Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners ATmos

So I went back and rewatched this video:

Acoustics for Immersive Audio

This is where I heard it the 2nd time (once at CEDIA 2014 and then in this video) about 9.1.2 being preferred over 7.1.4. Now the examples at the ends of the video are obviously a bit more high end as they do 9.1.4 and 9.1.6 and even the first "9" is actually 11 speakers with 2 working both on the left side surround area and 2 for the right side surround (one for each row of seats).

So you would have to be able to drive 2 speakers on each side surround "channel" connection on the receiver to do that or use external amplification.

Anyway, I cobbled together an "updated" Dolby Atmos 9.1.2 diagram showing Dolby's location details in black, and then Anthony Grimani's real-world "tweaks" that he has devised for a really amazing experience.

Below is the stock Atmos 9.1.2 diagram straight from Dolby's website, but then I stripped out the lines and angles, and added Grimani's tweaks in red and a bunch of notes about those tweaks.

Now, this is a configuration for just a single row of seats. The video never touches on a setup for 2 rows of seats that doesn't include 2 more side surround speakers and at least 2 more overhead Atmos speakers, so it puts a limit on people wanting to stay at 11 channels. Anyway, here is the diagram.



One other interesting note is that he likes the side and rear surrounds about 1-2 feet (depending on ceiling height) above ear level, where Dolby likes them right at ear level.

All in all, this just means that you will want to experiment with whatever you decide you want to do. I might just hand on to a pair of QS8s for front wide speakers, and trade in the other pair and VP150 for a pair of on-wall M3s for the ceiling.

One other thing that came up recently is that Grimani has found that being able to point all speakers, even the overhead ones, towards the listing area is critical for getting people into the soundfield (see around the 46 minute mark in the video above). In my CEDIA 2015 video of the super high end Steinway Lyngdorf setup room, you can see that they angled their overhead speakers as well.
Steinway Lyngdorf CEDIA demo video

Hopefully this is at least a clear as mud, and helpful in some shape or form.

So, I walked into my theater where I could compare my own setup, being able to see it visually... And now I wonder if I should take my side surround and move it back just a little bit between the first and second row and put back up the QS8 speakers instead of my M3s. And then take my other two QS8s and turn them into wides up front and then take the remaining m3 speakers and uses overhead speakers for a 9.1.2 setup. I mean if you have an "array" of w side surrounds on each side, which creates a more diffused sound field, why not just use a single QS8, right? Putting it back a little would have the one woofer pointing towards the front row and the other towards the back row.

All I need now is that 11 amplified channel receiver and maybe I wouldn't have to sell any speakers (except for the VP150) and just use what I have...

As someone who has been stuck on Dolby's "requirement" of monopole speakers in all locations, this is a bit of a somewhat welcome surprise to me.

wow cool.
So, M60 and VP160 up front. for the w side would you not use another set of M60 or M22 not be better ?
and M22 on the side surrounds.

I guess Axiom now can create a new speaker line w side and ceiling ATMOS.

On another note I see SVS has an angled ATMOS speaker

Matching speakers all arouND has always been the ideal target, but how many people can actually do that, abd I already have four QS8s sitting in boxes for the past year when I bought four on-wall M3s in preparation for Atmos. So I would use my M60 fronts, VP150 center, QS8 front wides, QS8 side surrounds, M3 rears, and M3 overhead. I wouldn't have to buy anything speaker wise.

I should also note that the M3s are just 1dB less max SPL than the M22 on walls,have the same frequency range, and have a larger 6.5" woofer (I know that the M60s have both a 5.25 and two 6.5" woofers). The M22 can handle 25 more watts, but again, these are for surround and overhead effects, and not the primary L and R upfront speakers. That is why I saved a few bucks and went with the M3s instead of on-wall M22s last year when I bought them.

Very helpful as always. Good graphic.

I found its easiest to search for in-ceiling LCR speakers. Anything called atmos carries a premium it seems. If Axiom went angled it'd save me time looking.....

Of all the guests on HT geeks Grimani is way up there.

Well fizzle-sticks...

I was talking above about a 9.1.2 Atmos layout just to find out that DTS:X, at least in its first iteration, probably won't support a 9.1.2 layout (won't support "wide" speakers). It will still do 7.1.4, but things are starting to trickle out with CES going on and a representative for Trinnov ($$$$) stated that the first firmware release won't support wide speakers, at least for their product, and since they are pretty high end, it isn't looking good for others. I know that over on AVS, several people are pretty much up-in-arms about it because they have charts and manuals stating that their DTS:X upgradable receivers WILL support wide channels with DTS:X...

If DTS:X only supports 7.1.4 out of the gate, who knows how long before it will support 9.1.2...

I guess I should just calm down. It isn't like I am ready to go out and buy a new receiver anyway. Maybe by then it will be different, but I wanted to post the latest "news" since there is no reason not to look at DTS:X at the same time as Atmos.

Is Jan 28 still "X" Day?

So far it is... I've heard rumors of firmware updates sneaking out to a few people early, but those are just rumors.

EDIT:
Updated with source information on dates:



DTS to Launch DTS:X This Month

The only ones getting anything above a 7.1.2 or 5.1.4 setup are the two pre-amps which are able to do 7.1.4, or *possibly* 9.1.2 (still not seeing anything more about wides being or not being supported with the first run of DTS:X. That news came from a Trinnov rep at CES, and since they are pretty high end, it is interesting that they are saying that wides aren't supported since they have pretty capable hardware).

Trinnov is in a tough spot IMO. They brought out high end gear with large price tags. Bring out a much cheaper model with the same capabilities will ruin a good thing, at least on the one hand.