This dude makes good points in totally trashing Dolby Atmos...

[William Lemmerhirt]

Maybe DTS made an offer that Oppenheimer couldn't refuse?

Nah. Chris Nolan. Typical

 

[lovinthehd]

Nah. Chris Nolan. Typical

Made me pull out a few discs, seems he may have made a Dolby to DTS transition in the Batman series....but I don't have all his stuff.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Nah. Chris Nolan. Typical

Can’t teach that old dog any new tricks.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Made me pull out a few discs, seems he may have made a Dolby to DTS transition in the Batman series....but I don't have all his stuff.

I just looked. Even “The Prestige” was in DTS-HD MA.

 

[Nicholas Caged Animal]

To the casual consumer, Atmos may seem like overkill, it does still add something. I have 4 of the upward firing ATmos speakers and it definitely adds something with helicopters, rainfall and shootouts when you turn up the volume. The greater the volume, the greater the effect.

 

[Hobbit]

OK, what I don't like is everything they call "Dolby Atmos." There are two variations of it.

1) The version we think of. Adding ceiling or bouncy speakers to your home theater and watching something that supports Atmos. The codec decodes out a pcm signal for these speakers. There are emulations modes built into the AVR too.

2) Then there's the simulated version they have in cell phones and other places like soundbars and tv's. The one that's supposed to "add clarity and separation to give you a superior listening experience" by tricking your brain to perceive surround sound. I've seen Atmos soundbars that don't have any bouncy speakers (most). In the description they say things like; supports Dolby Atmos for "virtual surround sound" and "simulated surround and height-channel speakers create a spacious, lively soundstage" and yadi yada.

The second version to me sounds more like a modern equivalent of converting stereo to Dolby Pro Logic.

 

[lovinthehd]

OK, what I don't like is everything they call "Dolby Atmos." There are two variations of it.

1) The version we think of. Adding ceiling or bouncy speakers to your home theater and watching something that supports Atmos. The codec decodes out a pcm signal for these speakers. There are emulations modes built into the AVR too.

2) Then there's the simulated version they have in cell phones and other places like soundbars and tv's. The one that's supposed to "add clarity and separation to give you a superior listening experience" by tricking your brain to perceive surround sound. I've seen Atmos soundbars that don't have any bouncy speakers (most). In the description they say things like; supports Dolby Atmos for "virtual surround sound" and "simulated surround and height-channel speakers create a spacious, lively soundstage" and yadi yada.

The second version to me sounds more like a modern equivalent of converting stereo to Dolby Pro Logic.

The second version is perhaps a slight psychoacoustic step ahead of 2ch, which Dolby Pro Logic didn't address afaicr.

 

[Hobbit]

The second version is perhaps a slight psychoacoustic step ahead of 2ch, which Dolby Pro Logic didn't address afaicr.

Of course, DPL didn't. That was introduced nearly 40 years ago. Nonetheless, Atmos(v2) still alters the sound based on queues in the original soundtrack, like DPL. Now we're seeing AI enhanced sound creeping into new products. The Bose soundbar, for one, fixes dialogue problems using AI.

I watch the original Midway on NF the other night. It, and Rollercoaster were the first movies I remember actually using subs and an advanced sound; Sensurround by CW. It shook the theaters. The infrastructure was not ready for it back then.

 

[Eppie]

Another bot post with a spam link. Interesting how AI picks up the thread contents to make it appear authentic. Feel free to delete this post along with the one above.

 

[isolar8001]

Bot says "What ???"

 

[Eppie]

I hate you so much now....way to go.

Don't go quoting the bot post! The http link from the bot post that was deleted is now accessible in your quoted message.

 

[isolar8001]

Don't go quoting the bot post! The http link from the bot post that was deleted is now accessible in your quoted message.

I know, sorry....it was just so funny.
We see so much of this kind of thing here....must be that this old style forum is more prone to bot attacks.

 

[panteragstk]

I know, sorry....it was just so funny.
We see so much of this kind of thing here....must be that this old style forum is more prone to bot attacks.

Reddit, Twitter, and Facebook would disagree.

So, so many bots. It's insane how many there are now. And how sophisticated they've gotten.

But yeah, it does happen a lot. I just report them and move along.

Don't let the bots WIN!!!

 

[Teetertotter?]

Thank you for this very entertaining thread, @shadyJ You learn something every day. I remember in the early 60's, you had to have a reverb for your car radio. Man, that was the deal. Just thought I'd inject some history.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Understandable for sure.

Some situations might be too much effort. And not everyone is lucky enough to have a good room for it.

But, at the same time, I don't think it's fair to call something a "failure" just because we cannot have it in our homes.

Yep, who would have thought in 1990 that we will have Atoms in 2020s.
I would have designed room differently. Not going to rip it out and redo. Expiration date is getting too close.

 

[mtrycrafts]

This is the tearing into it part however. Now you have to cut drywall, fish cable, install mounting brackets, patch drywall, paint. I've been there and done that and it's a pain in the arse.

Yep, it was a mess just to fish HDMI cable when it came on scene. Don't want to redesign and remodel room.

 

[isolar8001]

Thank you for this very entertaining thread, @shadyJ You learn something every day. I remember in the early 60's, you had to have a reverb for your car radio. Man, that was the deal. Just thought I'd inject some history.

Yeah...and those things and their home audio counterparts had actual springs inside them !! Crazy.

 

[mtrycrafts]

My biggest peeve with 2 channel is it's great if I'm the sweet spot. But good luck being anywhere else. It's why I use a 3.1 setup in the bedroom
....

Bell labs experimented with 3 front channels way, way back and stated that is needed.

 

[3db]

The problem is the amount of effort that it takes to do it correctly. I've a basement that is a clean slate currently so it will be moderate effort. A finished space presents an issue. I wouldn't call someone lazy for not wanting to tear into a finished space.

Agreed. I thought the bouncy speaker were impossible to work with conceptually based on trig and speaker-listener position placement. I dont think I would have went ATMOS either if I hadnt picked up a pair of inside/outside speakers with a very configurable mounting hardware.

 

[mtrycrafts]

... Dolby really watered it down, similar to what THX did by certifying everything but breakfast cereal. ...

What? No wonder I cannot find it in stores. I will stop looking.