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How many of you have a Dolby Atmos setup?

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dreamcastfan

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I have had it for roughly a month now (Onkyo TX-NR 656 which supports 7.1 or 5.1.2 when using Atmos) and it's a really drastic improvement on immersion. So far I have heard Legend of Tarzan, Pacific Rim and Peanuts (All on 4k Bluray) And the Conjuring 2 and Everest on Bluray. Currently, I have the speakers on top of the entertainment center which is very close to ceiling height , but I plan on getting them mounted overhead very soon. Even with their current location it makes a world of difference. In the Conjuring 2, one scene where the Police are searching downstairs, you hear sounds from upstairs and it really does sound like there is an additional floor in this house. So many scenes in other movies planes flying overhead, wind, rain, explosions, just boggle the mind... It ends being a little disappointing when movies have Atmos theatrically and don't on home release (The Revenant and Godzilla come to mind).
Regardless, if any of you are on the fence wondering if it's worth it or not, the answer is a resounding YES!!
 
Yup, got a dedicated home theater built about six months ago and added two in ceiling speakers for the height channels. Gravity and Sicario also sound awesome in ATMOS and Game of Thrones on Blu (just the later releases). I'm using the Marantz SR5010 (5 surround and 2 height).
 
Don't have one yet, but I was planning on using my tax refund next spring to get a new receiver and pair of speakers for the height channels.
 
For anyone on the fence if your budget and space allows for it go for the 4 height channels and a receiver that will support at least 9 channels.
 
When we moved to our new home, we invested in a new home theater system with two Atmos speakers for the time being. Even without mounting them to the ceiling, they sound amazing. I plan on expanding our home theater system in the bedroom in another year or so and will probably move the setup I have in the den into there and build a 9.2 or 11.2 setup in the den with ceiling mounted speakers.
 
I do. And you don't even need an Atmos/DTSX encoded disc. Upmixing both Dolby and DTS tracks is great. I watched The Jungle Book this weekend upmixed to DTS Neural:X and it sounded amazing.
 
put in a 7.2.2 setup a few months ago when re-modeling our media room, bought a Denon x4200w and have been loving it since. Wish I could have got a .4 setup, just to expensive at the moment.

Also hugely agree with the above, DTS Neural:X is for real.
 
Pagusas said:
Get in-ceiling speakers with a white that matches your ceiling and you can barely tell, hell mine give the ceiling some visual interest.
Click to expand...

Photos please. Curious.

I am also planning to go full dolby atmos but i won't do that until i have purchased another house and designed a true mini theatre room that looks like a luxury vip cinema. It should accomodate up to 15 - 20 people and located in the basement along with sound proof walls, silent aircon and so on. I can't wait.
 
dreamcastfan said:
You don't have to. I currently have mine on my entertainment center so they are pretty close to the ceiling. It still works that way, I would just prefer to have them directly overhead.
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Pretty much. What's important in a home implementation of Atmos/DTS:X is that there is a separation between the base layer of your speakers and the height/overhead layer. If you mount your surrounds above ear level, you will not get the optimal bubble effect. There are positives and negatives to each type of implementation, but regardless I find it to be a more immersive experience than just your standard base layer surround system.
 
Trojan X said:
Photos please. Curious.

I am also planning to go full dolby atmos but i won't do that until i have purchased another house and designed a true mini theatre room that looks like a luxury vip cinema. It should accomodate up to 15 - 20 people and located in the basement along with sound proof walls, silent aircon and so on. I can't wait.
Click to expand...

Sorry working, I'll post newer photos tonight, but this is from during the remodel:

inwall_zpsgh8uhfnn.jpg


IMG_2708_zpsukbilihl.jpg
Click to expand...
 
the theater room in my new house is being wired for 11.1 4 speakers above the seating 7 around 3 front and 4 side and behind.
 
captive said:
the theater room in my new house is being wired for 11.1 4 speakers above the seating 7 around 3 front and 4 side and behind.
Click to expand...


captive
Joe Six-Pack: posting for the common man
 
I'm still rocking 5.1 like a caveman. Maybe I'll upgrade to Atmos when this receiver goes, but I dread the wiring involved.
 
captive said:
not sure what you're trying to accomplish here?
Click to expand...

