Converting to Atmos?

[jc480]

To convert to Atmos do I just need to buy a new receiver? Compatible with hdmi 1.3?

[jvonl]

And Atmos speakers, of course.

[jc480]

Why would I need to replace speakers?

[Scarriere]

Not replace, add to.
To get 5.1.2 Atmos/DTS-X, you'll need to make the ceiling speakers that you already have installed, your presence speakers, which is easy to do. You'll have to get a new AVR and surround speakers (sides).
Looking at your room, it's doable. From my experience, Atmos is absolutely fantastic and noticeable when you don't have it anymore.

[jc480]

Thank you

[GunZenBomZ]

You can keep your current speakers but add 4 up-firing ones with the atmos capable rev iever you choose. I've now got two rigs of 7.2.(4) ready to go. As in two 7.2 surrounds and waitign on buying two sets of 4 up aiming speakers with the brand I use. Or you can get downfiting ceiling speakers to'

I've had a brain tumour removed so my writing is terrible. apologies.

[Steve]

Bumping a dormant thread here but I'm also thinking of upgrading to Atmos. My A/V receiver (Pio Elite SC-95) is capable but I don't have Atmos speakers. I was thinking of just putting a pair in the ceiling for a 5.2.2 setup. Is this all I would need to do?

P.S. Be aware that my HT gallery is quite dated in case anyone wants to look at it for ideas/advice. The layout and furniture are the same but almost every component has been upgraded and there are two subs now. My major components are:

TV-Vizio P65-C1
AVR-Pioneer Elite SC-95
Xbox One S
PS4

[kansashoops]

Yes. Adding a pair of ceiling speakers and rerunning the speaker setup procedure should be all you really need to do. Do make sure your XBox One S is running the latest firmware and that you have it set to bitstream audio output. You need the receiver to decode the audio.

[rlb131]

I upgraded to Atmos around a year ago to 5.2.2 using Denon Avr-S910W. I was able to install 2 ceiling speakers with ease and even tho' it's not a 5.4 system, the difference is palpable. There is a lot more presence and it was a definite worthwhile upgrade to my listening area. Since I was not adding speakers for a 5.4 system I mounted the ceilings in the TOP MIDDLE position, slightly ahead of the main listening position. Works extremely well and I am glad I made the move.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by kansashoops

Yes. Adding a pair of ceiling speakers and rerunning the speaker setup procedure should be all you really need to do. Do make sure your XBox One S is running the latest firmware and that you have it set to bitstream audio output. You need the receiver to decode the audio.

Thank you for the response. What you laid out is exactly what I thought I needed to do. All of my components are currently up to date with the latest firmware and set to bitstream so my AVR can decode the audio. I just wanted to make sure I was not overlooking anything.

Originally Posted by rlb131

I upgraded to Atmos around a year ago to 5.2.2 using Denon Avr-S910W. I was able to install 2 ceiling speakers with ease and even tho' it's not a 5.4 system, the difference is palpable. There is a lot more presence and it was a definite worthwhile upgrade to my listening area. Since I was not adding speakers for a 5.4 system I mounted the ceilings in the TOP MIDDLE position, slightly ahead of the main listening position. Works extremely well and I am glad I made the move.

Thanks. This is pretty much what I intend to do. I want to add a pair of ceiling speakers in the middle of the room, angled at the listening position. Since the rest of my speakers are Klipsch, I want to go with a pair of the CDT-5800-C II so they all match as closely as possible. It will probably be a couple of months before I'm able to make this happen but I want to have a game plan ready to go.

[Bolty]

Question........

Does an Atmos (or DTS:X) soundtrack sound better than a 7.1 track when converted to a 7.1 output from a receiver?

Meaning -- I have a Atmos receiver and when I play a disc with an Atmos track my player displays "Atmos" on the front.

BUT instead of having my player in a 5.2.1 configuration I leave it in 7.1 configuration.

So would an Atmos soundtrack output in that manner sound any better than if it was simply a DTSMA 7.1 or TrHD 7.1 ?

Hope that I made that clear enough. Thanks!!

[Zhorik]

Atmos (or DTS:X) played back as 7.1 will sound the same as a dedicated 7.1 track.

[KRW1]

Will it?

I only ask as my receiver's manual claims all you need for atmos is more than 6 speakers and simply having a 7.1 set up allows you to take advantage of the object based track rather than the channel based track (albeit without the height elements)

I imagine it sounds exactly the same but I'm tempted to try and see if there's any difference.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by KRW1

Will it?

I only ask as my receiver's manual claims all you need for atmos is more than 6 speakers and simply having a 7.1 set up allows you to take advantage of the object based track rather than the channel based track (albeit without the height elements)

I imagine it sounds exactly the same but I'm tempted to try and see if there's any difference.

To hear Dolby Atmos, you must have ceiling speakers, or a pair of top firing speakers that sit on top of your front mains.

[Bolty]

The original question was different. It was -- will an Atmos soundtrack of a given movie -- the UHD of Star Trek into Darkness say --sent to an Atmos receiver that is happens to be in a standard 7.1configuration sound better than the soundtrack of a MA 7.1 soundtrack of the same movie on a Blu-ray say?

Now obviously without height speakers you are not getting the same enveloping experience as a true Atmos set up, BUT is an Atmos soundtrack inherently better than the same soundtrack in MA 7.1?

Again using STID as an example did they improve the existing MA 7.1 soundtrack when they made the Atmos soundtrack or did they just redirect a portion to the height speakers?

[KRW1]

As far as I'm aware, Atmos is more than just adding two height channels to an existing soundtrack; object based rather than channel based but what this means in reality, I've no idea.

(I still haven't tried a test)

Perhaps to avoid confusion, does an object based 7.1 mix sound different/better to a channel based 7.1 mix and someone far more able than me needs to answer

[Bolty]

Originally Posted by KRW1

As far as I'm aware, Atmos is more than just adding two height channels to an existing soundtrack; object based rather than channel based but what this means in reality, I've no idea.

(I still haven't tried a test)

Right, I don't know either

STID Blu-ray with TrHD 7.1 to a receiver in a 7.1 configuration sounds exactly as good as a....

STID UHD 4K with an Atmos soundtrack to a receiver that decodes and displays "Atmos" on the front, in a 7.1 configuration

That seems to be saying that simply where you place the speakers has everything to do with Atmos being better. To me that's says height is the only advantage you get from Atmos if you lose all the benefits when you leave the speakers in the traditional

3 front, 2 surround, 2 rear 1 LFE locations

[Zhorik]

Based on my understanding, you need at least two height channels (2.1.2) for Atmos rendering to be triggered in home receivers. That includes object panning through the room.

I don't think the same holds true for Trinnov though.