Localization issues with Atmos

[srinivas1015]

The thing is, even though I can hear the sounds coming from the height speakers, it's often times hard to make out that it's coming from above.

This is how my speakers are oriented:




I know that it's not the ideal setup, but I'm wondering whether to assign them as 'Rear Heights' or 'Top Middle Left/Right'. With the Top Middle position, they would be assigned to the current position, but the receiver would think they're oriented downwards. Whereas with the Rear Height orientation, the position would be incorrect (they're actually above the side speakers) but their orientation would be incorrect-- they're facing each other, not downwards.



vs





Does the receiver do anything different in both orientations? Ideally, I'd love to set them as Side Height Left/Right, but this option doesn't seem to exist in the Marantz:

[solarrdadd]

aim them down towards the MLP and assign them as TM. the biggest issue I see is that they are aimed at each other and not down aimed at you.

[srinivas1015]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

aim them down towards the MLP and assign them as TM. the biggest issue I see is that they are aimed at each other and not down aimed at you.

How big of a difference does that make?

And just out of curiosity, does assigning them as rear heights compensate for the fact that they're aimed at each other?

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by srinivas1015

How big of a difference does that make?

And just out of curiosity, does assigning them as rear heights compensate for the fact that they're aimed at each other?

both are separate issues. if you aim them at each other and your down below, how will you hear anything properly? designating them as TM is for timing and so the processor understands how to utilize them with ATMOS/DTS:X metadata in concert with the other lower bed channels to create the ATMOS/DTS:X effects properly.

I mean, would you point your center channel towards the ground? no, you would point it at where you sit, or the midpoint of seating arrangements.

[srinivas1015]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

both are separate issues. if you aim them at each other and your down below, how will you hear anything properly? designating them as TM is for timing and so the processor understands how to utilize them with ATMOS/DTS:X metadata in concert with the other lower bed channels to create the ATMOS/DTS:X effects properly.

I mean, would you point your center channel towards the ground? no, you would point it at where you sit.

I'll have to see if the mounts allow any flexibility.

The funny thing is that in all the Atmos demos, I can clearly tell that it's coming from above. It's only with movies that I'm having issues.

[Blu-rob77]

What would a good idea to aim them down to main listening position?

[rlb131]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

.....designating them as TM is for timing and so the processor understands how to utilize them with ATMOS/DTS:X metadata in concert with the other lower bed channels to create the ATMOS/DTS:X effects properly.

I have been running a 5.2.2 Atmos setup with ceiling speakers set like this, in the 'top middle' position, and the receiver designated at such. From the research I did at installation time this is the proper way to achieve the best audio listening with a 5.2 setup. My results are incredible compared to the 5.1 setup I was running before and I would never go back.

I believe I did manually boost the levels a little on the ceiling speakers to make some compensation to the levels my Denon Audessy setup assigned to them, which, after listening for awhile I thought were too low.

[dyson2004]

If you use two Atmos speakers, you should have them directly above you as much as possible and set them to Top Middle. If you have four front and rear Atmos speakers, you set them to Top Front and Top Rear. If using four, try to sit in the middle of the four so that the speakers are forming a square above you.