Atmos 7.1.2 what Atmos speakers?

[Oldboy]

Hello all,

After an upgrade to my kit over the last month or so I'm now going to rearrange my speaker set up and lose the front heights and go 7.1 with 2 atmos speakers to replace them.

My question is as I can't flush fit ceiling speakers due to the construction of my main room would I be better off just buying something like the Onkyo SKH-410 or Elac Debut A4 add on module speakers to place on my front L&R speakers?

I've struggled to find any ceiling speakers with an enclosure that would be suitable for an atmos installation and also fear they would just look really odd as they would stick out a fair bit plus there would be the trunking for the wires over the ceiling too.

I favour ceiling speakers from a purely sound quality perspective but convincing the other half could be tricky as aesthetically it could look ugly/weird.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[nugget2014]

Hello all,

After an upgrade to my kit over the last month or so I'm now going to rearrange my speaker set up and lose the front heights and go 7.1 with 2 atmos speakers to replace them.

My question is as I can't flush fit ceiling speakers due to the construction of my main room would I be better off just buying something like the Onkyo SKH-410 or Elac Debut A4 add on module speakers to place on my front L&R speakers?

I've struggled to find any ceiling speakers with an enclosure that would be suitable for an atmos installation and also fear they would just look really odd as they would stick out a fair bit plus there would be the trunking for the wires over the ceiling too.

I favour ceiling speakers from a purely sound quality perspective but convincing the other half could be tricky as aesthetically it could look ugly/weird.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

do not get the onkyo, i've heard so many times they are bad. i have the elac and they are great. only other option is the kef which is £600 but has a better finish, i like their uniq driver and it probably sounds a bit better too.

 

[nugget2014]

also when i had an atmos demo at superfi i wasn't that impressed, they had 2 ceiling speakers about a foot behind, and another pair about 8ft in front. at richer sounds i had a demo of the kef/elac and i was more impressed, i can still pinpoint sounds from above with the upfiring speakers a good installation of ceiling is always best, but it's pretty close for me at home, let's say ceiling would be 10/10 i'd give mine a 7.5/10

 

[bigboss]

Two (or four) direct radiating height effects speakers or small satellite speakers wall-mounted near the ceiling and angled downward at the listening position easily outperforms the up-firing option.

You can keep front heights as they are, and add rear heights. It is possible to have a 7.1.4 Atmos configuration via height speakers.

It is also possible to run the wires above the ceiling with minimal plastering needed, to easily incorporate ceiling speakers or compact wall speakers (I saw a really flat on wall speaker but can't remember the brand now). Speak to a professional installer.

 

[Series1boy]

Keep the front heights and configure your amp to use these as atmos speakers.

I've had the onkyo upfiring speakers and they are really poor and ended up getting rid.

I too can't have in ceiling speakers, so I have 4 definitive technology pro cinema satellites in each corner of the room just below the ceiling, facing down. This is ideal for DTSx and atmos can be configured this way too.. They sound really good and I'm running a 5.1.4 confuration with focal 716 floorstanders, centre and sub from my denon x6200..

 

[Oldboy]

Many thanks for all the replies and advice!

I find myself even more confused now though except for the fact I have ruled out the Onkyo option as I suspected it would be money wasted.

I could keep the front heights but I do favour proper 7.1...confused.com. Atmos is not a simple thing to install in my room as I am in a flat so any speakers or wiring must be in room which really restricts my options.

Currently the Elacs and 7.1 seem the way to go but seriously considering all of the options given.

 

[bigboss]

5.1.4 configuration is better than 7.1.2.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

5.1.4 configuration is better than 7.1.2.

And 9.4.6 would be better still.

TBH I can't really differentiate the .4 ceiling speakers in my 19 ft x 12ft media room, and I'm sure .6 would be over-over-kill.

The 7. vs. 5. bit, on the other hand, is quite discernable.

 

[bigboss]

There has been extensive discussion on this forum as well as AV forums, about 7.1.2 vs 5.1.4. The logic is, that the extra 2 speakers in 7.1 configuration are merely "presence" speakers for effects, which can easily be taken over by the rear 2 speakers in 5.1 configuration. Atmos speakers, on the other hand are full speakers which can be as powerful as the fronts in sound. Having 4 speakers gives the effect of, say, a helicopter flying over your head far more effectively than just 2 speakers.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Four and five in surround are supposed to be SIDE speakers, not rears, and, depending on the mix can be AS important as rears.

Atmos speakers, of course, work best with Atmos encoded BDs, and if your receiver simulates "pseudo Atmos" from 7.1 mixes, results can be hit or miss. If it doesn't, you could have sixteen pairs in your ceiling and none of them would do anything.

Yes, four are probably better than two, but if you're stuck with nine channels, I'd go for 7.?.2 before taking g the plunge and going for 5.?.4. The only caveat being if you have to run cables through the ceiling or cut holes for the speakers, I too would still go for the .4 option from the get-go.