Atmos upfiring speakers

[londonguy]

Seem to be struggling to find any proper reviews of any of the upfiring Atmos speakers that are around now. From what i can see their are 4 main ones available....

Onkyo SKH-410 at £129 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Onkyo-SKH-410-Skh410-Atmos-Speakers/dp/B00O8LANJA

Elac Debut A4 at £249 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elac-Debut-A4/dp/B018FTETHW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1476828095&sr=1-1&keywords=elac+debut+a4

PSB Imagine XA at £349 https://www.amazon.co.uk/PSB-Imagine-Dolby-Atmos-Speakers/dp/B01FVYZNJC/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1476828137&sr=1-3&keywords=atmos+speakers

Kef R50 at £599 http://www.richersounds.com/product/standmount-speakers/kef/atmos/kef-atmos-speakers

I currently have the Onkyo ones just to try out Atmos really but thinking of upgrading to the Elacs, possibly the PSBs. Cant really justify £600 on the KEFs though. Trouble is there seems to be little or no info and reviews about any of them. Anyone have opinion on if the individual step ups are worth it?

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Results can be hit or miss.

Depends on proper positioning, setup, the right kind of ceiling, right distance, phase of the moon and whether Bristol City won last time they played away.
Consensus, however, seems to be the Onkyo units aren't that good.
Only thing I can suggest is try it and see. If it works in your home, great. If not, think about front or side height angled downwards speakers or even in ceiling speakers instead.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

PS There's some debate as to whether you need to use speakers with Atmos stickers on them or not. I, for one, contend that any speakers will do, and that there's really nothing special about "Atmos certified" speakers (as opposed to speakers with Atmos up-firing ceiling bouncers built into their tops). Some say that the Atmos speakers have a notch filter cutting off everything below 80 Hz. I say "So what? You receiver will do that for you."

I think all of the speakers you mentioned can be used as front height speakers as well, hung on nails in the walls near the ceiling. The ones that angle the cones down at an angle would work best in this respect. So if I were you, and you want to try ceiling-bouncers, go for ones you could hang on the walls if ceiling bouncing doesn't work in your particular room.

 

[f1only]

Personally i dont use the Onkyo SKH-410 atmos speakers any more as they were almost next to useless for me. I get a better effect by using B&W 686 S2's which match the rest of my system, set at the same angle (they have pretty much the same size woofers & tweeters in as the Kef Atmos speakers) on top of my existing speakers & i have crossover setting at 150 on the amp.

This setup for me works a lot better, is £250 cheaper than the Kefs & the same price as the PSB's.