Top 5 Reasons Why My Dolby Atmos Experiment Broke

In a previous video I did a test to see if Dolby Atmos is really as good as I think it is. Let's just say it didn't go as planned. This is a follow-up video where I analyze where things went wrong.
Here's the link to the previous video

[Youthman]

We all have limitations in our room and have to do the best we can with what we have. But it’s still a AWESOME experience!

Gravity has very distinct Atmos movement.

A Quiet Place basement scene (after she steps on the nail) has very specific Atmos content.

[joentell]

Good on you to approach this scientifically.

A few notes: Atmos folds down properly to a 7.1 or 5.1 mix. The Atmos bed layer TrueHD track already has 7.1. I don't think that a 5.1 or 7.1 version would necessarily be that different. In the Atmos Renderer, we have options to export to various formats. Whether it's done prior or in real-time on the AVR shouldn't really matter.

The height-speaker placement could be an issue. Where are your front and rear heights placed?

Telling them to look for height information isn't necessarily a bad test. Asking them which is more immersive might also lead them to choose the one that just sounds louder. If you engage more height speakers and the levels increase even slightly, that could skew results. I think the first question is more reasonable based on Dolby 's claim that you can place objects precisely above and around you.

I'm curious if they'll be able to tell with one of our Spatial Group mixes where there's a visual representation of where the sound is supposed to be coming from.

[ping]

Dolby atmos is fine. Just that the studios are putting in little effort, budget cuts, and tight timing to release.

[mikebass]

Atmos height speakers are severely lacking is because sound engineers do not put the time and effort to make these speakers work. I have a 7.2 system so I only have two height speakers. So to get the height speakers more engaged I bumped up the volume just a hair louder to hear them when they do engage. One more thing, I used to have my height speakers in front and above my surround speakers. This gave me a wall of sound that prevented me hearing the height speakers. What I did was moved them back about halfway to two thirds back from the front surround, ear level speakers. This definitely gave me more of that immersive sound experience when the height speakers kicked in.
Some good movies one can check out are "Gravity", "Alita Battle Angel", "Edge of Tomorrow" and "A Quiet Place". All provide some good enveloping sound.
Great vid!

[movie_av_impulse]

It really does depend on the way it's mixed! Turbine does a remarkable job with their Dolby Atmos Blu-rays plus in my system on my 5.1.2 is the height speakers are tuned up +2 than the other speakers it makes it more present when they are used! Great video

[Saturn]

Quick note before I watch the video, you've done such a big feat bringing these experiments to us. I can't wait to see more!

[scottw]

The experiment was a total success. You just didn't get the results you (and others) were wanting. If you handpicked the absolute best examples with the absolute perfect speaker positions the experiment would have definitely been skewed. You chose average examples for average listeners with an average home speaker placement. Perfect experiment.

[MagicTK-]

Try "Leave the World Behind". I only have 5.1 set up now, but it was amazing how crisp and clear and even subtle some sounds were. I could even hear stuff happening at various heights all around. And the way they panned perfectly in sync with the motion on screen as it rotated around was impressive. I can only imagine experiencing this movie with Atmos.

[damonappel]

I'm just really impressed that you're able to get your family to be your AV Guinea Pigs. 😅 ....In all seriousness, I'm not sure that your last 'gotcha' will make much difference. My AVR does a pretty good job of 'mimicking' a full 7.1.4 when there's no Atmos or X track. I also haven't been any more blown away by music in Atmos than I am with just lossless audio mixed into 5.1 surround.

I think it's all down to scene selection, and knowing that the Atmos track IS actively pushing discrete sound to the height channels. A lot do not.

I will say that since I implemented my Atmos setup about 3 months ago, Deepwater Horizon 4k has still been 'top dog' when it comes to sound placement. When the rig starts to blow, that disc is just ridiculous (in a great way).

[gregorioavalos]

Your son has me convinced that I shouldn’t get rid of my dipoles. It’s a common note that the side speakers are a little louder, despite being calibrated. (Yes, I understand he is not in the primary listening position)
However, a speaker firing right at my ear canal will have a bigger sound especially from a 90 degree angle. I think it will sound brighter to our ears. Maybe point the mic at SL & SR, first for sampling notes, then calibrate, and then adjust between the three readings?
Especially if the only value in the atmos experience is a fuller envelope immersion.

[roybrochard]

it's the least important improvement in sound but I'm glad I have it. I have boosted it +5 and that makes a difference

[MattyDaddy]

Wow!! Talk about I love that you did this!! Before and after!! Mad respect!! So glad people like you are on here for those of us who don’t have the means to test different options!!!

