Pioneer Elite SC-LX904 A/V receiver (Pioneers top of the line 2019 flag ship receiver

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by slimdude

Auro 3D audio is niche because, there's hardly any Auro 3D soundtracks on Blu-ray and 4K UHD. The few Auro 3D soundtracks that I'm aware of are from Germany Turbine blu-ray releases of: Twister, Daylight and Dragonheart. The majority of the 4K discs in the U.S have Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Auro 3D is a rarity, which is probably why Pioneer had eliminated the feature from their new A/V receivers because the lack of Auro 3D soundtracks being encoded on Blu-rays and 4K UHD. My Denon 4400H has Auro 3D and I've never utilized it, so I don't know what it sounds like.

Pioneer did not eliminate Auro 3D from their A/V receivers, Pioneer just never offered the feature when Denon and Yamaha started offering the feature. There are a few Auro 3D titles released in the United States, mostly on the Blu-ray Audio format which all Blu-ray players can play.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Georg...lu-ray/153664/

However when it comes to movies, Auro 3D has a limited selection especially in the United States when it comes to home video. Auro 3D can be used on the Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray format with 7.1 PCM being the core audio. AuroMAx is 26.1 channels but Auro 13.1 is the most common version used at home. I created a thread on Auro 3D at the following link.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=342809

Pioneer Elite A/V receivers are very reliable A/V receivers and when connected to a good pure sine wave UPS they can last over 20+ years (same is true with some Yamaha A/V receivers). However, Pioneer is at least a notch below the quality of some of the latest high-end Denon and Yamaha A/V receivers that offer 13.2 channels with new features like Auro 3D.

Since movies in theaters use Auro 3D with 13.1 or 26.1 channels, I am hoping that 4K Blu-ray disc releases will use the technology. Auro 3D has 7.1 PCM core audio that a old 14 year old 7.1 channel A/V receiver is compatible with. Just consumers would need to own a Auro 3D A/V receiver to hear 13.1 or 26.1 channels. Over 200 movies in theaters have been released with Auro 3D, so those are the ones that could be ported over to 4K Blu-ray using the existing 7.1 channel PCM studio masters.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

Pioneer did not eliminate Auro 3D from their A/V receivers, Pioneer just never offered the feature when Denon and Yamaha started offering the feature. There are a few Auro 3D titles released in the United States, mostly on the Blu-ray Audio format which all Blu-ray players can play.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Georg...lu-ray/153664/

However when it comes to movies, Auro 3D has a limited selection especially in the United States when it comes to home video. Auro 3D can be used on the Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray format with 7.1 PCM being the core audio. AuroMAx is 26.1 channels but Auro 13.1 is the most common version used at home. I created a thread on Auro 3D at the following link.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=342809

Pioneer Elite A/V receivers are very reliable A/V receivers and when connected to a good pure sine wave UPS they can last over 20+ years (same is true with some Yamaha A/V receivers). However, Pioneer is at least a notch below the quality of some of the latest high-end Denon and Yamaha A/V receivers that offer 13.2 channels with new features like Auro 3D.

Since movies in theaters use Auro 3D with 13.1 or 26.1 channels, I am hoping that 4K Blu-ray disc releases will use the technology. Auro 3D has 7.1 PCM core audio that a old 14 year old 7.1 channel A/V receiver is compatible with. Just consumers would need to own a Auro 3D A/V receiver to hear 13.1 or 26.1 channels. Over 200 movies in theaters have been released with Auro 3D, so those are the ones that could be ported over to 4K Blu-ray using the existing 7.1 channel PCM studio masters.

It would be nice if Auro 3D is utilized on Blu-ray.

[sapiendut]

The problem is that only 200 movies in about a decade is nothing, especially perhaps 30-40% are Bollywood movies.

[KubrickKurasawa]

All for some "height" action on a "few" discs.

And now after 4K discs have been out for almost 7 years, you can clearly see Atmos/DTSX mixes are 95-99% of the time not being added to older movies. Some native Atmos mixes don't even impress on top of it as well.

So it's mostly a new movie gimmick for 7 years for helicopters or swoosh and whoosh sounds or overhead explosion noises. And anyone who can turn the volume up in their average sized living room with 5.1 will get sound basically everywhere at just half the receiver's volume output anyway.

Looking back, through time, half of these next gen/new "upgrades" were just hype. Then covid hit and every thing stuck 2-3 years back in time it seems. All those gaming updates like VRR and 8k eARC capability or updates. Talk about "limbo".

[sapiendut]

You can’t push the volume up on a 5.1/7.1 sound and make them sound like Atmos. SMH.

[HDTV1080P]

Several years ago, while remodeling I pre-wired my one home theater room area for 13.1 surround sound using 10-gauge speaker wire with wall jacks. I just now sometime in the future need to buy 13 speakers, new surround sound A/V receiver, and spend the time researching and hooking it up. I do want to hear height channels for spaceships and airplanes, etc. For now, I have 7.1 surround sound to listen too.

[KubrickKurasawa]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

The problem is that only 200 movies in about a decade is nothing, especially perhaps 30-40% are Bollywood movies.
You can’t push the volume up on a 5.1/7.1 sound and make them sound like Atmos. SMH.

Right on. I'm missing out.