Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Which speakers matter most for Dolby Atmos?

Grappling with the complexity of the latest suround sound options, Atmos, etc.

And ignoring domestic limitations and technical interfaces...

If one is starting from a convention 5.1 DD/DTS capable cinema installation (Fl, FR, C, Sub, RL, RR), which additonal speakers are most important to getting the effects of Dolby Atmos material, and is their positional allocation consistent with DD/DTS installations?

Are the various extra overhead effects speakers even necessary or is the sound quality in 5.1 good enough to show what Atmos can do?

The Atmos setup (based on reading a sample User Manual from Marantz for their Cinema 50 product) seems to emphasise the side positioning of the surround speakers, whilst I have run my rears (in a 5.1 setup) from the "rear" output of the processor. Is this an important difference and one which should be resolved by repositioning my rears to the side for Atmos?

And the side/rear conundrum introduces another variable. Should the sides or rears be the more capable speaker?

Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom.

You don't list your system so it is a bit difficult to presage your options. Personally, I prefer DTS to Dolby but have Blu-ray discs with all three formats.

Once the movie is on and I get immersed in the action etc I'm not aware of any sonic differences. (but I do quite like the THX, DD, DA sound demo's that you occasionally get)

I suggest the volume of each channel will make a noticeable difference but I keep mine at reference level as installed by AudioImages. However, I come from the 'as the sound engineer recorded it' school of thought.

I don't suppose this is of any help whatsoever.

Not far from N London if you would like a demo of mine.

Thanks @spinaltap I had read that publication - too generic, hence I tried with a specific processor to little avail.

And thanks @IanP but I am looking for real world Atmos-specific experience rather than "basic" ( ) DD/DTS. My system is similar to yours.

The idea of spending considerable ££££ (and domestic brownie points) on a full room make-over to find there is little sonic* benefit (in my home room, not in a dealer demo installation) over my existing does not appeal. So my proposed strategy would be to purchase an Atmos-capable processor and connect the 5.1 channels to my Meridian processor analogue inputs and set the volume at 87. Then control the volume via the third-party processor which would also decode and power the extra channels. That gives a sound basis for jumping off or for going full installation Atmos.

Hence my questions.



* This is not about SQ but the cinematic sound effects so if 5.1 Atmos is similar to 5.1 DD/DTS then the exercise would be pointless.

My suggestion; contact your nearest friendly Meridian/Trinnov dealer. Borrow a Meridian 271 and Trinnov Altitude CI to home-audition them in place of your existing processor.

Then, without any doubt, you can authentically assess the difference Trinnov Optimizer can make to your existing 5.1 system.

Hi Gianni

I think room dimensions do come into it. Maybe start by excluding speaker positions that you can't accommodate.
I've help with a couple of Atmos builds and they have all had ceiling speakers that have added to the experience. I'm sure you're aware that there a multiple Atmos layout standards.

Cheers
Tom

Gianni, I suggest watching The Real Reason Dolby Atmos Disappoints that answers your questions on why Atmos may or may not work for you, compared to installing an Atmos system that actually delivers.