What HiFi and Atmos


A timely article on Dolby Atmos and music.

My one question:  "Is it as good as MQA?"   Yes, it's a ridiculous question.  😁

 

 

erik_squires

create an answer for a problem that doesn’t exist.

It doesn’t exist for you because you took 30 years and $$$ to build a SOA system, simple. You are extremely happy, NP. The problem for me was I didn’t want to spend that much for 2 channel music only. I wanted one system for everything.

Now the problem for the industry, how do you get gen x and z to upgrade from their ear buds? I use an x-box as my atmos source and guess who else does:

Following the onset of Covid-19, activity on digital campfire platforms exploded, especially among Gen Z audiences, roughly defined as those born after 1997 or between the ages of nine and 24 today. In fact, the biggest cultural moments to capture the attention of young audiences in 2020 happened on digital campfire platforms, not traditional social ones:

It’s no accident that many digital campfires are either games or platforms that began as gathering places for gamers. Gaming has spilled over into the broader culture in recent years. Today, “gaming” is not just for “gamers” — it represents a new paradigm for interacting online.

 

@erik_squires 

 

I don’t see why the bee got in your bonnet on this one.  OK, you made your point, you don’t think Atmos will succeed with the general public.  Most of the general public is happy with earbuds and sound bars.  You win.  
   As for multichannel enthusiasts, many enjoy the feeling of being within the mix.  I have a 5.1 in addition to my two channel system and yes I do enjoy recordings specifically mixed to make me feel as if I am in the middle of the Orchestra .  This month Sound and Vision has an article about a guy remixing Tom Petty recordings for Atmos  and he tries to place the listener between the guitarists.  So as for many things in this specialized hobby, most people will greet it with incomprehension, but a small number of us enjoy these developments.  If not for you, fine, but there are more flavors in this ice cream store than chocolate and vanilla

I just dipped my toes into SACD (and Dark Side of Moon made me KEEP it!) on my 5.1 (but mostly 2.1) system. It will NOT replace my 2 channel (CD, not streaming, but likely will also add streaming if I can find reasonably priced FILES I can download to add to my ripped CD for computer playback ease of use). I wonder of if my (new to me) Oppo 103 and Onkyo TX-RZ810 are EQUIPPED to play Dolby Atmos material?

@kraftwerkturbo

Onkyo TX-RZ810 is equipped for Atmos. You can use your Oppo 103 to bitstream Atmos out via HDMI as long as the disc is NOT 4K. Netflix streaming should be fine. What speakers are you using in your current rig? BTW, kraftwerk the band has an outstanding atmos blueray available. I have an Onkyo receiver in the mancave in an atmos setup, they make GREAT receivers:

Surround Processing
Dolby Digital DD, TrueHD, DD+
Dolby Atmos Yes
Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization ---
DTS DTS, HD, HDMA, ES, 96/24
DTS:X Firmware update

@kota1 My current mains are B&W Nautilus 804 and the dot 1 is a Dayton UM18-22 in sealed enclosure driven by ED LT1300 amp.