Important to remember, that Airpod Pro + Apple Music Dolby Atmos isn't technically the same as Dolby Atmos for Headphones because Apple devices use their own Apple's Spatial decoder to decode the Dolby Atmos DD+JOC. The Dolby Atmos decoder doesn't decode DD+JOC to headphones, it's delivered as AC4-IMS (all Android) which is essentially a 2.0 binaural stream using the AC4 Dolby codec. iirc, Apple Music will use AC4-IMS when using non-Airpod/Beats headphones with Apple Music. All streaming services will stream DD+JOC when the consumer playback is Atmos home theatre / soundbars etc.
And...your tv needs to have an Earch HDMI as well. I have a Sonos system (with 300) and an older tv. I haven't found a work around yet (except getting a new tv) for movies. With audio, I just stream apple music through the Sonos app.
I have Amazon Music Unlimited, a Fire TV Cube gen.3, an Android phone that's even Atmos compatible. My AVR is a Cinema 30. I can listen to Atmos Music on the Cube without any problem as long as I operate the Cube via its remote control. But if I try to transfer an Atmos track on my Android phone via the Amazon Music app to the cube, it won't play. On the connected TV I see the progress bar of the respective track with a dashed line for 1-2 seconds, but there is no sound, and then the cube jumps to the next track. If it's Atmos again, the same procedure happens again. Until a stereo track comes on. It will then be played back. In short: Playing Amazon Atmos Music from the Cube to the AVR does work. Choosing the same song on the Android Phone (Amazon Music app) and trying to cast it to the Cube doesn´t work. Why is that?
The 4k firestick defaults at Dolby digital plus, but in a smart tv it shows as multi channel pcm. I'm not sure if Dolby Atmos music is working on Amazon music in them, but I will try them. Tried a best of Dolby Atmos playlist on Atmos compatible Samsung TV, Amazon music app. Only shows as stereo PCM. Tried 4k firestick in same TV, Atmos works, Floyd's Time was multi channel, but not much difference between channels, Skrillex Ratata had some good channel separation and Missy's vocals were moving around the front heights. An Andre 3000 Collab had a nice choir piece that was very open. Good luck working out the streams 🙃
@@audiononsense1611 problem is too many different approaches from streams to be consistent. Even now Amazon music TV app has different look and volume to Amazon music on firestick. My soundbar height is not going to be good at 2x 10w, with 180w LCR, but everything is connected correctly, Even movie Atmos on Disney varies between the TV app and firestick. By the time this is ironed out, we will have Atmos ultra or some nonsense, to start it all off again. My set up has limitations but it works. These are just my findings 🙃
Atmos music does not means better sound, it all depends on the mixing. For instance, I play Lady Gaga’s Always Remember Us This Way via Apple TV to my Sony HT-A9, and the result is bad. But Airplay it to HT-A9 with Sony’s 360 Reality Audio is soooo much better
Dolby Atmos from Mi 12s Ultra is really interesting. Can Upmix in Atmos any stereo track in a way that Tidal Atmos/ 360R does it. I dunno, I'm not impressed, maybe cose i heard 1st Atmos on 7.1.2 sound system and i have binaural music too. I mention that i have Sony Buds with 360 and stereo lossless DTS content too, but also Tidal ( upmix tested on master). SoundCloud,so long, also Fidelio b97 7.1.2 IMAX ( with rear speakers.
That's the biggest problem. Compatibility, your apple TV won't play it but your airplay will. TV streams have similar problems compared to firesticks etc. now TV is the worst though in England. It looks and sounds like VHS 🙃
MacOS supports 7.1.4 speaker layout, so if you have a sound device with at least 12 outputs you can use that for connecting individual speakers and still listen to Dolby Atmos. Which means normal audio cables do work with it as well (Aux or 3.5mm cable: YES). This had already been available well before the video was made.
Hey, this is exactly what I'm looking for! With a setup like this, what source (streaming service I guess) would you use? Would Tidal work? How about movies? Also, would 5.1.2 work or is 7.1.4 minimum. Sorry for dropping all these questions on you, and thanks a lot in advance!