I just thought it was a funny tag considering the much above-average setup you're working on. No offense intended :) Sounds like an awesome system you'll have.
 
dreamcastfan said:
I've seen those before. Never really looked seriously at them. What is the typical wattage they can handle? Good treble and midrange sound?
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The outside is just a cover/case, you can buy tons of different speakers for them, ranging from cheap to insane prices. Mine are JBL SP8CII's to match the JBL Cinema series speakers I have running for the base 7.2 setup. They were about $250 each (4 of them running as pairs as its only a .2 system right now for processing, but one day I can upgrade it to a full .4), great response in the mid and highs, they can handle low frequency fine enough but I cut them off at 120hz and redirect to the subs.

Honestly they are there for ambience and fly overs, they can handle 100watts and thats all thats needed of them. They are constructed with the tweeter raised just above the center of the main driver.
 
dreamcastfan said:
I've seen those before. Never really looked seriously at them. What is the typical wattage they can handle? Good treble and midrange sound?
Click to expand...

I don't think you need super high quality speakers for an Atmos configuration. It's kind of like surround speakers not having to be as high quality as your L, R and center because they're more subtle and ambient effects. I've heard an Atmos setup with inexpensive Monoprice speakers before I knew they were Monoprice speakers and would have never of guessed they were on the lower end of the spectrum.
 
Pagusas said:
4), great response in the mid and highs, they can handle low frequency fine enough but I cut them off at 120hz and redirect to the subs.
Click to expand...
I am pretty knowledgeable about audio/video except in this area. Never really understood where to have to crossover levels set for the speakers/sub. Is it better to have all speakers set to the same crossover level? I think I have the bookshelf speakers (two height and two surround) and the floor speakers set to 120, I think. Again, this is one area I just feel totally dense, and I get lost really easily.
 
dreamcastfan said:
I am pretty knowledgeable about audio/video except in this area. Never really understood where to have to crossover levels set for the speakers/sub. Is it better to have all speakers set to the same crossover level? I think I have the bookshelf speakers (two height and two surround) and the floor speakers set to 120, I think. Again, this is one area I just feel totally dense, and I get lost really easily.
Click to expand...

Completely depends on your speakers! I have my fronts and centers cut at 80hz (I find it better to have them at that level to prevent low end dialogue reaching the sub, plus the larger drivers in the fronts and center can handle it fine). All other speakers cut at 120hz. The 2 subs I use are independently calibrated (thus the .2 instead of a split .1). They both have different strengths with their placement, one does gear at filling the room with some boominess, the other is directly behind our couch and is cranked just a bit to give MASSIVE rumbling and shaking to the couch (seriously it's awesome).
 
dreamcastfan said:
Which Receiver are you planning on getting?
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I've been eyeing the Denon AVR X6300. It's the most plug and play, as it has 11 channels with amplification. The MSRP is a bit crazy, but people can save 400-600 bucks on MSRP if they actually call dealers, rather than going through just online stores and adding to cart. www.avsforum.com has a sales wing, that can save on msrp.

I could save a few hundred and go for last years 6200, or the 4300, but that would require me to buy an additional amp, so still kind of leaning towards 6300 at this point. My speakers will all be sensitive enough that running off of AVR power should be sufficient.
 
As someone that looked into Atmos, it's pretty expensive to get setup and I decided to just get a 5.1 and save that extra money into a new TV next year. My main applications would be games and I think Frostbite engine games are the only ones that take advantage of it?

I love how I can hear small intricate things behind me in 5.1, so I would probably be even more blown away hearing things above me.
 
Not very many based on the movement of this thread. I dont, but am interested in the set up if I ever upgrade my Sony receiver with wireless rears.
 
