In case your Dolby Atmos soundbar sounds dangerous, test this instantly

Dolby Atmos is my favorite audio format out there at this time, and I give it a wholehearted suggestion to anyone who asks about it. The format is extra accessible than ever, with most streaming companies providing a tier that helps it, fashionable sport consoles providing it, and what seems like most 4K Blu-ray discs having a mixture of it. Dolby Atmos is all over the place, and the one factor that you must do is be sure to have a strategy to hearken to it.

What makes Atmos particular is its spatial audio capabilities. It goes above and past what conventional encompass sound gives by making a extra immersive expertise with overhead sound results. That is carried out by correctly inserting audio system of their appropriate positions, similar to placing top audio system in for the overhead sounds. Now, there are methods to get round this, and I would say soundbars prove that to a sure diploma. You would possibly discover that most individuals place their soundbar under their TV, which is what they’re designed for. Nonetheless, that does not make sense for Dolby Atmos-branded ones as a result of I simply mentioned that you simply want overhead audio system to tug off the Atmos impact.

Soundbars do that by way of upfiring audio system which might be designed to bounce off the ceiling and redirect towards your listening space. When it really works, it really works. When it would not, it would not. What you won’t know is that your room may be the issue, not the soundbar itself.

Upfiring Atmos works, if in case you have the room for it

Measure your ceiling

Ceiling top is a significant component in whether or not your upfiring audio system will sound nice or depart you wanting extra. I do not assume upfiring audio system can ever absolutely replicate correctly positioned top audio system, however it might probably come shut when you dial in all the pieces appropriately. The massive factor that you must do is be sure that your ceilings are the suitable top. In accordance to Dolby, upfiring Atmos is perfect with ceilings between 7.5 and 14 toes tall, however the firm notes that the best top is between 7.5 and 12. On high of that, you need to be certain your ceiling is made out of one thing that displays sound as a substitute of absorbing it. This contains drywall, plaster, and hardwood, so I think about most ceilings can be positive on this regard.

What this implies is that almost all residence ceilings fall into the optimum heights for upfiring audio system, however fewer hit that best top. There are some methods to make it sound nicer, like placing some sound-absorbing supplies in your partitions, however meaning you are form of inching into the house theater realm, one thing you won’t be open to doing.

The factor with a soundbar is that there is not a complete lot you are able to do with Atmos when you do not meet these necessities. You’ll be able to all the time change the speaker placement on a conventional encompass sound Atmos setup when you aren’t proud of the sound, however a soundbar is what it’s. That is an enormous a part of why they’re so handy for folks to have, nevertheless it’s additionally one in all their largest downsides. My recommendation can be to not hate on upfiring Atmos audio system till you attempt them out for your self. You may be stunned by how near the actual factor they will get. The worst-case state of affairs is that you’re going to nonetheless get Atmos-quality sound, simply not so good as it may be.

Do not overthink it

Deal with Atmos as a bonus

In case you measured your ceilings, and so they do not match the invoice, I might say you need to simply drop your soundbar concept fully. A soundbar, with or with out Dolby Atmos, nonetheless represents an enormous improve over what TV speakers have to offer. Even if you cannot get the Atmos to sound pretty much as good as it might probably, I would nonetheless moderately have some Atmos than no Atmos. I do not assume it’d ever sound dangerous sufficient to be distracting, and lots of issues do not have plenty of overhead noise to start with.

I like to think about overhead sound results as a pleasant little bonus as a substitute of the principle promoting level. Atmos offers me a pleasant, immersive soundscape that overhead sounds solely construct on. Even when you do not have these Atmos audio system, the Atmos combine nonetheless represents good high quality. The good half a couple of soundbar is that it is very simple to maneuver one from room to room, so perhaps you may get one arrange in a room with some decrease ceilings and actually check out what these upfiring audio system are able to. I’ve TVs in a number of rooms, however my lounge is the place I do most of my viewing, so it would be a bummer if my ceiling wasn’t as much as snuff there, nevertheless it’s really the room in my home with the tallest ceilings.

On the finish of the day, Atmos is Atmos, regardless of the shape you get it in. Some variations are higher than others, and even the identical format is best underneath sure circumstances. In case your ceiling is just too tall or too quick, I say do not sweat it. If the audio sounds horrible, clearly, you need to do one thing, however I do not assume that’ll be the case.