Create a complete environment

Audio accounts for 50 percent of the cinema experience. That’s why your sound system and room acoustics are every bit as important as your TV.

Good two-channel stereo can create a holographic space — but with all the sound in front of you. Conventional 5.1- and 7.1-channel surround sound can involve you more deeply in the onscreen action. Dolby Atmos® is a revolutionary new technology that creates an immersive soundscape with audio that can be placed anywhere in the room and even move around you.

Note that some advanced soundbars are enabled with Dolby Atmos and offer an alternative to the traditional setups.

                                                   Traditional surround sound setups

Typical surround sound setups have either 5.1 or 7.1 channels. A 5.1 system has left, right, and center speakers in front, with left and right surround speakers. 

A 7.1 system adds left and right rear surround speakers. The “.1” in these designations is for a subwoofer (sometimes called the low-frequency effects, or LFE, speaker) for the lowest bass. Our speaker setup guide has all the details on placement.   

                                                              Dolby Atmos setups

Dolby Atmos layouts parallel the traditional 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound setups and add height speakers. Adding two height channels creates a 5.1.2 or a 7.1.2 system. Dolby Atmos systems with four height channels are designated 5.1.4 or 7.1.4. 

There are two basic ways to add the height channels. One is to use two or four in-ceiling speakers. The second way is to use special Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers that can be floor or stand mounted. From a placement perspective, these replace the left and right speakers and the left and right surround speakers. 

See the Dolby Atmos speaker setup guide for more detailed information.