5.2 Dolby atmos vs 7.1 any big difference?

[bigboss]

The thing about DTS:X is that there are no films in cinema in this format, ever. So all this claims about all films benefitting from DTS:X is purely theoretical and market speak.

 

[bigboss]

There's another important difference between Atmos and Auro 3D. With Atmos, you can have the traditional 7.1 setup (with side and rear surrounds) and add height speakers for Atmos. With Auro 3D, you can only go 5.1 and rest are height speakers. There is no support for 7.1, which is a disadvantage for all the 7.1 discs that exist. Auro 3D claims it can matrix it, but that's not how the Director intended.

 

[ellisdj]

I didn't know that, but that's because of the standard 11 channels limitation of the bulk of kit. Some products process more channels than 11 and you then have 7 base channels + the rest.

I would have thought you need a big room to need more than 11 speakers.

You can just tell the receiver you have the channels it wants you to have, that's what the dealer did for my demo. He used rear heights instead of side rear height because of his room shape.

Like him a lot of people sit on the back wall with open plan type rooms or just limited space.
I bet they would find it easier to have height channels than trying to squeeze 4 ceiling speakers into the wrong spots just to have 4 ceiling speakers.
That was my point you don't have to do that, there are other ways of doing a similar thing that person might prefer. Best to find out before what you prefer because it's a lot of work putting it in.

 

[bigboss]

When deciding on speaker installation based on configuration of Atmos or DTS:X or Auro 3D, there are 2 main aspects to consider:

1) What's more feasible in your room

2) Which format is more likely to be used

 

[ellisdj]

2 is irrelevant, we have covered this. Ceiling speakers ties you in. Height speakers works for everything. Who knows ceiling might work best for dtsx then your set.

You can also say well it's mastered with ceiling speakers - granted - but it's not mastered in your room so your compromising straight away anyway if you say I want to hear as the director intended, that's a lovely goal and saying buy in reality.

And who knows in 12 months what's going to be the more popular

I fully expected all new movies to have atmos soundtracks but more have not than have. Quite surprising.

So go with what works in the room and the rest of the system as a whole and do some homework first.

WAF factor got to be lower as well so people need made aware of flexibility to their options

 

[bigboss]

2 is still very relevant, given than although height speakers can work for Atmos, they won't be as effective as ceilings.

In my case, ceiling speakers worked the best as they're out of the way and not intruding on space. It's not easy to get your OH to agree for 11 speakers in a room!

 

[ellisdj]

I thought the opposite, its easier to get her to accept something up on the wall than hanging down in the middle of the ceiling.

Going discrete is easier again but requires a full remodel - I dare say most people with retro fit into their existing rooms, no dramas if its bat cave, standard living rooms is more difficult.

For the atmos demos I had at the dealers - we were content limited because his 3 yr old son was there - so no blood guts or boobs sadly.

Transformers - got the sense of height in some scenes I know very well - but its very scene specfic like when the magnet is sucking them up in the garage / shack - Nugget test that whole scene starts with the character driving in the car and the bomb starts beeping, you will know the it when you see it, near the end.

Unbroken I dont know want the fuss was about with this disc, nothing special to me

The beginning of Terminator - I dont remember anything from that except the bass, we couldnt watch the more juicy bits.

Then the atmos demo disc - sounded ok - probably the best thing on that disc is the rain demo but I have not heard that translate into any film so far - limited experience I admit. Possibly it would be better with atmos setup but I heard the same stuff at WHF Bristol demo a year or so a go and wasnt bowled over, with the exception of the rain

Then he put the auro disc on because I wanted to hear the tractor scene, if you havent heard that you really need to - really good example of sound recording and mastering. Then we just watched the Auro disc through where it explains everthing - does a few basic demos like the ambience added to the street then the movie demos followed.

They were all really stand out and memorable - sounding truly excellent - far better than anything on the atmos movies or demo disc.

So I am not trying to argue for arguement sake - it was a suprise to me also. The main UK distributor for MK had said ages ago he really liked Auro but that was about the last I heard about it. Since then he has said about really liking Auro Upmixing for music, specifically off you tube which is a funny one.

 

[nugget2014]

I had my repeat demo today. Put on tmnt and transformers 4 and the sound was much better. More noticeable this time around. They had in store deal of the 2200 at £349.99! I planned on getting the 1200w but at that price I thought why not..comes Tuesday.

 

[Son_of_SJ]

In my case, ceiling speakers worked the best as they're out of the way and not intruding on space. It's not easy to get your OH to agree for 11 speakers in a room!

Oh, I don't know! I have 12.1 speakers in the parlour, plus a stereo pair, and they really don't really intrude too much on personal space, and you can't see all the wires either. But I don't have an Other Half, ah, now | geddit ....

 

[nugget2014]

Watched transformers 4 on the new 2200w denon receiver and the difference over my old Sony is night and day. I can very easily hear sounds from all 7 speakers now and it now fully feels like the cinema with proper surround sound. Much more immersive and a better experience!

Will have to keep tweaking over the following weeks to get it better but best upgradever yet to my home cinema.