

 

[Sal1950]

Will I get a significant improvement experience if I upgrade from 9.2.4 to 9.2.6?
My space is around 3.7m by 6.7m (12'x22'). The additional 2 height speakers would be right on top of the seat (at no angle).?

I am max'd at my AVR, so if so, I'd need to upgrade it as well (to the Denon AVR A1H (Denon's flagship)

Besides, what others consider minor improvements may be significant from your perspective.

Yep, that's the bottom line.
In MHO I don't see a lot coming out of a third set of Atmos speakers but you'll never know till you try.
I just wish I had the room to go from 5 to 7 base speakers.

Re: Auro 3D Voice of God, yeah I didn't mention I have a 13th genelec in my "13.1"/7.2.4 setup in the studio, directly over head. Almost never used. If I had the Auro 3D enocder I would use it more.

I wonder if a VOG speaker was positioned directly overhead or just behind the MLP, could it also be configured to
be used as a Mono third row Atmos? Interesting idea I had some time back.

On my Marantz AV7704 that forces a trade off between "stereo" subs and mono to both subs (which I doubt matters) with the VOG. Same for 16 line outs from the Realiser A16.

Your AV7704 doesn't do Auro ?
I paid for the upgrade on my 7703 and was very happy with it.
I cried when a lightning strike killed it.

 

[srbjab]

I've built my dedicated home theater / listening room system up over the years. Current configuration is 7.5.4, room is roughly 18' x 24'. Every upgrade has been worth it, sonically. But the addition of ceiling speakers was surprisingly impactful. I listen to almost everything that isn't Atmos upmixed via the Dolby upmixer (except for my small quad collection) and they were a game changer.

7 = Martin-Logan Electrostatics - Fronts, Center, Sides, Rears
5 = 2 Bag End 18" (rear corners), 2 Genesis 15" (front corners), 1 Hsu Research 15" (just below the center channel)
4 = 4 Micca In-Ceiling 8" Woofer, Moveable Concentric Tweeter

 

[zeerround]

Yep, that's the bottom line.
In MHO I don't see a lot coming out of a third set of Atmos speakers but you'll never know till you try.
I just wish I had the room to go from 5 to 7 base speakers.

I wonder if a VOG speaker was positioned directly overhead or just behind the MLP, could it also be configured to
be used as a Mono third row Atmos? Interesting idea I had some time back.


Your AV7704 doesn't do Auro ?
I paid for the upgrade on my 7703 and was very happy with it.
I cried when a lightning strike killed it.

It does do auro. It’s just that there are only so many inputs and outputs. 13 channels so if I want VOG I can’t do 7.2.4, but can do 7.1.4 plus a VOG. For auro 13.1 I am missing front center height (and that might be a better choice than VOG, now that I think about it).

Yeah, interesting idea about VOG as a mono mid height.

 

[HomerJAU]

Yeah, interesting idea about VOG as a mono mid height.

I decoded an MPEG-H file from 22.2 and the VOG channel was the lead vocals. No vocals in FC!

 

[andyp]

With all these speaker setups most are showing here, I've noticed most have different speakers all around. Ideally, identical speakers, even the center channel, would be the best setup. I remember when DVD- audio first arrived, this was the recommendation and it made perfect sense to me. I changed my entire speaker selection using that simple guideline. I have six "old" Infinity Intermezzo 2.6's all around including the Intermezzo sub which in its day, won the Sound & Vision "Subway Series". That article is still on S&V"s site while the Infinity Intermezzo 2.6 review is still on Stereophile's site.
Initially, I had the same Intermezzo 2.6 as my center channel but I changed houses and now I have the Infinity Intermezzo 3.5C under my LG OLED TV.
I have four Micca M-8C's in the ceiling that complete my Atmos system.

 

[perzon57]

I don't think it's necessary to have the the same size all around when you have sub(s), but to have the same manufacturer makes sense. I have different Tannoy models for the 7 mains channels, the surround back speakers being the biggest with two 8 inch woofers each.

