The Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, and Auro-3D Discussion Thread

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Personal opinion, feel free to wildly disagree.

Ok, so Final Score is a weird one, Sky Cinema, so looks like a UK home grown effort. Dave's love of football (soccer for our american cousins) matches my own. Yes, this is a sub par Sudden Death, sound is fine on the up mix, the film was a cheap buy and my expectations were low, so I can live with it. I am not really recommending unless you are at a loose end.

Venom, at lot more up to speed, and at least Tom Hardy is not doing his Bane voice yet again. Oh no, he is, such a immensely diverse talent. Excellent sound, even on an up mix. Not one of Marvel's best, but certainly not the worst, and rather short at 90min + 17mins of credits. Given the 700 million plus box office I think we can safely assume a sequel.

El Royale, oh dear, Tarantino this is most definitely not. The acting ok, but the characters/story/dialog are just frankly dull, the last 10 minutes are the only thing that saves it. The music is on the whole good, but it's an odd, poorly chosen selection. Sound is fine, but not really a standout, (it has moments) which maybe due to the source requiring an up mix. At over two and a quarter hours, the running time is far too long. 30-45 minutes could be lost without any noticeable difference. So I'll be waiting for Once upon a Time in Hollywood later this year.

 

[VonMagnum]

I think the Cloverfield Paradox is in Atmos on Netflix. I already watched it, so I wasn't in a hurry to watch it again. 10 Cloverfield Lane definitely has Atmos on disc (pretty neat when the car pulls in on the surface, etc. as it sounds like it was upstairs driving into my living room on the 2nd floor).

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I watched some more of "Cloverfield Paradox" last night, still not finished.

I think the sound continues to be very impressive overall - overhead and bass. Demo Atmos sound material IMO.

There was an overhead huge water leak scene, and it sounded like a deluge pouring out of my 4 ceiling speakers very loudly.

Finished Cloverfield Paradox last night. Definitely a reference quality demo of Atmos.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

After watching Cloverfield Paradox in Atmos, which again is one of the best Atmos mix, I watched Pacific Rim (2013).

If I could give the award for Best Atmos Sound, it would go to Pacific Rim (PR).

Thus far, PR is unequivocally the best Atmos mix I have heard.

To drive the point home, although it’s an exaggeration, whereas in San Andreas (SA) I couldn’t even hear one helicopter overhead, I could hear 100 helicopters overhead in PR.

Heck in one scene alone, I think I heard about 50 helicopters flying overhead in PR.

Whereas in SA I couldn’t even hear an atomic bomb if it exploded overhead, in PR I could hear a pin drop if it fell from overhead.

I am not exaggerating when I say that the overhead speakers are in overdrive in PR.

Crystal clear, distinct, discrete overhead sound for most of PR.

So I nominate Pacific Rim for the Best Atmos Mix.

Oh, and the bass is one of the best or possibly the best I have heard.

 

[TheoN]

After watching Cloverfield Paradox in Atmos, which again is one of the best Atmos mix, I watched Pacific Rim (2013).

If I could give the award for Best Atmos Sound, it would go to Pacific Rim (PR).

Thus far, PR is unequivocally the best Atmos mix I have heard.

To drive the point home, although it’s an exaggeration, whereas in San Andreas (SA) I couldn’t even hear one helicopter overhead, I could hear 100 helicopters overhead in PR.

Heck in one scene alone, I think I heard about 50 helicopters flying overhead in PR.

Whereas in SA I couldn’t even hear an atomic bomb if it exploded overhead, in PR I could hear a pin drop if it fell from overhead.

I am not exaggerating when I say that the overhead speakers are in overdrive in PR.

Crystal clear, distinct, discrete overhead sound for most of PR.

So I nominate Pacific Rim for the Best Atmos Mix.

Oh, and the bass is one of the best or possibly the best I have heard.

I agree. Pacific Rim is a top notch demo movie!

 

[VonMagnum]

I just watched Inferno in Auro-3D and compared the first 20 minutes with the iTunes Atmos version. They were similar. But it had a surprisingly large amount of overhead effects. I was pretty pleased given I wasn't expecting much.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I re-watched Alien Resurrection (4) using NeuralX.

There were some cool OH effects - intercoms and ships overhead.

I recall the original version where their escape ship blew up and killing the alien and everyone. Or was that another movie and I'm just confused?

