Dolby Atmos, IMAX-Enhanced, DTS-X and Auro 3D are all relatively new audio codecs that represent a significant path forward in recording technology.
Conceptually, Dolby Atmos, as well as the other immersive formats, have migrated away from the "Channel-Based" approach, utilized with all previous surround formats. Immersive Audio is an "Object-Based" approach. This new recording technology provides recording engineers and directors the ability to accurately place sounds anywhere in a room environment, including overhead. This capability greatly enhances the user experience and creates the illusion that you are actually in the movie scene. Hence, the term "Immersive".
A brief review of the required speaker topology is warranted.
Immersive Audio soundtracks rely on additional overhead loudspeakers to create the overhead audio images. A naming convention of x.x.x where the first digit represents the number of surround loudspeakers deployed. Most Dolby systems utilize five surround loudspeakers commonly known as Front Left, Center, Front Right, Right Rear and Left Rear. This yields a 5 Channel loudspeaker arrangement. The next digit represents the number of Sub-Woofers being deployed. Modern AV Receivers can usually support up to 2 sub-woofer channels. The last digit represents the number of Dolby Atmos loudspeakers being deployed. Atmos configurations such as 5.1.4 or 5.2.4 would have a total of either 10 or eleven loudspeakers. Other configurations are also possible. One such example could be a 7.1.4, which would have a total of 12 loudspeakers. The actual number being deployed is somewhat dependent on room size. Regardless, Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, DTS-X and Auro 3D represent the very latest in recording technology and it offers significant improvements to the user experience.
Enjoying Dolby Atmos in your home requires suitable AV Equipment that supports these immersive audio codecs and this necessarily includes any Streaming Modules such as Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, etc. Additionally, NetFlix and others have their own account requirements that must be met to enjoy Immersive Audio. UHD Bluray Players, in conjunction with Atmos encoded BlueRay discs, provides the surest pathway to enjoy Atmos presentations.
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