Dolby Atmos differentiates itself from standard surround sound thanks to its ability to create dynamic sound “Objects”. These objects can then be carefully moved around your living room as you watch. Dolby Atmos sound is capable of creating up to 118 distinct objects at one time, to create a truly convincing sense of audio space!
Designed initially for use in some of the world’s biggest cinemas, Dolby Atmos has been continually refined to work with all kinds of devices and spaces, including your trusty TV in your living room!
Which Devices which make use of Dolby Atmos Technology?
- Televisions
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Soundbars
- Headphones
- Gaming Consoles
In this guide, we’re going to take a look at some of the key benefits of Dolby Atmos, and how you can make the most of the technology in your own home!
What Are The Benefits Of Dolby Atmos?
Convincing Surround Sound
Dolby Atmos Sound is specifically designed to deliver a more immersive surround sound experience in any space. It’s a premium audio format that sends a detailed signal between your TV and a connected sound system. This signal is then decoded, so your chosen sound system can then recreate 3D audio objects that move around.
Dolby Atmos has been refined quite a bit since it was first introduced to cinemas in 2012. You don’t need a super-complex speaker set up just to enjoy it. In fact, many top smart TV models are now equipped with built-in speakers designed to work with Dolby Atmos. So you can simply plug your new TV in and enjoy immersive audio right away.
Improved Clarity
Dolby Atmos sound can generate hundreds of individual sound objects and then position them around your room. This enables you to notice every distinct detail in your favourite audio tracks. It’s particularly great when listening to music. Dolby Atmos sound will position every instrument accurately within your space, so you can hear even the smallest of sounds, like the crash of a cymbal, or the strum of a guitar.
Many top music streaming services now boast full support for Dolby Atmos sound, such as Apple Music. In fact, many classic albums have already been remastered with Dolby Atmos in mind, so you can enjoy some of your favourites as if they were brand new!
It’s also useful when watching your favourite films and shows. It ensures that you can hear every line of dialogue, without it getting lost in the mix!
Accessibility
Dolby Atmos now supports a massive number of devices. It’s also available with a vast array of content. Whether you’re watching your favourite films on a Blu-Ray disc, streaming the latest boxsets on Netflix, or diving into the biggest games, Dolby Atmos is ready to enhance your experience.
Many top smart TV models are now designed with Dolby Atmos support in mind. For instance, some TCL TVs come equipped with finely tuned ONKYO speakers, designed to work effortlessly with Dolby Atmos sound.
How To Access Dolby Atmos On Your TV
Samsung
Dolby Atmos can be toggled on and off from your Samsung TV’s dedicated “Sound” menu.
Home > Menu > Settings > All Settings > Sound > Expert Settings > Dolby Atmos > Toggle on or off
TCL
On your TCL TV, you can toggle Dolby Atmos on and off from the “Audio Processing” menu.
Home > Settings > Display And Sound > Sound > Audio Processing > Dolby Atmos > Toggle on or off
LG
Dolby Atmos can be toggle on and off from the “Advanced Settings” menu on your LG TV.
Home > Settings > Sound > Advanced Settings > Dolby Atmos > Toggle on or off
How To Make The Most Of Dolby Atmos
A Good Sound System
Dolby Atmos sound was originally developed for cinemas to take advantage of multi-speaker set-ups, to create audio that moved around the space. The technology has since been refined to work with fewer speakers while still delivering the full experience.
While we wouldn’t suggest grabbing the hundreds of speakers you’d find in the average cinema, we would recommend boosting your home entertainment setup with a speaker array or soundbar.
While many TVs are equipped with high-quality built-in speakers, nothing beats the experience offered by an external system. If you’re opting for a surround sound setup, we recommend installing some up-firing speakers, which allow audio to travel above you as you listen.
If you don’t have space for a speaker setup, then a compatible soundbar is also a great option. Soundbars are packed full of speakers aimed in different directions, allowing them to accurately recreate 3D sound objects in your room.
The Right Content
What good is a top-quality audio setup without top-quality content? To make the most of Dolby Atmos sound, you’ll want to make sure your content supports the format! Luckily, there’s no shortage of content made with Dolby Atmos in mind.
Many films released on 4K UHD Blu Rays are now equipped with Dolby Atmos support. This lets you easily recreate the cinema experience at home.
A number of major streaming services also support Dolby Atmos, such as Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime. All you need to do is enable Dolby Atmos on your TV and choose an appropriate title. Most services allow you to see if a title is available with Dolby Atmos before you start watching!
Dolby Atmos support is also available when gaming on platforms like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Dolby Atmos sound is great for immersing yourself in the atmosphere of single-player games, and it can even give you a competitive edge online, letting you locate your enemies using just audio!
Use Dolby Atmos FlexConnect
In 2024, Dolby upgraded the Dolby Atmos format to support a new technology known as FlexConnect. Before this upgrade, Dolby Atmos would require that your external speakers were placed in highly specific points in your room in order to get the best experience. FlexConnect allows you to connect any number of speakers to your TV and place them anywhere in your space.
FlexConnect technology does require that you have FlexConnect compatible speakers, as they use special technology to ensure a satisfying experience. When setting up FlexConnect, your compatible speakers will send out a short tone, which allows your TV to work out exactly where each distinct speaker is placed. Using this information, your speakers can then communicate with each other and balance their audio output to ensure a balanced sound experience.
FlexConnect is perfect if you’re looking to create a home theatre in an unconventional living space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Dolby Atmos?
Dolby Atmos is a premium audio format that acts as a natural evolution of popular surround sound audio formats. Dolby Atmos is a surround sound format that offers an extra dimension for sound to take advantage of. Sound not only surrounds users to the sides and the front and back but also surrounds them from above and below. Dolby Atmos allows distinct sound objects to float around an audio space!
Do I Need A Special HDMI Cable For Dolby Atmos?
To make the most of Dolby Atmos sound, you will need to make sure that you are watching HD content through a 2.0 HDMI cable. HDMI 2.0 cables can send sound directly from your TV to an associated sound system, to provide easy access to immersive sound.
Is Dolby Atmos Always On Or Automatic?
In most cases, Dolby Atmos will activate automatically provided it’s being used with a compatible sound system. Simply hook up your Dolby Atmos-supported headphones or speakers to your TV, and start enjoying your favourite content. In some cases, you may need to head to a system menu to activate the sound format.
Does Netflix Have Dolby Atmos Movies?
Yes! Netflix has long been at the forefront when it comes to premium streaming using premium video and audio formats. Many of Netflix’s original TV shows and films can be enjoyed with Dolby Atmos sound, as well as a number of licensed titles on the platform. All you need to do is look out for content that supports it!
