.Speakers - 5.2.1 and up? Now hear this.
For years, a 5.1 home theater system was considered the crème de la crème. Not anymore .
A slew of recent technology breakthroughs now take home theater to a level equal to (and in some cases, even better than) the world's finest cinemas. And one of the biggest breakthroughs came by way of Dolby Laboratories.
A few years back, the sound gurus at Dolby figured out a way to make what some call “3D surround sound" via a new technology called Dolby Atmos ("Atmos" as in Atmosphere.) What Dolby Atmos really does is create a layer of sound that not only hovers above the audience, it hovers in different areas above the audience. And it does it so well, you can actually pinpoint specific sounds in specific places in the air.
How to describe it? A great example of everything working together in a home theater with Dolby Atmos might be the 2017 movie, “Dunkirk”. (In this example, the home theater = 5.1.2, where the ".2" = two upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers.)
You're part of a quiet conversation between a small group of worried soldiers on the beach (center speaker). On your left, in the background (left speaker), you hear other soldiers drilling. On the opposite side (right speaker), the steady roar of waves
rolling up the beach whlie gulls circle above (Dolby Atmos) and dive for fish. In the distance, behind the beach (left and right rear speakers), the steady pounding of German 88s is getting closer. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an explosion only 50 yards away and so loud (subwoofer + every speaker), your knees buckle. And then – before you even see them, you hear them – the sounds of a half dozen Messerschmitt 109s coming in low, passing directly overhead (Dolby Atmos) with a deafening roar, as thousands of 30mm shells whistle by before hitting the sand. (Everything, but especially Dolby Atmos.)
We’ve seen folks turn their heads and/or duck when reacting to sounds above by way of Dolby Atmos – it really is that good. To make it happen, you’ll need a Dolby Atmos-enabled receiver and a minimum of two Dolby Atmos enabled speakers (in addition to your other home theater speakers). Dolby Atmos speakers include in-ceiling variations (flush to the ceiling with the bulk hidden behind drywall), on-wall, or toppers that rest on top of your rear speakers. (Today's better movie theaters are Dolby Atmos-equipped, and most new amplifiers come with Dolby Atmos already onboard.)
