A new level of sound quality for your TV. Dolby Atmos Soundbar Buyer's Guide: Reviewing the Best Models Available
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If your TV is not particularly gifted in terms of sound, a sound bar will come to your aid. And the one equipped with Dolby Atmos will help you take your sound quality to the next level.
Without going into too much detail, Dolby Atmos-enabled sound bars attempt to recreate the surround sound experience we go to movie theaters for. Most soundbars with Dolby Atmos use upward-firing drivers, creating sound that travels above the listeners' heads, giving the illusion of speakers in the ceiling. As a result, objects visible on the screen - such as helicopters circling overhead or pouring rain - are accompanied with stunning accuracy by sounds from any relevant location.
Over the past couple of years, a variety of Atmos-compatible soundbars have appeared on the market to suit every taste and budget. The more you're willing to buy, the more features you'll get and, most likely, the more speakers you'll have in the box - which promises more immersive sound.
Finding content in Dolby Atmos format is not difficult. In addition to being on 4K Blu-ray discs, Amazon Video and Netflix offer a variety of Atmos-compatible movies and TV programs on demand. Ready to immerse yourself in a Dolby Atmos soundbar? Let's take a look at the best options.
Against
- The middle is a bit weak
- Price
Sony's HT-ST5000 soundbar is truly a game changer. Looking for epic Dolby Atmos audio? You found it. Sophistication of sound is included in the list of advantages of the soundbar with a compact design, as well as ease of setup and operation.
A separate subwoofer and two upward-firing speakers create full-spectrum sound that combines a superior sense of height with power and depth. In addition to watching movies, this soundbar can be used as a wireless speaker thanks to its energetic dynamics. It supports Chromecast and proprietary Hi-Res audio upsampling technology for improved playback of low-quality files.
The Sony Atmos soundbar is priced high, but its amazing sound is worth every penny.
What is Dolby Atmos technology?
In recent years, audio technology has reached incredible heights. From simple stereo systems to 3D sound with Dolby Atmos. This audio format is slowly but surely changing the perception of quality sound when watching movies, gaming and listening to music. Dolby Atmos is the ability to create realistic sound from listening to a movie, video game or audio recording.
This object-based audio system takes TV surround sound to a whole new level by creating a vacuum from which the sound comes out in different parts of the room. Sound comes out through specific speakers in a mono speaker.
An example of an airplane or helicopter is the effect where when using Dolby Atmos, if there is an airplane flying on the screen, you can feel that it is actually flying directly above your head from one side of the room to the other.
Worth knowing! Before you can experience Dolby Atmos on your TV, you must have a Dolby Atmos-enabled movie or music enabled. You can find such content on Netflix and iTunes, which support a Blu-ray player or sound bar with Dolby Atmos.
Against
- Dimensions
- Price
- Requirements for placement
The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar impresses in every way. It is almost 1.3 meters long and noticeably heavier than most competitors, but the increased volume of the case has been used to maximum effect. While most soundbars rely on an external subwoofer, the Ambeo uses larger, more powerful speakers—and this approach works great.
You can expect soul-stirring and completely natural 3D audio, powerful dialogue and powerful bass. The list of physical connections is complemented by Bluetooth 4.2 and Chromecast for streaming. This soundbar is a little tricky to find a place for, and wall-mount brackets aren't included - but once you get the hang of placement, you'll be delighted with the results. This is the best (and most expensive) soundbar we've ever tested.
Full review of Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar
The cheapest soundbar with Dolby Atmos among the best models
The TCL TS8111 soundbar costs up to 21 thousand rubles. It has USB A, mini-Jack (3.5 mm) and optical inputs. The interface also supports Bluetooth.
The second budget soundbar is the Samsung HW-Q600A. It has HDMI input and output, DTS, DTS X, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and of course Dolby Atmos audio encoders. The price of the device is from 20 to 35 thousand rubles.
Against
- Lack of expressiveness of dynamics
- Moody at times
Quite affordable, this soundbar is an excellent option for those who want to enjoy luxurious sound, but are not ready to empty their bank account for it. When developing this model, Sony abandoned upward-firing speakers. The soundbar creates 7.1.2-channel surround sound using sophisticated psychoacoustic technology. They work superbly, immersing the listener in a three-dimensional acoustic space.
The soundbar is easy to calibrate and offers a variety of connections and features. Spotify and Chromecast are available, and you can also count on better signal transmission via Bluetooth thanks to the use of Sony's proprietary LDAC technology.
Can we say that this is a full-fledged Dolby Atmos soundbar? Perhaps it is better to call it a lite version. Its soundscape doesn't boast the all-encompassing feel of the Sennheiser Ambeo, but it's quite convincing, tonally flawless and much friendlier to the owner's wallet.