I just bought Peter Gabriel's new album with Atmos blu ray, and I think the dark mix cd on a panny sc602 mini hifi sounds wider than the Blu-ray directly through an Atmos soundbar. My big concern is if head phones are Dolby Atmos ready, why isn't a stereo hifi system, as there are generally only l+r speakers in headphones anyway. Just seems like a market ploy to push Atmos equipment. I think dts has a very good ambience with Blu-ray sound, and could be just as good for music. A few rear/top speaker effects aren't going to push a lot of consumers to move, when a newer better faster stronger option is always ready to launch, as soon as your system is in place🙃
Dolby Atmos is still a fairly new concept! Besides, a stereo hi-fi is designed for stereo music. Hence, the two channels. If one wishes to experience Dolby Atmos, one really needs to go with an av amp that can support as well as bed layer channels support height channels too. Therefore, it has to be at least a 7 channel av/amp. That's 5 ear-level speakers and two up top. However, if one wishes to experience a full bubble of sound, one really needs to go with at least 4 heights. One could always go the Mickey Mouse route and experience object-based audio with reflected bouncy bouncy speakers. Personally, I would rather experience virtual Atmos coming out of a sound bar.
@@Totalplonker it's of interest, but not something I will be looking to build on. SACD, and dvd audio, the list goes on. I'm too old to care, just want good music reproduction 🙃
Good video, couple of months back I bought a used Apple TV 4K for my atmos music as found Tidal on Nvidia Shield hit and miss with library. Amazon Music is weirdest, the native app on Shield does not support Atmos, but works fine Chromecasting to the Shield.
Great video. Good info. There's however no way to get a Dolby signal over Blutooth, via Airplay or otherwise. Why Apple calls it "Spatial Audio" and not Dolby Atmos, and offers more of an extended stereo immersive experience. There is SOMETHING NEW however, which is an HDMI passthrough that can be used on MAC which have an HDMI out. So you no longer have to turn on your TV to listen to Atmos (Allegedly). YOu can also use Apple's USB C to HDMI adapter connected to an AV and you will get very acceptable 5.1 over PCM. That's where we're at.
I wonder can any of you experts explain one question for me, I have a 55’ LG C2 with a LG sound bar with Dolby atmos and also the 2 little Bluetooth speakers, my problem is when I’m watching normal tv or TH-cam the sound is brilliant, but when I’m watching Netflix the sound is crap as in I have to turn volume up a lot more as it’s more muffled on Netflix,
Is your tv Dolby Atmos compatible? If so you'll have to enable the Atmos in the sound settings, and ensure the hdmi cable is in the eArc socket for built in streaming apps to work. Hdmi sockets send the signal to the soundbar, even if TV Atmos is off 🙃
I think the problem comes from Netflix. I know they offer sometimes 2 options for the same audio, one being more balanced so that you can hear the vocals without playing with the volume
Good job, but you missed the easiest hdmi test: streaming the music apps via their tv apps (without buying a streaming device like an Apple TV). Do the apps only offer it on Dolby-atmos enabled tvs?
I’ve tested Atmos with my Bluetooth headphones (by forcing via Apple Music) and the result really isn’t convincing. I think I would need to get headphones made for this purpose
An Atmos pass through phone is designed for listening via headphones. Btw its totally different from a separate source of surround sound system. If you still having a problems list your equipment and I'll see if I can help you
I've just downloaded and installed Dolby Atmos for my PC. I'm listening through a USB interface, and Audio Technica ATH-M50x headphones and EVERYTHING sounds... "better"? I'm a musician and producer, with 40 years experience and 80 albums under my belt. I play old stereo mixes that I know were very good (because I made them), and the sound just comes alive, with instruments separated better than I managed on my own! I have no idea what Atmos is doing, but I think I have to now figure out how to include it in everything I make from here on.
PS5, plus a Pulse Elite headset running at 2.4ghz via its dongle rather than Bluetooth is way better for Spacial Audio on the native Apple Music app, I cancelled my Spotify subscription and never looked back.
I realize the stereo is technically 2 dimensional but on a good recording on a high performance stereo can sound three dimensional without the gimmicky Atmos treatment. I have tried Atmos music at home and I personally prefer stereo. That’s just me.
