What is Dolby Atmos? Exploring the World of Immersive Surround Sound

Have you ever been so captivated by lifelike, immersive sound while watching a movie in a theater that you forget everything else around you? The secret behind that incredible experience is Dolby Atmos technology. With Dolby Atmos, sound comes not only from the front but from all directions, surrounding you, creating the sensation that you are right in the middle of the story. Let’s explore how this groundbreaking audio technology works and what benefits it offers to users.

An Overview of the Dolby Digital Brand

In 1976, Dolby introduced sound compression technology called Dolby Stereo Digital, laying the foundation for a revolutionary advance in audio technology. By 1994, this audio technology was renamed Dolby Digital.

Initially, Dolby Digital technology was used in cinemas with 35mm film prints. Over time, it has been widely applied across various fields such as television broadcasting, satellite radio, DVDs, Blu-rays, video games, and home theaters. In this format, audio is transmitted via the AC-3 bit standard, interleaved with video bitstreams and other control data to ensure the best possible output quality.

What is Dolby Atmos?

Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology developed by Dolby in 2012. The sound effects of this system are designed to be much more immersive than conventional stereo systems, even surpassing 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound setups by adding depth, width, and height to the sound field.

How Dolby Atmos Works

Sound from the Dolby Atmos system is a form of metadata that compatible audio devices use to determine which sound source is reproducing certain sounds. With new audio technology and sound editing software, Dolby Atmos can create a 360-degree audio experience, widely used by Hollywood studios. With Dolby Atmos, vivid sound comes from all directions, including overhead, filling the space with incredible clarity, detail, and depth.

The unique sound of Dolby Atmos is achieved by adding speakers or additional enhanced sound channels to your setup. This additional sound source creates a realistic 3D sound hemisphere for the listener. Sound editors can now pinpoint a single sound and move it around, above, and past the listener.

Key Features of Dolby Atmos Technology

• Global Standard: Dolby Atmos has become one of the global audio standards, applied to most HD broadcast programs worldwide and used on nearly all DVDs today. With the development of Dolby Digital Plus from Dolby Digital 5.1, it delivers up to 7.1 surround sound channels across various devices, from TVs to mobile phones.  
• 5.1 Channel Multi-Channel Sound: In pursuit of delivering an excellent audio experience, Dolby developed the 5.1 channel standard with high-quality sound. It provides a 360-degree surround sound experience by expanding traditional stereo channels from the left and right sides.  
• Automatic Stereo Version: The automatic stereo version provided by Dolby Digital ensures you have a great audio experience on any device through the stereo version of your favorite songs, movies, TV shows, and other entertainment content.
• Compatibility with Future Devices: Although Dolby Digital frequently updates its audio versions, devices supporting Dolby Digital technology will remain compatible for many years. This ensures you can confidently equip yourself with a high-quality sound system for long-term use.
• Cutting-Edge Audio Technology: Today, Dolby Atmos audio technology is used in most entertainment content, from movies and music to premium video games. Products integrated with Dolby Atmos audio technology offer an exceptionally high-quality experience.

How to Experience Dolby Atmos Technology?

Dolby Atmos technology is now available on most phones, laptops, and Smart TVs. To experience Dolby Atmos, first, check whether your device supports it. Then, set up your device to use Dolby Atmos technology.

1. For Phones

Some phone models are equipped with Dolby Atmos technology. If you are using an iPhone Xr or newer, you can fully experience this audio quality through Apple Music. The following steps will guide you to enable Dolby Atmos mode on Apple Music:

Step 1: Go to the settings on your device, then select Apple Music.

Step 2: Tap on Dolby Atmos in the interface.

Step 3: You can choose Automatic or Always On. If set to automatic, Apple Music will switch to Dolby Atmos sound for songs using Dolby.

2. For Laptops

To experience Dolby Atmos sound on a laptop, you need to install an application from the Microsoft Store. The steps are as follows:

Step 1: Go to the Microsoft Store, then enter Dolby Access in the search bar.

Step 2: Click Get to install the application.

Step 3: Open the newly installed application and experience it; you will have 7 days to use this app for free.

Where Can You Experience Dolby Atmos Technology? On Which Devices?

1. Dolby Atmos on TVs 

You can experience Dolby Atmos on your TV by equipping it with a soundbar and a Blu-ray player. Then connect the TV to the soundbar and player via HDMI. You can almost immerse yourself in the movie experience with a home theater setup.

2. Dolby Atmos on Mobile Phones and Tablets

Some phones and tablets come pre-installed with Dolby Atmos audio functionality from the manufacturer. You just need to enable it to experience it. Dolby has reversed the audio rendering process combined with an object-based audio platform to create a virtual surround sound experience on mobile platforms.

3. Dolby Atmos on Computers and Laptops

The Dolby Atmos feature for laptops is not free. Microsoft has integrated this audio technology into the Windows operating system, but users must pay to use it. However, you can still try it out through the 30-day free trial feature. To use Dolby Atmos, you need to download the Dolby Access app from the Microsoft Store.

In April 2021, Apple released the iMac model equipped with its Apple M1 chip, featuring a 6-speaker system (4 woofers and 2 tweeters), providing loud, clear sound. The M1 iMac is now also supported by Dolby Atmos audio technology, making your movie-watching and music-listening experiences more lively, realistic, and perfect.

4. Dolby Atmos in Music

Dolby Atmos is no longer limited to movie soundtracks but is increasingly used in music. Since the first Dolby Atmos music disc was released in late 2015, music incorporating this technology has begun streaming.

With the partnership between Dolby and Universal Music Group, thousands of songs by various artists across genres, from pop to classical, have been successfully adapted using Dolby Atmos. You can listen to Dolby Atmos music on your phone, tablet, or laptop through headphones.

5. Dolby Atmos at Home

Installing cinema-style equipment to meet home entertainment needs is quite complex. Instead, you can use an AV receiver compatible with your TV for entertainment with Dolby Atmos. The sound from movies can still be vibrant and deeply immersive as when watching in a theater.

6. Dolby Atmos in Cars

Dolby Atmos provides finely tuned, spatially balanced sound with optimized sweet spot configurations for your car's interior. Dolby works closely with car manufacturers and streaming services to enable drivers to experience music with clearer, deeper, and fuller sound than ever before.