I do and have those speakers that are supposed to angle and bounce off the ceiling.. can't really tell if it has the effect it's supposed to. Wish I could figure out a way to mount some above in my small space.
pioneer_sp_t22a_lr_add_on_speakers_for_1180797.jpg


mm04 said:
Pretty much. What's important in a home implementation of Atmos/DTS:X is that there is a separation between the base layer of your speakers and the height/overhead layer. If you mount your surrounds above ear level, you will not get the optimal bubble effect. There are positives and negatives to each type of implementation, but regardless I find it to be a more immersive experience than just your standard base layer surround system.
Click to expand...

Maybe that's part of my problem. I can't really tell if something is from the height speakers or if they are just well placed in my surround speakers.
 
Pagusas said:
Completely depends on your speakers! I have my fronts and centers cut at 80hz (I find it better to have them at that level to prevent low end dialogue reaching the sub, plus the larger drivers in the fronts and center can handle it fine). All other speakers cut at 120hz. The 2 subs I use are independently calibrated (thus the .2 instead of a split .1). They both have different strengths with their placement, one does gear at filling the room with some boominess, the other is directly behind our couch and is cranked just a bit to give MASSIVE rumbling and shaking to the couch (seriously it's awesome).
Click to expand...
I've thought about two subs, but the JBL I have rumbles pretty dang well (rattling light fixtures are common)..
As far as the crossover is concerned, The floor speakers are Yamaha NSA 200XT, and I'm not worried about them handling low end. Pretty solid speakers.. I have some decent bookshelf speakers, but I sometimes get paranoid if I don't have the crossover frequency set correctly, they will get too much low end and end up blowing.
 
FinKL said:
As someone that looked into Atmos, it's pretty expensive to get setup and I decided to just get a 5.1 and save that extra money into a new TV next year. My main applications would be games and I think Frostbite engine games are the only ones that take advantage of it?

I love how I can hear small intricate things behind me in 5.1, so I would probably be even more blown away hearing things above me.
Click to expand...
No doubt. When something happens overhead, it literally sounds like it is above you. I didn't expect to be as impressed as I am.
 
If you're in the market for an Atmos capable receiver / processor take a look at the 2015 Marantz models. They are being heavily discounted right now (nearly 50% off MSRP in some cases) due to the announcement of 2016 models.
 
I'd love to, but I don't think my neighbors upstairs would appreciate it as much as I would.

Whenever I invest in a house sometime down the line, having an awesome home theater setup will be one of my priorities.
 
Pagusas said:
Sorry working, I'll post newer photos tonight, but this is from during the remodel:
Click to expand...
Ugh, you've turned your house in to a supermarket.

That said, I'd love an ATMOS system on one hand, but then I've got enough speakers as it is, and I'm trying to go more minimal these days.
 
Kibbles said:
I do and have those speakers that are supposed to angle and bounce off the ceiling.. can't really tell if it has the effect it's supposed to. Wish I could figure out a way to mount some above in my small space.

Maybe that's part of my problem. I can't really tell if something is from the height speakers or if they are just well placed in my surround speakers.
Click to expand...

Here's a tip, find some Atmos demo tracks and unplug all of your speakers except your Atmos Enabled ones. That way you can dial them in with optimal positioning/height/angles etc. The downside of AE speakers is that it can be difficult to set them up if some environment conditions don't jive i.e. ceilings are too low, not flat, seating too close/far. You get the point.
 
pswii60 said:
Ugh, you've turned your house in to a supermarket.

That said, I'd love an ATMOS system on one hand, but then I've got enough speakers as it is, and I'm trying to go more minimal these days.
Click to expand...

Enjoy your minimalism while I enjoy speakers in my ceiling. Music anywhere inside and out of the house.
 
I would love to have a setup but I just don't think I can add the height speakers, at least until I no longer rent.

Good sized 5.1 speakers are already a lot of speakers for a living room.
 
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