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An Atmos version of the same layout (as you see in my virtual system) The angles are key, I moved the top middle ceiling speakers a little more in toward the center of the room to separate them from the surround speakers and between the first and second rows. They also can double as VOG channels for Auro 3D that way. Front and rear height channels are mounted above the front L-R and rear L-R channels and center height above the center for a total of 7 height channels in my layout. I didn’t use active speakers for top middle and center height, too big for my ceiling, but I did use the smaller Paradigm speakers that most closely matched my actives (same tweeters):

@kota1 that is the best set up I've screen, I know you don't want equal angles from front and back as most layouts have. I realize it us much better to have the speakers in the proper physical places but how do you feel about using DSP to time align the speakers? Delay is the easiest DSP action but what about angle in an Atmos configuration? Since panning is object based is it still so important to have the speakers physically in standard positions around your head?

@donavabdear , I like DSP for time alignment as the last step. In the Dolby diagram they have the MLP toward the rear. I scotched that and moved my MLP equidistant between the front and rear channels, using a tape measure to dial it into the inch and a laser pointer to get the angles of the height channels aligned. It didn't take that long. I'll post a diagram of Floyd Toole's home layout and he has the exact same layout. So I use the time alignment feature of DSP after using a tape measure and a laser pointer to get the distances and angles as close as possible. For example my room isn't wide enough to have my side surrounds equidistant so DSP in that case is a big help. As for speakers overhead I think for the top middle, it works. For front and rear height, it isn't ideal. No sense having the sweet spot pointed at the floor right? For front and rear height (which are equidistant from MLP) I find facing them toward the MLP and angled about 30 degrees like in this diagram:

Floyd Toole uses the exact same layout in his home (when in doubt copy Floyd I always say) @mijostyn read the article, Floyd uses curtains as absorbers:

@donavabdear,

For both a speaker and microphone, there are some aspects that cannot be changed with equalization and signal processing. The most predominate is dispersion. This cannot be decoupled from the room though for reproduction, the goal of ATMOS and similar methods is to not only provide a more feature rich reproduction capability, but to dampen the effects of the room. I am a firm believer that even for 2 channel playback, we have not even scratched the surface of what could be done by using more speakers during playback and signal processing.

It is probably people our age dying off or retiring that will bring about some changes in recording. Microphones are picked for their recording pattern and frequency response (tone). There is no reason for the latter any more. It can all be done in post. I remember a presentation on using a microphone array consisting of many microphones with narrower patterns, that were then combined in software. The software could simulate a single microphone of a particular pattern, or provide any number of individual outputs. Is that the future?

In my world, my customers want low distortion, flat on-axis, and smooth predictable off axis, not unlike the Harman research. For recording, mixing, mastering, they can't be second guessing what is in the recording, and what is being enhanced or suppressed due to the playback hardware. For movie/theater sound, they need to know with high confidence how it is going to sound during playback.

For all the bluster in the audiophile community for playback, I do not think we have a good handle on what drives people to prefer X over Y. Hence, while it is useful to discuss sound alteration during playback to suit personal preference, I don't think anyone has a good handle on the controls that would even be offered to the general consumer to provide that tailorable experience. I think this is one place where artificial intelligence will enter our market.

I am sure you are aware there is software to allow studio monitors to simulate other monitors / home systems / cars / etc. We do get customer interest in that area as they assume we could do a better job at it than the present offerings.