Anyway, I am sure I never saw this version of the ending where Ripley killed the Alien and they landed on earth and lived happily ever after, which I love since I always prefer happy endings.

NeuralX made the movie even better.

And if Ripley was bada$$ before, she was super bada$$ in Resurrection. I loved it.

I figured out why I enjoyed Alien 1-4 so much and didn't care for Prometheus and Alien Convenant- Ripley wasn't in the last 2 movies.

 

[VonMagnum]

I just watched Overlord in Atmos. The movie opens with an "Unbroken" style plane scene during WWII with all kinds of planes, flak, explosions, etc. going on, but instead of a POW camp movie, this group is on a mission to take out a communication tower before the coastal invasion begins when all hell breaks loose like in the Castle Wolfenstein games.... FANTASTIC Atmos soundtrack! All kinds of things overhead (one of the most effective was as simple scene when a French kid drops a baseball in the attic and you can hear it rolling on the floor (ceiling) overhead (with the Nazis wanting to know what the sound is). It's a pretty gory movie (i.e. realistic injuries with not so realistic bad guys later on) by JJ Abrams, but definitely different.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I just watched Overlord in Atmos. The movie opens with an "Unbroken" style plane scene during WWII with all kinds of planes, flak, explosions, etc. going on, but instead of a POW camp movie, this group is on a mission to take out a communication tower before the coastal invasion begins when all hell breaks loose like in the Castle Wolfenstein games.... FANTASTIC Atmos soundtrack! All kinds of things overhead (one of the most effective was as simple scene when a French kid drops a baseball in the attic and you can hear it rolling on the floor (ceiling) overhead (with the Nazis wanting to know what the sound is). It's a pretty gory movie (i.e. realistic injuries with not so realistic bad guys later on) by JJ Abrams, but definitely different.

Oh, I can’t wait to watch this movie!

 

[panteragstk]

I just watched Overlord in Atmos. The movie opens with an "Unbroken" style plane scene during WWII with all kinds of planes, flak, explosions, etc. going on, but instead of a POW camp movie, this group is on a mission to take out a communication tower before the coastal invasion begins when all hell breaks loose like in the Castle Wolfenstein games.... FANTASTIC Atmos soundtrack! All kinds of things overhead (one of the most effective was as simple scene when a French kid drops a baseball in the attic and you can hear it rolling on the floor (ceiling) overhead (with the Nazis wanting to know what the sound is). It's a pretty gory movie (i.e. realistic injuries with not so realistic bad guys later on) by JJ Abrams, but definitely different.

Sweet. Just got this one as well.

 

[snakeeyes]

Sweet. Just got this one as well.

This one has Atmos on the regular BD.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

This one has Atmos on the regular BD.

I think we're seen more and more of Atmos on all versions of BD.

Hopefully that's the new standard - Atmos on all new BD.

Pretty soon, it'll be like, "What's DTSX and Auro3D?"

 

[Bookmark]

Pretty soon, it'll be like, "What's DTSX and Auro3D?"

You are incorrigible.

I wouldn't lose the plot if BDs only came in Atmos, but I do think Dts are missing a trick with blurays since the majority come with Dts HDMA in the first place.

I think we may all agree Neural X is the better of the up mixers for movies and DSU or maybe even Auro is best for the music. Or is everyone just as lazy as myself and cannot be bothered switching.

Last night we up mixed Braveheart and Ironclad. Not so much with Braveheart, although it does have a few moments, the pigeons flapping overhead and just before the end when Mel is taken through an arch on his way to the public interrogation. Ironclad just seems to have lot more going on all round with the fights and battle cries and trebuchets.

Just holding out some hope now for the Hunter Killer and Fantastic Beasts 2 having one or other. I will agree with previous comments Underworld's Blood War could nudge relatively easily past the up mix with the full fat Atmos.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1233301/

 

[Bookmark]

I saw Prime added all 3 series of Expanse. Watched pretty the entire season 3 yesterday back to back. Sounded good off the up mix for me. Hopefully season 4 will turn up before the end of year.

 

[VonMagnum]

I think once DTS:X Pro is fully released DTS:X will no longer be the slow cousin of Atmos in higher-end setups (since I use matrix/extraction, it already works as well as Atmos here, but that's the exception). I just ordered Despicable Me 3 in 3D and I noticed it has DTS:X on it (previous two only had 5.1 so I'd call that a major upgrade regardless).

