Dolby atmos question

[Series1boy]

I currently have a 5.1.2 atmos with the onkyo up firing speakers at the front on the top of my floorstanders. They sound ok but it isn't amazing...

I keep hearing you don't have to have the speakers in the ceiling and you can have them as front and rear heights.? I'm unable to install in the ceiling but could install 4 extra speakers and have each 1 in the corner of my ceiling firing downwards at an angle to the listening/seating position. Is this feasable and what speakers would be capable; could I use satellite speakers such as kef eggs or something alike? I have a budget of around £500 for the extra speakers.

i also need to add an extra power amp and Denon do 1 for around £170 and is on top of my budget for the speakers....

hope someone can help because it is very confusing...

 

[bigboss]

Yes it is possible. When running Audyssey, select the speakers as height channels.

What about Focal satellites?

 

[Series1boy]

Yes it is possible. When running Audyssey, select the speakers as height channels.

What about Focal satellites?

thanks BB!

the kef eggs were just an example, and I would prefer focal to go with fronts or def tech to match my rears. So, would normal satellites work then as I was under the impression you had to have special atmos speakers?

cheers

 

[bigboss]

No, any satellites will do. You need special Atmos speakers only when you want to bounce sound off the ceiling.

 

[Series1boy]

No, any satellites will do. You need special Atmos speakers only when you want to bounce sound off the ceiling.

excellent, that makes life much more easier and cost effective!

cheers

 

[Series1boy]

Yes it is possible. When running Audyssey, select the speakers as height channels.

What about Focal satellites?

just gone into Audyssey and the settings in assign mode is atmos and allows you to select how many down firing speakers. Then there is 7.1 and 9.1 (additional amp is required) with the options of front and rear height respectively. So, for atmos using front heights only, what do I set it to; atmos or 7.1 with front height speakers?

Cheers

 

[bigboss]

Are you going for 7.1.2 or 5.1.2?

 

[simonlewis]

No, any satellites will do. You need special Atmos speakers only when you want to bounce sound off the ceiling.

Just out of interest because it might affect me in the future, would you say that having up-fireing speakers on speaker stands bounceing them off the ceiling would be just as good as having speakers in or on the cieling ?

 

[bigboss]

No, any satellites will do. You need special Atmos speakers only when you want to bounce sound off the ceiling.

Just out of interest because it might affect me in the future, would you say that having up-fireing speakers on speaker stands bounceing them off the ceiling would be just as good as having speakers in or on the cieling ?

I don't know to be honest, as I've never heard the upfiring speakers. My guess would be that direct sound will be superior to sound bounced off the ceiling.

 

[simonlewis]

No, any satellites will do. You need special Atmos speakers only when you want to bounce sound off the ceiling.

Just out of interest because it might affect me in the future, would you say that having up-fireing speakers on speaker stands bounceing them off the ceiling would be just as good as having speakers in or on the cieling ?

I don't know to be honest, as I've never heard the upfiring speakers. My guess would be that direct sound will be superior to sound bounced off the ceiling.

*good*

 

[Series1boy]

Are you going for 7.1.2 or 5.1.2?

5.1.2 initially. In the future I will add a power am and will go for 5.1.4 with 2 rear speakers in the corners of the ceiling

 

[Series1boy]

No, any satellites will do. You need special Atmos speakers only when you want to bounce sound off the ceiling.

Just out of interest because it might affect me in the future, would you say that having up-fireing speakers on speaker stands bounceing them off the ceiling would be just as good as having speakers in or on the cieling ?

ive got the onkyo upfiring speakers and they are not that good to be honest.

 

[bigboss]

I don't have a separate "Atmos" option in Audyssey. If you're going for 5.1.2, select it that way (7 speakers and in that select front heights). Run Audyssey again when you add more speakers.

 

[Series1boy]

I'm still trying to decide which way to go and have another question; with the issue of running cables to the ceiling or up the walls and then going through the hassle of replastering etc, would the kef upfiring speakers work for DTS :x? I appreciate I'll have to upgrade my av reciever again Are upfiring speakers purely for atmos setups?

