Are Dolby Atmos Soundbars Worth It?

Should you spend the money on a Dolby Atmos Soundbar in 2021? Is it Actually Worth It?? We discuss the factors you should think about when deciding to buy a New Soundbar. Dolby Atmos is being put into many more Soundbars now and especially the more expensive models. Do they do it justice and can you get proper Atmos without Rear Speakers? Watch to find out...

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Timestamps:
0:00 What To Expect
0:15 Type of Content
1:00 Streaming Services
1:27 Your Current TV
2:05 Room Size & Layout
2:41 Atmos Expectations
3:21 Rear Speakers

[rijost]

Great video! Straight to the point and no fuzz, keep up the good work!

[Mattmanutube]

Great, common sense approach explaining ATMOS and why it is not a big consideration for the type of content I watch most often on ACORN.

[Totalplonker]

I've had several soundbars and a surround sound package but it was only when I purchased an budget AVR and a pair of budget stereo speakers that I realised what I had been missing (stereo imaging, thumping base) besides going down this route one can always add to it overtime!  subwoofer, surround speakers you could even get height speakers to get the full 'non-virtual' Dolby Atmos experience. Nowadays AVRs are so simple to setup, they even walk you through the process!

"Remember movies are made up of 50% visuals and 50% audio and there are occasions when the audio out does the visuals"

[MrJordanwain]

It’s surprising how many atmos sound bars don’t have up firing speakers on the rears. I wouldn’t consider buying an atmos system if it wasn’t x.x.4.

[WRX]

My wife wanted a sound bar to get rid of all the speaker wire…my Sonos arc system is awesome.

[anthonycyr]

Never actually heard a sound bar that sounds anywhere near as good as a true home theatre set up, my yamaha system rocks and would never recommend a soundbar to anyone, they are too much of a compromise..

[tsifty]

What is the ideal distance for a sound bar to be under a TV? Also as an example would the distance vary if it’s a Sonos Beam or Sonos Arc?

[anastasioschrysinas]

Do you think that q990b has what it takes for real atmos experience?

[da_pikmin_coder]

I've went to theaters with Dolby and I could never really hear the Atmos. Sure the audio quality was crisp and realistic, but I couldn't tell you how it sounded any different from Surround Sound. The seats had speakers, which amplified the bass for sure. Really, I was more encapsulated by the Dolby Vision. The HDR really brings out the best in digitally filmed or CGI intensive movies.
I guess I just don't have an ear for audio mastering. I've checked with doctors though and my hearing is fine.

[manojagnihotri]

Hi Josh I am eagerly waiting for your comparison on BOSE 900 with Sub 700 and SONOS ARC with SUB GEN3

[HoundDogMech]

What about using any Dolby Atmos Soundbar in june 2022 to create my own Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 with Davinci Resolve 18 to accompany my Videos.

[dwaynephilpot]

I have soundbars with Dolby Atmos in 5.1.4. But I have a ceiling fan in the middle of my room and I have short ceilings . So I can’t really tell the difference I think the fan is messing with the audio waves somehow maybe I am wrong. I don’t know.

[o.c.g.m]

At first I thought so...had 2 Vizio's & a Nakamichi 9.2.4..still had wires. Nothing beats actual speakers on high wall. Actual sound coming from present speakers not something virtual or thrown. My Denon X4700h 5.2.4 setup rocks !!!

[gabs-wj]

with type of content i feel this is a bit different for everyone one of my reasons besides hight virtulization to getting a atmos/dtsx soundbar was backwards compatibility so i have support for all dts and dolby audio formats even found the old 2010 realease of dts nerual upmix released with dts hds pc suite for production so i have support for dts/dolbys matrix and descrete surround codecs as dts nerual upmix 2010 had support for decodeing pro logic 1 2 and dolby surround dolbys first audio codec aswell as dts nerual mix and a few others

[neilcampbell]

I've got a Toshiba TV with DTS and Dolby Atmos. The sound isn't great on both settings . I think perhaps I need a soundbar to get decent sound perhaps Dolby Atmos doesn't work without one.

[jaysomewhereinflyoverterri]

Ever since the 80s, can anyone tell me than anything Dolby hasn't sucked?

[joshuagriffin]

Hey Josh, great video.
What's your honest thoughts on the Samsung HW-Q870A?
I'm torn between the Samsung HW-Q870A and the Samsung HW-Q950A
Massive price difference between the two

[LoafRock]

Have you had a chance to checkout/review the Dolby atmos performance of two Apple Homepods paired with an AppleTV 4K? It is a surprisingly good alternative for atmos sound without having to use an earc port.

[thetruth]

Hello Josh nice video. One question, is there any difference between sonos arc and sonos arc sl, apart from no mic on sonos arc sl. I mean is there any noticeable difference in sound quality an performance.

[evanduvall]

Do I need a 2.1 HDMI cable for my Dolby Atmos sound bar to connect it to my TV?