Soundbar Features and Features with Dolby Atmos
Home soundbars with Dolby Atmos are represented by three numbers, for example, 5.1.2. The first number refers to the number of speakers, the second number is the number of subwoofers, and the third and final number is the number of height speakers.
The overhead speakers are the main distinguishing components of an Atmos setup. Most often, a home Dolby Atmos system will include two or four overhead speakers to give the content a perfect 3D sound experience. The signals that work with Dolby Atmos are Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus.
Another notable aspect of Dolby Atmos is that a speaker with this option will only work in the settings of a personal TV if all components of the existing system support this audio format.
Reference! To identify movies that play in Dolby Atmos, look for the Atmos icon next to the movie title. There are over 100 Dolby Atmos compatible movies available on 4K Blu-ray.
When it comes to gaming, Dolby Atmos is still pretty rare in a soundbar. Overwatch and Star Wars Battlefront are some of the games that support Dolby Atmos. Luckily, gamers can access gaming content using the Dolby Access app on Xbox One and on Windows 10 PCs.
How DOLBY ATMOS surround sound technology works:
Against
- Tiny front display
- Bulky
Yamaha was one of the first to release a soundbar with support for Dolby Atmos technology, so it can be considered the patriarch of the group. However, it has not aged, but has aged like a fine wine and is still impressive. The YSP-5600 packs as many as 46 speakers to create 3D sound comparable to that of a 7.1.2-channel system, creating a colossal acoustic space with precise distribution of all elements.
Yamaha offers a wireless subwoofer as an option, but it's not particularly necessary. If there's one thing this soundbar lacks, it's power. It cannot be called compact, but its impressive dimensions allow it to create energetic bass and subtly capture all changes in dynamics even at high volumes. The model has many connections; Yamaha's excellent MusicCast app supports streaming audio from your smartphone, as well as to other compatible multi-room system components.
Since its release, the YSP-5600 has had many strong competitors, but it has stood the test of time and is as exciting today as it ever was.
All equipment was tested in special “What Hi-Fi?” rooms. https://www.whathifi.com/news/about-us
Prepared based on materials from the What Hi-Fi? portal, January 2020.
This review was read 21,893 times
What is a soundbar?
As TVs became thinner, turning into LCD plasmas, the sound quality from their speakers gradually deteriorated. The reason for the deterioration of sound in a modern TV is quite simple - there is not enough space in the plasma for a powerful sound system.
However, one cannot argue with the fact that the sound quality on many of the most expensive TVs is quite good, but not every person can afford such a TV - as a result, an invention called the “soundbar” appeared.
Mono speakers of modern assembly have almost no wires, and several speakers are installed inside such devices. Due to the internal speakers, the sound comes out from the same place where the TV screen is installed.
Interesting to know! The cost of soundbars with Dolby Atmos support ranges from budget ones in the region of 50-70 dollars and costs from 300 dollars for more modern or new models in 2022.
Factors to consider when choosing a soundbar:
- Availability of inputs for connecting a TV to a soundbar . These can be HDMI, optical or stereo RCA inputs. Before purchasing a soundbar, it is important to check which inputs your TV model supports.
- Bluetooth support . When installing a soundbar, you won’t have to figure out where to hide a lot of tangled wires.
- The number of speakers is important because the quality of the sound signal depends on them.
- Does the panel come with a subwoofer ? This unit provides additional bass boost when watching movies and listening to audio formats.
- Dolby Atmos support for creating a vacuum of pure surround sound.
Note that many sound bars have less power and fewer features than a full audio system. The soundbar is not suitable for a room that is too large or for a person who expects the best audio experience, like in a real movie theater.
How to connect and configure?
To create the optimal Dolby Atmos sound system, first become familiar with the role and position of each speaker. Then choose a center point opposite the sofa or armchairs. Angle the speakers so that they are at ear level when you sit.
To activate Dolby Atmos, follow these recommendations:
- Open the Settings app and select Sounds and Vibration.
- Select Sound Quality and Effects.
- Click on the phrase Dolby Atmos to activate the effect.
- If you want to change the playback mode, click Dolby Atmos and select the audio settings you want.
How much to spend on a mono speaker with Dolby Atmos is an individual question and the amount depends on how picky a person is about sound quality, as well as on what type of content will need to be listened to via TV. For example, for watching action movies, it is more profitable to use a mono speaker with a high volume level and powerful bass.
Xperia 1
Even though Sony has already presented its bets for 2022, the Sony Xperia 1 remains a very powerful terminal. As usual in a Japanese company, it has a screen, cameras and in this case also sound . The terminal runs at full capacity with Snapdragon 855 with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory. It has a triple camera of 12 + 12 + 12 megapixels and a 6.5-inch 4K OLED panel. Its price is 949 euros.
Buy Sony Xperia 1 on Amazon