I do like that DTS can use more speakers (from the Auro layout, some of which are nice locations to have speakers). It's just a matter of getting the PRo version with a processor that can handle 13-24 speakers or more. I'm still thinking of putting 4 more on the ceiling here if/when I get my 7010 working (FH+RH+TF+TR+TM) along with "discrete" front wides. 11 on the floor and 10 on the door...ahem... I mean ceiling. (I still want three on the tree too!)

I watched Overlord from the iTunes 4K+Atmos version. Sounded great.

 

[Bookmark]

Just watching Night Watch and will follow up with Day Watch. The up mix so far is very impressive.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403358/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409904/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Personally I hated Despicable 3. I didn't think it was a patch on the original or the sequel. Hope you like it better, if you haven't already seen it.

 

[snakeeyes]

I think once DTS:X Pro is fully released DTS:X will no longer be the slow cousin of Atmos in higher-end setups (since I use matrix/extraction, it already works as well as Atmos here, but that's the exception). I just ordered Despicable Me 3 in 3D and I noticed it has DTS:X on it (previous two only had 5.1 so I'd call that a major upgrade regardless).

I do like that DTS can use more speakers (from the Auro layout, some of which are nice locations to have speakers). It's just a matter of getting the PRo version with a processor that can handle 13-24 speakers or more. I'm still thinking of putting 4 more on the ceiling here if/when I get my 7010 working (FH+RH+TF+TR+TM) along with "discrete" front wides. 11 on the floor and 10 on the door...ahem... I mean ceiling. (I still want three on the tree too!)

I watched Overlord from the iTunes 4K+Atmos version. Sounded great.

Is DTSX Pro the IMAX collaboration with DTS? What specifically does it do differently than regular DTSX?

 

[VonMagnum]

I haven't seen any of the Despicable Me movies yet... (I just typically buy 3D movies when they're on sale. I'm still about 30 movies behind.

DTS:X Pro appears to be different from the Imax Enhanced settings (so far anyway). Only Trinnov to my knowledge has announced "Pro" support (which does away with the 11-channel limit). I assume more will follow eventually. Obviously, it's only an issue for AVRs/Processors that can handle more than 11-channels (like the Trinnov Altitude or Denon 8500, for example). I've not heard any word yet whether the 8500 will get the Pro firmware change or not. It has already gotten the Imax Enhanced mode (and still is limited to 11-channels in DTS:X and Neural X modes).

 

[Bookmark]

There are effectively Pro versions of all the formats. What is available in Cinema's for Atmos, Dts X and Auro are really not what is possible in the home market, they are derived from them of course.

From what I understand of Dts:X Pro it has nothing to do with Imax Enhanced. Imax Ennhanced is a commercial link up and is the Dts/Imax response to Dolby Vision, with a number of additional supported partners. Dts:X Pro is potentially coming to the home market to redress the perceived imbalance between the capabilities of Atmos and Dts:X. That said, in the sense that the Dts:X Pro can be configured for more flexible and higher count speaker arrangements then it could be seen as a move away from Auro 3D with Imax. Trinnov are apparently going to be supporting both Dts:X Pro and Imax Enhanced but then at their prices I would expect nothing else. How many lower cost/tier AVRs/Processors support the Dts:X Pro remains to be seen. I think the at least the top end models will, but you never know, it is likely fully backward compatible.

https://www.trinnov.com/2019/01/08/trinnov-dtsxpro/
https://www.imaxenhanced.com/ (oddly, Yamaha seem to be the only ones missing currently )

 

[VonMagnum]

I don't believe DTS:X Pro is the "cinema" version. Everything I've read jus suggests it removes the 11-channel barriers and is the version originally demoed on the Trinnov Altitude a couple of years ago. I don't think it adds more objects either, just allows Neural X to move audio (internally similar to pro logic extraction/separation) to those locations. Of course, until we see the working product, it's hard to be sure. But certainly there is no point in having a "cinema version" at home without the software to make it work. Are blu-rays supposed to come out just for Pro systems? No, it will have to be backwards compatible at the very least. The thing is current DTS:X systems can already use speakers like front wides, center height and the VOG. But you must have less than 11-channels in use for it to make use of them. This Pro version would get around that and allow all the possible locations to be potentially utilized by Neural X. DTS:X itself isn't really an "object" system in the same way Atmos is. It has far less objects so it's more like an intelligent channel based system with Neural X separating speakers in-between those locations.