[NickMatzkeMusic]

On the anthem too you can toggle between the Atmos or True HD base layer just using the remote while the clip is playing. Or you can do it on the phone app they have too.

[Ninafan]

I had to change my amp recently because it wasn't doing 4k and was starting to give me troubles. So, I bought the Onkyo tx-rz50. I found a Paradigm 5.1 used so, I mounted 4 of those speakers on the ceiling, pointed them at the main listenning position. My bed layer is Bowers & Wilkens : 683 (left-right), HTM61 (center), 686 for the surrounds. Dirac did a very good job of making them sound all alike. I bought a couple of movies like Blade Runner 2049, A quiet place, and others. I tried very hard to be impressed and marvel at the upgrade but I don't think it's worth the time, effort and money. There are a few moments, in very few movies, where it's cool to hear some sounds coming from above. But when it's just ambiance, rain, wind, etc., it's minimal. Most mixes don't use the height speakers much. I get the feeling that Atmos is just a fad and will not stick, like 3D. It's not like HDR, which is totally worth it.

[bigredwag]

I feel like you left me on a cliffhanger😮😂... Are you going to redo the test? Probably would need some new test subjects 🤣. Thanks for the great content 🤙💪👍

[dantheman]

Thank you for all the great content. After watching your content for awhile, I'm now finally subscribed :) I think reason 4 was the biggest issue. The fam was asked to pinpoint the source of the sound, i.e. overhead speakers are being used or not. Dolby Atmos is about more than just sound coming from above. The core concept of Dolby Atmos is audio object placement. This means that sounds are treated as individual objects that can be precisely positioned and moved within a three-dimensional space. The strength of Dolby Atmos lies in its ability to use multiple speakers to create a highly detailed and immersive sound environment. So, more speakers, including the ones in the ceiling, should result in a more accurate and dynamic audio experience regardless of whether the sound is coming from the top.

Maybe if the family tried to identify which clip is more immersive with more precise audio movement, the results could have been different?

[hairisg]

This is what i learn so far.... 1. Audio source is extremely important. Highly compressed AC3 Dolby Atmos from streaming services is nowhere close to physical or ripped source with Dolby True-HD. 2. I don't trust AVR calibration software like Audysey. I tweak my speaker levels by ear instead. (taje a photo of ur current speaker levels, crossover, equalizer so you can return them back. Then experiment by boosting those atmos and surrounds speaker levels. Dun forget to play with treble and bass in tone setting too. 3. Bass shakers are amazing. I'll never enjoy movies without them again.

[twistacatz]

First off like others have said the experiment was not a disaster, it was awesome!

I just had a few points I wanted to make. My understanding of the Atmos spec is that it’s an extension of TrueHD. If your receiver supports Atmos then it reads the Atmos metadata and and pans around the objects embedded in the mix. If your receiver does not support Atmos it will play that same TrueHD track with the objects mixed into the channels like older specs have always done on a 7.1 flat layer. If you’re able to play the same TrueHD track without Atmos and without up mixing that would be the best comparison IMO. If you compare a Dolby Digital track to TrueHD the bitrate alone could be a giveaway. Like someone else mentioned you may be able to do this with the remote.

In terms of the Atmos music I would argue that it might not be a good comparison. I enjoy well mixed Atmos tracks however usually when you compare it the original two channel mix sometimes it’s so dramatically changed it’s hard to compare it to the original because it just sounds so different. Maybe for the better but definitely beyond what I would call like enhanced. A good example of this is Marvin Gaye’s What’s going on. I like the Atmos version but it’s dramatically different.

Atmos from my perspective biggest benefit is it’s just a way more enveloping sound. If you read the official Atmos thread on AVS whenever people first get it they always describe the sound as like a 3d sound bubble which I think is accurate. For the crowd that wants more discrete sound coming from the heights it reminds me of back in the days when people were upgrading to rear surrounds and complaining about the same thing.

I hope you do the experiment again, it was a lot of fun to watch.

[Analyzer]

The test was fine. While we as enthusiasts want it to make a huge difference. The reality is to the average lister it's not that important and won't matter to them. It's okay for us to want the best but dont be surprised when it doesnt matter at all to others around us that don't share the same passion.

[denniso]

Great insight, i am the proud owner of an AVM 70 so i understood pretty quick why the test would not have been conclusive . A good test track is technodads thrills again...