Atmos is getting an improve. At IFA 2023, Dolby introduced a brand new variation on its 3D Audio tech that may apparently be a lot much less fussy about speaker placement. In concept, it means you may put your audio system wherever you have got room, quite than being compelled to revamp the entire residing area round your TV and residential leisure setup.
So how does it work? When will it launch? And can it work as marketed? Discover out right here…
What’s Dolby Atmos FlexConnect?
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is the subsequent era of Dolby Atmos. It goals to ship the identical expertise of Dolby Atmos (i.e. 3D sound by way of the addition of peak channels), however with out specifying the place you have to place your audio system.
Maintain on there. Let’s again up a bit.
Dolby Atmos provides to conventional 5.1 or 7.1 speaker techniques by including peak channels – meaning sounds can’t solely be positioned in entrance, behind or to the aspect of you, however above as effectively. For many dwelling viewers, meaning shopping for a Dolby Atmos-compatible AVR with Atmos Peak Virtualization – this creates the peak impact utilizing audio system on the listener degree, negating the necessity to drill holes in your ceiling and mount audio system up there. These will be fairly inexpensive too (although this stuff are at all times relative), for instance, the superb Denon AVR-X2800H, the Denon AVC-X3800H and the Sony TA-AN1000.
Or you should buy an Atmos speaker package deal that includes upward-firing drivers to mirror hold forth the ceiling and in direction of your listening place to create an overhead impact. These typically come within the type of ‘speaker toppers’ that sit upon your entrance and/or {surround} audio system, and might both be purchased individually or as a part of a full package deal.
In an ideal world, you’d companion your listening-level speaker package deal with two or 4 audio system mounted into your ceiling, making a ‘reference’ normal Dolby Atmos system.
Sound like an excessive amount of effort? You can even get Atmos in a soundbar (this is our listing of the very best Dolby Atmos soundbars). You may doubt you can get a convincing height-and-surround impact from a single supply, however whereas it’s honest to say that you simply’re not going to get a reference-level efficiency on this method, soundbars such because the Sonos Arc (pictured) are surprisingly efficient.
With Atmos so widespread, it is solely pure that Dolby desires to increase it even additional. As a result of FlexConnect helps you to place your audio system wherever you need, it permits for rather more versatile setups. Which may deliver Atmos to extra folks than ever earlier than.
How does Dolby Atmos FlexConnect work?
Dolby demoed FlexConnect on the IFA commerce present in August. To start with, FlexConnect-compatible audio system hearth out a collection of check tones to let the TV know the place they’re positioned and supply data on the room’s total acoustics. This calibration course of takes a number of seconds, and also you solely should repeat it in the event you transfer your audio system or TV.
The TV then exhibits on display screen the place the audio system are positioned so you may examine it is the calibration step has labored accurately.
Then, once you watch one thing, the TV and audio system work in cahoots with one another to regulate the audio to compensate for the audio system’ placement. Place them behind the couch, wedged between the TV cupboard and window ledge, on prime of the bookcase… the audio ought to at all times sound the identical no matter the place they’re put. That is the speculation, anyway.
That is all accomplished wirelessly. At present, there are techniques that contain Atmos being transmitted wirelessly to audio system, however these all require one thing to be wired on to the TV – for Sonos, the Beam (Gen 2) or Arc can ship Atmos alerts to Period 300 audio system however the soundbar needs to be wired to the TV first, Sony’s HT-A9 speaker system has wi-fi Atmos audio system however there’s additionally a transmitter field that is related to a TV, and WiSA expertise can now deal with Atmos, too, for instance with the not too long ago introduced Platin Milan 5.1.4 system, however once more that requires a small transmitter to be related by way of cable to the TV.
There may be one potential draw back: as an alternative of a soundbar, FlexConnect makes use of the TV because the centre channel. As you may know in the event you’ve learn any of our TV evaluations, TV sound is invariably terrible. Even the very best TVs round pale compared to a soundbar. In truth, a few of Sony’s prime TVs can tackle the centre-channel duties in a {surround} system, however they battle to tonally match the audio of the remainder of the audio system within the system, regardless of these TVs being among the best-sounding in the marketplace as we speak.
The centre channel is a very powerful in any {surround} sound setup, as it is the one which handles nearly all dialogue and results, so this being doubtlessly the worst speaker within the system could possibly be an issue for FlexConnect.
We are saying “may” as a result of we’ve not skilled it outdoors of a loud demo space at a commerce present. We’ll know for positive as soon as we begin reviewing Atmos FlexConnect-compatible merchandise.
What units will work with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect?
No Dolby Atmos FLexConnect units have been introduced but, however the tech will launch on TCL TVs. Count on to see it come to extra units from extra manufacturers after that, however in the mean time, Dolby hasn’t introduced any extra companions.
When will Dolby Atmos FlexConnect launch?
These TCL TVs with Atmos FlexConect will launch in 2024. We’re anticipating to listen to much more about FlexConnect at CES in January – we’ll replace this text as quickly as now we have any extra data.
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