Much like how DTS-HD was an extension to DTS.Ītmos can be delivered along with Dolby TrueHD, typically on blu-ray (BDV and BDA) at around 4000 to 7000kbps or along with Dolby Digital Plus, typically at 768kbps or less for streaming by Netflix, Apple, Tidal, Prime and similar services. It is implemented as an extension within the original Dolby TrueHD (lossless) and Dolby Digital Plus (lossy) codecs. Is Atmos backward compatible with existing equipment?Ītmos content does not require a new codec. There are already several concerts and audio albums with Atmos mixes, with more coming. So the natural progression is to release Atmos music too. Obviously, there are many surround music enthusiasts around the world. Many movie theaters have one of these systems installed. Hundreds of movies are now available on Blu-ray and 4K UHD blu-ray with Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks. With Atmos an audio engineer can ensure a sound can follow an object on the screen, a helicopter circling overhead etc. The three competing Object Based audio systems were primarily created to add rich, realistic sound for movies.

However, more speakers will provide a better resolution of sound movement.ĭolby Atmos for Home, as delivered on Blu-ray and streaming services, are limited to 16 amplifier channels (similar an 'old' system 15.1 - However, as stated above, unlike traditional multichannel audio systems each channel is not sent to a separate speaker). The actual individual amplifier output is created during playback based on a combination of encoded mix and the speaker configuration (installation). Atmos supports up to 128 simultaneous independent audio objects in a mix.įurthermore, the intended spatial position can be rendered fairly accurately regardless of the actual speaker positions based on the actual Atmos speaker setup during installation, which will include a microphone and software in the AVR to measure speaker distances and gain (volume). So Atmos objects are not always locked to a specific channel (speaker), for example, an object can be set to appear in a 'phantom position' (between speakers), or can appear to move between any speakers in the speaker array in any direction. Atmos (and DTS:X & Auro) add height speakers to create a true 3D sound field (5.1 is a 2D sound field). Object based systems are a combination of raw audio channels and metadata that describes the spatial position (in 3D space) and other properties of audio objects. Dolby Atmos is an Object Based audio surround system (similar to competing DTS:X and Auro 3D systems).

Dolby atmos demonstration disc 2014