 

[MTB Vince]

With all these speaker setups most are showing here, I've noticed most have different speakers all around. Ideally, identical speakers, even the center channel, would be the best setup. I remember when DVD- audio first arrived, this was the recommendation and it made perfect sense to me. I changed my entire speaker selection using that simple guideline. I have six "old" Infinity Intermezzo 2.6's all around including the Intermezzo sub which in its day, won the Sound & Vision "Subway Series". That article is still on S&V"s site while the Infinity Intermezzo 2.6 review is still on Stereophile's site.
Initially, I had the same Intermezzo 2.6 as my center channel but I changed houses and now I have the Infinity Intermezzo 3.5C under my LG OLED TV.
I have four Micca M-8C's in the ceiling that complete my Atmos system.

@andyp can't negatively critique our setup! Identical ATC active studio monitor bed loudspeakers all the way around and their nearest ATC "install variant" passive ceiling mount monitors up top.

 

[Sal1950]

Ideally, identical speakers, even the center channel, would be the best setup. I remember when DVD- audio first arrived, this was the recommendation and it made perfect sense to me.

I fully agree. This is something I've harped on forever. I have 4 JBL HDI-3600s in the corners and a HDI-4500 center. If I had a big room and could set up a sound transparent projection screen, I'd have a fifth 3600 behind it for the center.
No one would ever consider having two different speakers for stereo L & R's and expect to get good imaging? How can you expect to get smooth side wall imaging with unmatched speakers?
YMMV

 

[par4ken]

Acronyms again! What is a VOG?

 

[zeerround]

VOG = "Voice Of God". It means a speaker directly over the listening position. It is included in (only) Auro 3D speaker layouts (Not dolby or DTS or even 22.2).

 

[GilWave]

They are divers moving air in response to the signals they receive from the source. Properly positioned and time-aligned, EQ'd if indicated, it shouldn''t matter.

Many of us 'evolved' into Atmos from stereo and 5.1, over time. Not everyone can swing 12 to 14 speaker purchase all at one from one manufacturer. Kudos to those who can.

 

[DrKlahn]

Will I get a significant improvement experience if I upgrade from 9.2.4 to 9.2.6?
My space is around 3.7m by 6.7m (12'x22'). The additional 2 height speakers would be right on top of the seat (at no angle).?

I am max'd at my AVR, so if so, I'd need to upgrade it as well (to the Denon AVR A1H (Denon's flagship)

In the rooms I have visited with 6 vs 4 overheads, it seemed to me the 6ch setups provided more benefits in a multi row room. For a single row the extra set just didn't seem to make much difference. Though I think I've only been in one or two rooms with a single row and 6 overheads. Just my $.02.

 

[MrMarty]

7.2

LF/C/RF
LS/RS
LR/RR

Vaulted ceiling means my Atmos sound comes from my LS/RS speakers.
All speakers on ear level while sitting.

Not perfect, but if I only had the right room, I'd install ceiling speakers. Not speakers that bounce off the ceiling.

 

[inspclouseau]

It sounds like you'd like to try this upgrade to 9.2.6 regardless whether the improvement is 'significant' or not. As long as you have the funds, the time to make the conversion, and don't get thrown out of the house, then why not give it a shot?

Maybe also go to 4 subwoofers to even out the bass response more than you're getting from 2 subwoofers? Really, I'm not giving you a hard time about this. I've personally heard two salesmen in an audio salon argue about whether 2 or 4 subs were necessary.

Besides, what others consider minor improvements may be significant from your perspective.

We are totally out of line!
We use 3 subs, The final third cleaned up, a large area around the main listening area. No boom and really sounds good in our front room. Cathedral ceiling/ good sized room.. Bass.. the hardest to get 'close'. We are 5.3 only.. no atmost...

 

[madscot]

7.2

LF/C/RF
LS/RS
LR/RR

Vaulted ceiling means my Atmos sound comes from my LS/RS speakers.
All speakers on ear level while sitting.

Not perfect, but if I only had the right room, I'd install ceiling speakers. Not speakers that bounce off the ceiling.

If you could mount speakers as high as possible on your wall tilted down to your mlp it would give a better atmos experience, if ceiling mounting is out of the question

 

[par4ken]

VOG = "Voice Of God". It means a speaker directly over the listening position. It is included in (only) Auro 3D speaker layouts (Not dolby or DTS or even 22.2).

I hear the ("Voice Of God") once in awhile and usually it's not good!