I listened 1:14 into the video and there you made your first wrong claim so I stopped because what else is the wrong, after all your time making this video ? My 2 channel system plays a 3D soundstage for me. There is stereo, left to right, there is depth that extends way behind my system, and goes a feet or two in front of the system. The stereo has high, meaning some instruments are higher in the stereo, or lower than others. In other words my stereo creates a huge 3 dimensional soundstage in front of me. You were saying ?
its crazy, you tested sooo much and its still confusing and not really useable in real life. there are to many companys out there, doing there own stuff
Atmos music is a joke. If done properly (mixed and mastered) all the speakers would emulate a band and the way they setup on stage. That said if you could convince record companies to just get two channel done right that would be a great restart. Too much crap is produced these days with over production... I'm out...
@@audiononsense1611 I'd be hoping for a separation of twin guitar bands, and crash cymbals in the heights, and drums going around the base speakers. Definitely kick drum from the sub, and snare central. Keyboards, horns etc could move around better as well. Some simple stereo mixes give a good ambience without all the bells and whistles 🙃
@@audiononsense1611 I bought the Peter Gabriel album as I am a lifelong fan, but the bright side mix is the best of this mediocre album. His Melt album from 1980 has a better stereo mix, than the I/o Atmos mix🙃
Hmm, yet, if a recording can be converted, it has. Most new recordings are also recorded with it in mind and mixed Atmos. Most classical is now Atmos. Keep in mind, the data also has the stereo mix too. So it is always there. Your vanilla ice-cream will never go away. I like vanilla but also other mixes too!
Important to remember, that Airpod Pro + Apple Music Dolby Atmos isn't technically the same as Dolby Atmos for Headphones because Apple devices use their own Apple's Spatial decoder to decode the Dolby Atmos DD+JOC. The Dolby Atmos decoder doesn't decode DD+JOC to headphones, it's delivered as AC4-IMS (all Android) which is essentially a 2.0 binaural stream using the AC4 Dolby codec. iirc, Apple Music will use AC4-IMS when using non-Airpod/Beats headphones with Apple Music. All streaming services will stream DD+JOC when the consumer playback is Atmos home theatre / soundbars etc.
And...your tv needs to have an Earch HDMI as well. I have a Sonos system (with 300) and an older tv. I haven't found a work around yet (except getting a new tv) for movies. With audio, I just stream apple music through the Sonos app.
Doesn't the Sonos have hdmi inputs? That's where you would hear a difference 🙃
I have Amazon Music Unlimited, a Fire TV Cube gen.3, an Android phone that's even Atmos compatible. My AVR is a Cinema 30.
I can listen to Atmos Music on the Cube without any problem as long as I operate the Cube via its remote control.
But if I try to transfer an Atmos track on my Android phone via the Amazon Music app to the cube, it won't play. On the connected TV I see the progress bar of the respective track with a dashed line for 1-2 seconds, but there is no sound, and then the cube jumps to the next track. If it's Atmos again, the same procedure happens again. Until a stereo track comes on. It will then be played back.
In short: Playing Amazon Atmos Music from the Cube to the AVR does work. Choosing the same song on the Android Phone (Amazon Music app) and trying to cast it to the Cube doesn´t work. Why is that?
What are the two light bars next to your TV?
They are called LIFX Beams
@@JonahMatthes Thank you!
Great video Jonah 👍🏽
The 4k firestick defaults at Dolby digital plus, but in a smart tv it shows as multi channel pcm. I'm not sure if Dolby Atmos music is working on Amazon music in them, but I will try them. Tried a best of Dolby Atmos playlist on Atmos compatible Samsung TV, Amazon music app. Only shows as stereo PCM. Tried 4k firestick in same TV, Atmos works, Floyd's Time was multi channel, but not much difference between channels, Skrillex Ratata had some good channel separation and Missy's vocals were moving around the front heights. An Andre 3000 Collab had a nice choir piece that was very open. Good luck working out the streams 🙃
Your problem is gear and setup...
@@audiononsense1611 problem is too many different approaches from streams to be consistent. Even now Amazon music TV app has different look and volume to Amazon music on firestick. My soundbar height is not going to be good at 2x 10w, with 180w LCR, but everything is connected correctly, Even movie Atmos on Disney varies between the TV app and firestick. By the time this is ironed out, we will have Atmos ultra or some nonsense, to start it all off again. My set up has limitations but it works. These are just my findings 🙃
Atmos music does not means better sound, it all depends on the mixing. For instance, I play Lady Gaga’s Always Remember Us This Way via Apple TV to my Sony HT-A9, and the result is bad. But Airplay it to HT-A9 with Sony’s 360 Reality Audio is soooo much better
Dolby Atmos from Mi 12s Ultra is really interesting. Can Upmix in Atmos any stereo track in a way that Tidal Atmos/ 360R does it. I dunno, I'm not impressed, maybe cose i heard 1st Atmos on 7.1.2 sound system and i have binaural music too.
