Is Dolby Atmos Worth It? Does It Make a Difference?

In recent years, we’ve witnessed the increasing presence of Dolby Atmos in the world of audio equipment, from boxes of 4K TVs, display stickers, soundbars, receivers, and even streaming services, like Disney+ or Netflix.

Dolby Atmos is an extraordinary sound experience, and you can now have it in your home. However, many people still wonder, “is Dolby Atmos worth it?”

Dolby Atmos is worth your splurge on upgrading your home theater system due to the immersive, realistic listening experience.

This post is meant to be a way to open your eyes to the different aspects of this sound technology. Stay tuned for more valuable info!

Dolby Atmos Overview

Dolby Atmos studio

Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology that picks up the unique sounds in games or movies and emits the audio via particular speakers in a home theater setup.

Unlike typical audio layouts that relay recorded sounds via all speakers, this format transmits particular arranged object-based audio via specific speakers emulating the real-life 3D occurrence of that object.

The helicopter or airplane is a real example that you might have heard of. With a Dolby Atmos layout, when a helicopter flies in the movie, you will feel like it is passing by from side to side of the ceiling above your head.

This audio technology outputs three-dimensional immersive sound, which is really impressive. It creates the feeling that the sound you hear is coming from all the directions in the room. People call it a 360-degree audio bubble.

To enjoy such an incredible listening experience in your entertainment room requires an Atmos-enabled movie or film (for example, found on iTunes or Netflix), speakers, and a player (like Blu-ray player).

What Does Dolby Atmos System Do?

Height channels + sound object placement

The high-end sound system adds two significant things to your sound experience: audio object placement and height channels.

In old-fashioned surround sound, the sound moves in one direction. Whether you place the center speaker underneath the TV or the left and right speaker above the ceiling’s corners, all the outputs will eventually be on the same level.

Ceiling and low-set speakers play separate roles in an Atmos sound system, creating an immersive spatial music experience.

Instead of hearing sound from a general plain, you’ll notice that the location is discernible.

Do you know how channel height makes a difference for this sound format while maintaining the same surround sound experience? It’s all due to the audio object placement mentioned above.

Sound object placement refers to the ability to emit the sound to a precise point in the room in place of relying on single speaker channels.

In particular, if a plane flies over or someone is talking or playing an instrument, the output will match the object’s exact placement.

The instrument will be on not only the left but also three feet from your left or somewhere behind you. Also, the plane does not only pass from right to left but also over you from one hundred feet.

Is Dolby Atmos Worth It? An Overall Assessment

Now is the time to analyze whether investing in Dolby Laboratories’ products is a wise decision or not and exactly which piece of equipment is worth your money. Let’s walk through everything on this audio system.

Home Theaters

Home theater

In a traditional home surround sound theater, you have 5-7 speakers and a subwoofer serving as a bass output processor organized on a leveled or flat plane.

Meanwhile, Atmos comes with supplementing height channels. These output gates can function via up-firing or ceiling-mounted speakers.

If you’re planning to upgrade your home theater, this option is a worthwhile investment. What can be more exciting than an immersive, realistic movie watching right within your home comfort?

It’s the closest, most equal thing to a genuine cinema experience.

Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray players are the dominant products of Dolby Laboratories, but the AV receivers have also been gaining overwhelming popularity.

Regarding the content of an in-house theater, because there are more and more Atmos-enabled movies, TV shows, and releases, it’s not challenging to find something to watch.

So, is this audio technology worth it? Yes.

TVs

Nowadays, you can find many smart TV models that provide integrated Atmos systems. Though these systems offer higher-quality sound than standard TV speakers, you’ll get only three speakers at most.

Also, there’s no need to buy an expensive piece of equipment to link to Dolby speakers; any regular television will work.

Plus, if you want to buy a TV from this brand, you’ll have to buy its speakers and AV receiver as well to power it all.

The more cost-effective option is to keep your old TV and simply install a Dolby home karaoke system. It’ll give the same high-quality music while being more affordable.

So, is Atmos TV worth it? No.

Laptops

Dolby for laptops

Concerning the worthiness of such a high-end system, laptops are, indeed, a complex concern—Dolby for laptops functions as a typical TV or soundbar.

Whether a low- or high-end model, a Dolby laptop can serve as a laptop yet sometimes act like a smartphone. However, these devices are generally small and include one audio source only.

While the sound is sure to be smooth and accurate, and the immersion and quality are also impressive, you won’t get directional 3D or surround sound as a complete system would offer you.

Of course, it’s an advancement over ordinary audio, yet unless you’re into watching movies and streaming games on your portable computer, it’s not worth that much. So, does this brand value your money in this term? Mostly.

Soundbar

Soundbars are an extraordinary step-up version of integrated stereo speakers for TV sets. They make it effortless to promote your TV’s sound quality.

And an Atmos-compatible soundbar, like Sony HT-Z9F or Sonos Arc, can take it to an even higher-notch level. It’s among the most desired Dolby Laboratories’ products.

You can enjoy 3d surround sound in such an elegant, compact device. Isn’t it amazing?

Plus, the soundbars provide up-firing drivers that let you hear the music from every direction and unique angle.

They can play either usual regular content or Atmos-enabled content. However, though this versatility is a significant advantage, you’ll have to purchase all other devices of this format to activate its soundbars.

Gaming Consoles

You may find gaming consoles somewhat an unfamiliar contender since they require speakers and a TV separately from a console to run.

While most consoles like Xbox encourage gamers to use this audio format to promote the gameplays, some games just can’t handle the music from it.

If you’re a big fan of gaming, such a pro layout will surely enhance the immersion. But remember that not all consoles and games are compatible.

The conclusion in this regard is: Mostly.

Headphones

Headphones need this format to provide better music enjoyment.

Should you frequently use headphones when playing video games or watching movies, those branded products are a rewarding deal. 

Dolby-based headphones are worth their premium prices for a bunch of reasons.

First, this format allows any regular headphones while maintaining immersive, impressive surround sound effects.

Second, some gamers use headphones since they have limited space, whereas others use them when playing or streaming games on a PC or Xbox One.

Either way, headphones stimulate an enormous surround sound layout - the thing that many of you are willing to pay for. Not to mention, the added excitement and fun are worth an investment.

The conclusion is yes, it’s worth your money.

Content

Thousands of films and songs feature sound from Dolby Atmos. Hundreds of DVDs, streaming services, and Blu-Rays alike offer movies and shows compatible with this format.

It is slowly making its way into the world of music streaming services. You can find DVDs that have Blu-Ray options pretty easily.

Yet, traditional and standard audio systems are still the norm. Though this technology aims to turn itself into a standard, we need to wait for a long while.

Is content from DA worth the premium cost? The conclusion is yes.

Conclusion

Dolby has successfully muscled its way into the world of real-time audio. 

Their technology infiltrates prominent sections of the in-house entertainment sphere, from gaming, soundbars, headphones to the general theater setup.

Is Dolby Atmos worth it? Ultimately, if you desire a more mesmeric listening experience, this technology is worth investing in.

If you are still unsure about it, opt for a free trial to reach the correct decision.