Immersive Audio and How to Achieve It

@ghdprentice

I think this comment of yours identifies the point of contention. Playing music and music (movies) by definition is a home theater system.

OK.

The assumption that a home theater system will reproduce music as well, very few of us would agree with.

I would say this is another point of contention. The content creators seem to feel that indeed, a "home theater" system can produce music beautifully. Look at the artists and engineers who have their feet in both worlds. Look at the AES event coming up next week on immersive audio:

https://aes2.org/events-calendar/2023-aes-international-conference-on-spatial-and-immersive-audio/

The studios are converting to immersive audio in droves (because it sucks???):

https://www.mixonline.com/tag/atmos

Most of us want the very best audio playback possible.

OK

That requires the very highest quality and fewest components possible.

That is exactly why the AES, Dolby, THX, etc. have standards. I have to agree with @mahgister that you have to start with acoustics first.

Those of us that have, or tried both know that multichannel is highly compromised with respect to music… so, say for an investment level.

I think you have another point of contention, Atmos/spatial audio/Sony 360 audio drops on Tidal and Apple music are snowballing because... ??

So, I am confused as to what the point is.

My point is to not sink your budget into ONLY a channel based system , include BOTH a channel based AND an object based preamp/processor to enjoy ALL that the streaming services have to offer.

Immersive audio is NOT surround sound, see:

Audio Engineer Stan Kybert:

So how does Dolby Atmos actually work? 

On a technical level, where stereo audio is limited to two channels of output, Atmos offers 128 discrete locations to send audio, which can move and alter at the mixer's requirements, utilising a connection to a supported DAW (Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton). While like 5.1 or 7.1 it uses a surrounding array of speakers for mixing, it doesn't suffer from the former's required numbers of speakers , and as a medium is adaptable to any system with Atmos technology installed.

“It is so much more”, says Stan. “You might have a forward-facing Dolby Atmos mix - drums, bass and vocal - coming at you and then you'll maybe use the Atmos technology to wrap an orchestra around the listener. Or you have extra width. With stereo there is this trend to use wideners but with Atmos it can be as wide as you ever need it and as tall as you ever want it. 

“The tools that Atmos gives me in height, width, depth and sub are everything you need in comparison to stereo. In stereo you are always making sacrifices when mixing, like if you want to hear the guitar you may have to turn the Hammond down. You are constantly having to make decisions and carve out EQs in consideration of what other instrumentation is playing. You don’t need to do that in Atmos as there is enough space for everybody. The music is so dynamic, and it is such a joy to experience.”

https://www.musicradar.com/news/an-audio-engineer-explains-why-dolby-atmos-music-is-definitely-going-to-supersede-stereo

@ghdprentice 

Listen to 25 or 6 to 4 on the album Only the Beginning by Chicago in Dolby Atmos for a good example of having "enough space for everybody":

@drbarney1 

Ok, fair enough. Then you are not an audiophile, or a person dedicated to high end audio. That makes you a normal person. Those of us that are tend to be solitary people that will do every thing possible to get the best possible sound… at the sweet spot. The sweet spot is assumed. Nothing wrong with having a good sounding system that everyone can enjoy… that makes you like most folks. The vast majority of people are not dedicated to the best sound possible. But your going to find those of us that are really dedicated to high sound quality here and on Audio Afficianado and a couple other forums.

@kota1

I am really happy that folks try to employ new technology to old problems. I am actually an early adopter, both in my personal life and professionally for over fifty years. My job was to evaluate new technology and to not adopt to early… or too late. To get technology that gained the most for a appropriate cost.

When evaluating new technology you have to look at what the objectives are and the whole entire picture. So, remember Quadrophonic… four channel sound… they had some good demos and a few albums. But it died. It was too soon.

So, multiple channels comes up again. It is absolutely spectacular for home theater. Which is fundamentally different than audio only at this time… if you are interested in high quality reproduction of music. The video distracts you from the nuances of the music. So, the sound quality is not as important. I have a great home theater system. It is great for home theater, but is completely inadequate compared to my 2 channel audio system.

I am not saying that some day in the future the convergence of home theater and audio only will not happen, I am sure it will. But not for decades.

Great, there are a few albums in Atmos that sound great on a mid-tier home theater system. So what. I have access to millions of albums in red book CD quality and over half a million in high resolution formats that will sound better on a two channel audio system… by far.

What I am very concerned about is sending the message to folks that want a great music system into chasing a dream that is not there yet. If I really want to hear great immersive audio… music… and have $10K, $50K, or $200K, then home theater is not it. End of story.

If I want a home theater that sounds ok with just music… sometimes good, ok, your on.