 

[bigboss]

Speak to Andrew Langner at Sevenoaks Sheffield. When they installed my home cinema system when I was in Barnsley, they ran the cables behind walls and above the ceiling. Absolutely no plastering or painting was needed.

 

[Series1boy]

Problem is my house is a 1930's so all the walls are solid brick. The only alternative is to run the speakers in the ceiling with holes and pull the floor boards up in the bedroom above, then drill a hole in the chimney breast under the floor boards upstairs and run the cables down the chimney cavity( I have no fire). Drill another hole through the downstairs chimney, and pull the cables out to connect to my av reciever. It's a right job.. So, the re plastering would be easier lol!

Up firing speakers would be better but I'm not overly impressed with the onkyos I have, and then there is DTS x to contend with and my guess is down firing or high fronts and rears are the only options..

 

[bigboss]

They did something similar in my project. Ran the cables up the chimney cavity to the upper rooms, then under the carpet to the other end, then down again to the ceiling.

I'm not sure about upfiring speakers for DTS:X. I guess they should work, bit you've not been impressed with them anyway.

 

[Series1boy]

They did something similar in my project. Ran the cables up the chimney cavity to the upper rooms, then under the carpet to the other end, then down again to the ceiling.

I'm not sure about upfiring speakers for DTS:X. I guess they should work, bit you've not been impressed with them anyway.

ive found some focal domes that would fit nicely in all four corners of the ceiling and I can feed the cables up in the corner and the domes will cover the hole and speaker cable. I'm going to see Andy at audio images in Sheffield first to see how they sound. The next job is to put my x4100 on eBay and I'll be auditioning the Denon 7200 which can support all the new sound formats plus you can upgrade the board to the latest hdmi spec or what ever it's called . I may even wait until next year to see how it all pans out with the Hdmi spec and Denon may bring out a x42000 with it all in...It's got to be Denon because I am impressed with the Denon link from my BD because there are never any lip sync issues.

 

[Series1boy]

Found this link re using atmos upfiring speakers for DTS X: would be ideal for me, no mess or re plastering if I upgraded the kef upfiring...

http://www.insideci.co.uk/news/3d-audio-set-to-boom-as-dtsx-takes-on-dolby-atmos.aspx

Can't get the link to work through the hyper link as it brings another screen over when you paste into the url - this forum is getting worse!

 

[Son_of_SJ]

No, any satellites will do. You need special Atmos speakers only when you want to bounce sound off the ceiling.

Just out of interest because it might affect me in the future, would you say that having up-fireing speakers on speaker stands bounceing them off the ceiling would be just as good as having speakers in or on the cieling ?

ive got the onkyo upfiring speakers and they are not that good to be honest.

(I've been away from the forum for three weeks and five days, where has the time gone??) Hello Series1boy, I think that that might be to do with the quality of the Onkyo speakers rather than with the reflective method, which I've read in various Home Cinema Choice articles to be the equal of the in-ceiling method. The current issue (June 2015) has a very favourable review of a Pioneer set of speakers with integrated upfiring modules. Somebody else, I think it's Kef, makes upfiring modules, but they are about £600 each, as opposed to your £130 Onkyos.

 

[Series1boy]

(I've been away from the forum for three weeks and five days, where has the time gone??) Hello Series1boy, I think that that might be to do with the quality of the Onkyo speakers rather than with the reflective method, which I've read in various Home Cinema Choice articles to be the equal of the in-ceiling method. The current issue (June 2015) has a very favourable review of a Pioneer set of speakers with integrated upfiring modules. Somebody else, I think it's Kef, makes upfiring modules, but they are about £600 each, as opposed to your £130 Onkyos.

[/quote]

i think you are right, it's the qaulity of the onkyo speakers. I have also read the review in home cinema choice on the pioneers but I wander if they and the kef separate upfiring speakers would work with the new DTS X format .. ? The pioneers would be a lot more compact and would look more attractive instead of the 'Frankenstein ' look of different speakers of makes and cable tidy...