Is Dolby Atmos worth adding to my setup?

[Profile237]

I have an Onkyo TX-NR5009, which has been the centre of my main system for some time and I have very few complaints. However, with the ever increasing number of Dolby Atmos encoded sources, I am wondering if I am missing out on too much. I don't want to spend another £2,000+ to improve on what I have by replacing my Onkyo, but I am considering if it worth going another route. Since the Onkyo has a full set of multi-channel inputs, would it be worth adding a, relatively, cheap, up-to-date receiver to provide the decoding and keep my Onkyo for the power? I know the Onkyo's decoding and processing was one of it's strongest selling points, when I got it, but, perhaps things have moved on sufficiently, now, for a more budget friendly amp/receiver to have comparable or even better decoding.
I would really appreciate any thoughts/advice on this.

the bulk of my main system:
Onkyo TX-NR5009 Receiver
Denon DBP-2012UD Blu-ray/Universal disc player
Samsung QN65S95CAFXZA TV
Panasonic PT-AT5000E Projector
Sansui SR222 Mk5 turntable
Sony CDP-XB920E QS CD Player
XBOX Series X
Mission 753 Fronts, 75C, one pair 77DS and one pair M5DS surround and rear speakers, Kef Kube 2 Sub

 

[daytona600]

Good set speakers costs a few hundred quid
Good set of atmos speakers 7.2 costs thousands
Good set of atmos speakers 15.4.6 costs tens of thousands

Atmos is fantastic but not cheap & sky is the limit

 

[Messiah]

A few thoughts/questions:

- Are you planning on adding height/ceiling speakers to get the full benefit of Atmos?

- If so, are you planning on 5.1.2 (2 fronts, centre, 2 rears, 1 sub and then 2 height) or 7.1.2 (2 fronts, centre, 2 side, 2 rears, 1 sub and 2 height).

- And if so, does the Onkyo have enough inputs to accommodate 7.1.2?

- Is there a cheap Atmos receiver that has the necessary pre-outs? (I find this tends to be a feature with more expensive models).

I have not heard the Onkyo so I really cannot comment on how the sound might compare with a modern receiver but I can see a modern receiver being a simpler solution and you can benefit with features like eArc.

I replaced a Pioneer receiver that was a similar age to your Onkyo (although probably over 1K less) with a Denon receiver (3700h - cost me about £600) and I have been very happy with it. Certainly better than the Pioneer it replaced.

 

[Profile237]

Good set speakers costs a few hundred quid
Good set of atmos speakers 7.2 costs thousands
Good set of atmos speakers 15.4.6 costs tens of thousands

Atmos is fantastic but not cheap & sky is the limit

I have a few pairs of Kef Ci160QR flush mount speakers, plus a selection of Ci100QR and Ci50R plus a pair of CiFDT flush mounted surrounds that I thought I would use to add the additional channels.

 

[DanEmmo]

If only adding two height channels then look at the Marantz Cinema 70 for pre/processing duties

 

[bigboss]

I have an Onkyo TX-NR5009, which has been the centre of my main system for some time and I have very few complaints. However, with the ever increasing number of Dolby Atmos encoded sources, I am wondering if I am missing out on too much. I don't want to spend another £2,000+ to improve on what I have by replacing my Onkyo, but I am considering if it worth going another route. Since the Onkyo has a full set of multi-channel inputs, would it be worth adding a, relatively, cheap, up-to-date receiver to provide the decoding and keep my Onkyo for the power? I know the Onkyo's decoding and processing was one of it's strongest selling points, when I got it, but, perhaps things have moved on sufficiently, now, for a more budget friendly amp/receiver to have comparable or even better decoding.
I would really appreciate any thoughts/advice on this.

the bulk of my main system:
Onkyo TX-NR5009 Receiver
Denon DBP-2012UD Blu-ray/Universal disc player
Samsung QN65S95CAFXZA TV
Panasonic PT-AT5000E Projector
Sansui SR222 Mk5 turntable
Sony CDP-XB920E QS CD Player
XBOX Series X
Mission 753 Fronts, 75C, one pair 77DS and one pair M5DS surround and rear speakers, Kef Kube 2 Sub

Your Onkyo is 13 years old now. The parent company has also gone bankrupt. It's now owned by Sharp. All I would suggest is to take this into consideration before any purchase. What you do not want this to have a complicated system which you get stuck with after the Onkyo fails. You can get good quality AV receivers for relatively cheap price nowadays and take Onkyo out of the equation completely. Look at Denon and Marantz for example. Arrange for a home demo and see what you think.

With regards to Atmos set up, you need height speakers for Atmos effect. Otherwise there's no point Is this something you can add to your setup? There are speakers that bounce sound off the ceiling for Atmos effect, but the results are variable depending on your ceiling etc.