I mention that i have Sony Buds with 360 and stereo lossless DTS content too, but also Tidal ( upmix tested on master). SoundCloud,so long, also Fidelio b97 7.1.2 IMAX ( with rear speakers.
Works on 4k fire stick Floyd's Time, but not Coldplay which defaults back to Amazon music title.
That's the biggest problem. Compatibility, your apple TV won't play it but your airplay will. TV streams have similar problems compared to firesticks etc. now TV is the worst though in England. It looks and sounds like VHS 🙃
I tried to use the Tidal app on the fire TV cube and it would not allow the app. Any suggestions? Help!
MacOS supports 7.1.4 speaker layout, so if you have a sound device with at least 12 outputs you can use that for connecting individual speakers and still listen to Dolby Atmos. Which means normal audio cables do work with it as well (Aux or 3.5mm cable: YES). This had already been available well before the video was made.
Hey, this is exactly what I'm looking for! With a setup like this, what source (streaming service I guess) would you use? Would Tidal work? How about movies? Also, would 5.1.2 work or is 7.1.4 minimum. Sorry for dropping all these questions on you, and thanks a lot in advance!
I just bought Peter Gabriel's new album with Atmos blu ray, and I think the dark mix cd on a panny sc602 mini hifi sounds wider than the Blu-ray directly through an Atmos soundbar. My big concern is if head phones are Dolby Atmos ready, why isn't a stereo hifi system, as there are generally only l+r speakers in headphones anyway. Just seems like a market ploy to push Atmos equipment. I think dts has a very good ambience with Blu-ray sound, and could be just as good for music. A few rear/top speaker effects aren't going to push a lot of consumers to move, when a newer better faster stronger option is always ready to launch, as soon as your system is in place🙃
Dolby Atmos is still a fairly new concept! Besides, a stereo hi-fi is designed for stereo music. Hence, the two channels. If one wishes to experience Dolby Atmos, one really needs to go with an av amp that can support as well as bed layer channels support height channels too. Therefore, it has to be at least a 7 channel av/amp. That's 5 ear-level speakers and two up top. However, if one wishes to experience a full bubble of sound, one really needs to go with at least 4 heights. One could always go the Mickey Mouse route and experience object-based audio with reflected bouncy bouncy speakers. Personally, I would rather experience virtual Atmos coming out of a sound bar.
@@Totalplonker it's of interest, but not something I will be looking to build on. SACD, and dvd audio, the list goes on. I'm too old to care, just want good music reproduction 🙃
Good video, couple of months back I bought a used Apple TV 4K for my atmos music as found Tidal on Nvidia Shield hit and miss with library. Amazon Music is weirdest, the native app on Shield does not support Atmos, but works fine Chromecasting to the Shield.
Great video. Good info. There's however no way to get a Dolby signal over Blutooth, via Airplay or otherwise. Why Apple calls it "Spatial Audio" and not Dolby Atmos, and offers more of an extended stereo immersive experience. There is SOMETHING NEW however, which is an HDMI passthrough that can be used on MAC which have an HDMI out. So you no longer have to turn on your TV to listen to Atmos (Allegedly). YOu can also use Apple's USB C to HDMI adapter connected to an AV and you will get very acceptable 5.1 over PCM. That's where we're at.
I wonder can any of you experts explain one question for me, I have a 55’ LG C2 with a LG sound bar with Dolby atmos and also the 2 little Bluetooth speakers, my problem is when I’m watching normal tv or TH-cam the sound is brilliant, but when I’m watching Netflix the sound is crap as in I have to turn volume up a lot more as it’s more muffled on Netflix,
Is your tv Dolby Atmos compatible? If so you'll have to enable the Atmos in the sound settings, and ensure the hdmi cable is in the eArc socket for built in streaming apps to work. Hdmi sockets send the signal to the soundbar, even if TV Atmos is off 🙃
I think the problem comes from Netflix. I know they offer sometimes 2 options for the same audio, one being more balanced so that you can hear the vocals without playing with the volume
When will your Samsung q990c review be released thanks
After Black Friday! Best Soundbars under $500 is next.
