When you are watching a movie in a theatre, you get a very different sound experience than you do at your home.
There is a reason for that, and it is because there is a different technology for theatre speakers.
Dolby company managed to bring this technology into your home with Atmos. We will examine Dolby Atmos and see what it is and how it works.
What Is Dolby Atmos?
Atmos is a sound surrounding technology that Dolby developed to give you the same 360-degree sound experience you get in a movie with your mobile device or television in your living room.
The technology actually first started with a movie in 2012, but then it found its way into our devices in our homes thanks to custom installations and technologies you can put in devices.
After putting it on our televisions, Dolby has made the technology suitable for devices such as soundbars or receivers.
Dolby is the producer of Atmos technology, and they designed this technology to give you a different sound experience by adding heightened elements to the soundstage.
Atmos gives you a realistic experience of the actions in the movies and creates better atmospheric surrounding with object-based locational effects that basically puts you in a bubble to match the onscreen displays like in movie theatres.
There is a wide range of television sizes that are compatible with Dolby Atmos. However, the most popular sizes tend to be around 60 inches. Larger sizes of TV are also available, but they may be less common.
Read: What Is Smart HDR?
How Does Dolby Atmos Work?
Dolby Atmos works in a different way than other sound technologies.
Atmos technology has a 9.1-bed channel that contains background sound and music types like stationary sounds.
Atmos has about 128 tracks and 118 simultaneous sound objects to give a more realistic approach by creating an immersive soundstage.
When we say sound objects, we mean anything from footsteps to a ball bouncing around. Basically, items with specific locations in a certain scene.
This technology allows content creators to place these sounds in certain locations and create an atmosphere with a 3D feeling.
Later, if you have Atmos-compatible equipment and the movie you are watching is also Atmos-compatible, the audio will mix and give you the theatre-quality sound right in the middle of your living room or your mobile device.
Which Devices Have Dolby Atmos?
There are several devices that could be compatible with Dolby, but different brands might not produce Atmos-compatible devices even if there are other devices that are compatible with Atmos.
Dolby Atmos technology first started with home theatre equipment such as soundbars, receivers, and televisions lastly.
After that, it moved on to headphones to produce that moving sound technology, and then we started seeing this tech in smartphones to try to give the same effect as it does on home theatre equipment.
Now, the latest version of compatible devices will be in automobiles. is also working to bring this sound technology into your cars, and according to the plans, we will see the first implementation in the Lucid Air Sedan car.
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What About Home?
It is obvious that installing a home theater system is not possible for everyone, so manufacturers have started making more realistic approaches to make it possible and affordable for people to enjoy Dolby Atmos.
If you plan to buy speakers, then you will require a compatible AV receiver that is able to decode the Dolby Atmos soundtrack.
In the past years, many receivers have come into the market that is able to do this.
And if you are conscious about spending too much, then there are a variety of soundbars available in the market, such as Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3, Sonos Arc, Bose Smart Soundbar 900, Sony HT-A7000, etc., that will do the work just as fine.
Are Dolby Atmos Soundbars Worth It?
Dolby Atmos Content
Since 2012 a lot of films have been made in Dolby Atmos. Avengers: Endgame, Blade Runner, Roma, Dune, etc. are some of the recent realizes that you can watch in Dolby Atmos.
Dolby Atmos can also be found on many online streaming platforms. Almost all Netflix originals, including Drive to Survive, Formula 1, etc., has their soundtrack in Dolby atmos.
Amazon Prime also features a few Atmos titles like the Jack Ryan TV series.
Apple Tv store offers the most number of Dolby Atmos content, including most Apple Tv originals.
How To Set Up Dolby Atmos Home Theater?
The Verdict
In conclusion, Dolby Atmos technology is a sound technology made to bring you theatre-quality sound on your televisions, home theatre equipment, headphones, and mobile phones.
It gives you a 3D sound experience like you are in the real world with a realistic approach.
Read: 5 Best 120 Inch TVs
FAQ’s
Do I actually need Dolby Atmos?
As of now, owning Dolby Atmos is more of a want. If you own a 4K or 8K tv already, then you can think of investing in Dolby Atmos soundbar or theater systems.
The rest of you can wait until Dolby Atmos becomes more accessible and affordable.
Is Dolby Atmos easy to set up?
That depends on the kind of sound system that you are buying.
If you are buying a home theater that needs to mount on the wall, then you might need to call a professional.
And if you are simply buying a soundbar, then installing it is as simple as plugging a USB cable.
How many speakers are sufficient for Dolby Atmos?
Although two Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers are suitable for providing a compelling sound experience.
We recommend using four speakers for the best sound and a more realistic experience.
Amit Gupta is the founder of National Planning Cycles, a company that helps startups, individuals, and small businesses with their financial planning. He has a vast amount of experience in the finance sector, having managed Google Play accounts for some of the world’s most successful unicorns. Amit is an expert in his field, and he uses his knowledge to help others achieve their individual goals.