What is Dolby Atmos?

Dolby Atmos is a revolutionary object-based spatial audio technology that delivers a truly immersive, three-dimensional soundscape. It adds a crucial vertical dimension to audio, making sound feel like it's coming from all around you, including above.

Instead of being confined to fixed channels like traditional surround sound, Dolby Atmos treats individual sounds as "objects" that can be positioned with pinpoint accuracy in a 3D environment. Whether you're using a dedicated home theatre system, a Dolby Atmos soundbar, or even headphones, this technology creates a spatial sound experience that brings films, music, and games to life with a more realistic and engaging audio experience.

Still curious about Dolby Atmos? This guide will break down everything you need to know, from what Dolby Atmos sound is to what does Dolby Atmos do and how you can experience this incredible technology for yourself.

Dolby Atmos Explained

Dolby Atmos involves three key elements:

Object-based audio: Instead of assigning sounds to specific channels (like in a 5.1 or 7.1 system), Dolby Atmos treats individual sounds as independent "objects" that can move freely in three-dimensional space. This means that sound designers can place these objects with precise accuracy anywhere, giving them the freedom to move them seamlessly from front to back, from left to right, and from floor to ceiling.
Height dimension: It introduces an overhead dimension by using ceiling speakers or upward-firing speakers that bounce sound off the ceiling to simulate sound coming from above. This is the key that breaks the horizontal limitations of traditional surround sound, creating a complete sonic sphere.
3D space: With Dolby Atmos, sound is not just placed and moved along the X (left/right) and Y (front/back) axes; it is also moved along the Z (height) axis, creating a truly immersive audio experience. The combination of precise object placement and the height dimension creates a complete three-dimensional "dome of sound" that surrounds you.

Dolby Atmos vs. Traditional Surround Sound

As mentioned earlier, Dolby Atmos takes surround sound a step further. In basic audio, there’s mono and stereo. Mono uses a single audio channel, while stereo uses two channels (left and right) to create a wider soundstage. Surround Sound is a step up from stereo, integrating additional speakers and 5.1 or 7.1 channels to deliver a greater sense of direction and depth.

A standard 5.1 setup uses a centre speaker, front left/right, and rear left/right speakers, plus a subwoofer. A 7.1 system adds two side speakers. While this creates a 360-degree horizontal soundscape, it’s still flat and lacks the vertical dimension.

That’s where Dolby Atmos takes things to new heights. By mapping audio objects to specific locations in 3D space using a sound "bed" of up to 7.1.2 channels for ambience and core sound, Dolby Atmos can create the illusion of sound moving from any direction, including diagonally or vertically.

Dolby Atmos can also adapt the mix to the playback device and room setup, whether it's a cinema, home theatre, soundbar, or even headphones, so the same audio file sounds good with any setup.

Where You Can Experience Dolby Atmos

You can unlock the magic of Dolby Atmos with a range of audio gear:

Home theatre systems: A dedicated home theatre system with ceiling speakers provides the most authentic Dolby Atmos experience, creating a soundscape that moves around you and even overhead.
Soundbars: The most popular and easiest way to experience Dolby Atmos is with a Dolby Atmos soundbar. These bars, like those from JBL, use upward-firing drivers that reflect sound off your ceiling to simulate sound coming from above, without the need for complex ceiling installations.
Headphones: Dolby Atmos can also be delivered to headphones using binaural rendering, which recreates a 3D sound experience through two-channel audio.
Other devices: Some modern TVs, computers, tablets, and gaming consoles are equipped with Dolby Atmos to provide this advanced audio.

Where You Can Experience Dolby Atmos

You can unlock the magic of Dolby Atmos with a range of audio gear:

Home theatre systems: A dedicated home theatre system with ceiling speakers provides the most authentic Dolby Atmos experience, creating a soundscape that moves around you and even overhead.
Soundbars: The most popular and easiest way to experience Dolby Atmos is with a Dolby Atmos soundbar. These bars, like those from JBL, use upward-firing drivers that reflect sound off your ceiling to simulate sound coming from above, without the need for complex ceiling installations.
Headphones: Dolby Atmos can also be delivered to headphones using binaural rendering, which recreates a 3D sound experience through two-channel audio.
Other devices: Some modern TVs, computers, tablets, and gaming consoles are equipped with Dolby Atmos to provide this advanced audio.

Recap: The Benefits of Dolby Atmos

Is Dolby Atmos worth it? The answer is undoubtedly yes since Dolby Atmos allows you to enjoy:

An immersive listening experience: It creates a more lifelike and engaging sound environment where you feel surrounded by the action. This can truly transform your favourite movies, music, and games into an extraordinary experience.
Enhanced detail: It allows for incredibly precise placement of sounds, bringing out subtle details in movies, music, and games that might have been buried in traditional mixes.
Versatility: A single Dolby Atmos mix can adapt to different speaker setups, from cinemas to headphones, ensuring a consistent experience.

Bring Your Audio to Life with JBL

We believe you should never have to compromise on sound. That’s why our expertly engineered soundbars and speakers are designed to fit your unique needs. Whether you’re throwing a house party or planning a family movie night, JBL has everything you need for an immersive listening experience. Shop at JBL New Zealand today to experience the power of Dolby Atmos.