@@JonahMatthes thanks for your Reply looking forward to it
Good job, but you missed the easiest hdmi test: streaming the music apps via their tv apps (without buying a streaming device like an Apple TV). Do the apps only offer it on Dolby-atmos enabled tvs?
Atmos Music only works on a full home theater setup. It will be weird on headphones
I’ve tested Atmos with my Bluetooth headphones (by forcing via Apple Music) and the result really isn’t convincing. I think I would need to get headphones made for this purpose
my phone supports Atmos, my surround sound system supports atmos, i’m using atmos music. and it still won’t work. what do I do?
An Atmos pass through phone is designed for listening via headphones. Btw its totally different from a separate source of surround sound system. If you still having a problems list your equipment and I'll see if I can help you
I've just downloaded and installed Dolby Atmos for my PC. I'm listening through a USB interface, and Audio Technica ATH-M50x headphones and EVERYTHING sounds... "better"?
I'm a musician and producer, with 40 years experience and 80 albums under my belt. I play old stereo mixes that I know were very good (because I made them), and the sound just comes alive, with instruments separated better than I managed on my own!
I have no idea what Atmos is doing, but I think I have to now figure out how to include it in everything I make from here on.
I like this video
PS5, plus a Pulse Elite headset running at 2.4ghz via its dongle rather than Bluetooth is way better for Spacial Audio on the native Apple Music app, I cancelled my Spotify subscription and never looked back.
I realize the stereo is technically 2 dimensional but on a good recording on a high performance stereo can sound three dimensional without the gimmicky Atmos treatment. I have tried Atmos music at home and I personally prefer stereo. That’s just me.
I like both!
Any console support Dolby atmos music?
I think PS5 and Xbox S and x will, but Atmos will probably be in video content, not gameplay, but Dolby digital is supported 🙃
"It doesn't always work" is 100% true because NEVER "works".
I listened 1:14 into the video and there you made your first wrong claim so I stopped because what else is the wrong, after all your time making this video ? My 2 channel system plays a 3D soundstage for me. There is stereo, left to right, there is depth that extends way behind my system, and goes a feet or two in front of the system. The stereo has high, meaning some instruments are higher in the stereo, or lower than others. In other words my stereo creates a huge 3 dimensional soundstage in front of me. You were saying ?
It Can imatate a 3d sound stage but never truly be surround. There is a Big difference u know
its crazy, you tested sooo much and its still confusing and not really useable in real life. there are to many companys out there, doing there own stuff
Atmos music is a joke. If done properly (mixed and mastered) all the speakers would emulate a band and the way they setup on stage. That said if you could convince record companies to just get two channel done right that would be a great restart. Too much crap is produced these days with over production...
I'm out...
@@audiononsense1611 I'd be hoping for a separation of twin guitar bands, and crash cymbals in the heights, and drums going around the base speakers. Definitely kick drum from the sub, and snare central. Keyboards, horns etc could move around better as well. Some simple stereo mixes give a good ambience without all the bells and whistles 🙃
@@audiononsense1611 I bought the Peter Gabriel album as I am a lifelong fan, but the bright side mix is the best of this mediocre album. His Melt album from 1980 has a better stereo mix, than the I/o Atmos mix🙃
ha ha ha ha ha ha .... and they told you the future would be all simple because .... OMG. This is so dumb.
Tantas cosas mal en este video
Well then just maybe the available demo's are not encoded because I dont hear it. And if I dont hear it, I dont buy it. Period.
...on my studio headphones
Atmos is like sony, they dont know how to do software. They may know sound, but everything software related is allways a pain with them
Dolby Atmos sounded exciting 5 years ago today 2024 well its a dead fish in the ocean!
Hmm, yet, if a recording can be converted, it has. Most new recordings are also recorded with it in mind and mixed Atmos. Most classical is now Atmos. Keep in mind, the data also has the stereo mix too. So it is always there. Your vanilla ice-cream will never go away. I like vanilla but also other mixes too!
Tidal music 👎🏼
Why...?
Because Spotify is better
Nice overview. Sorely needed since there's so much confusion and downright false info floating around.