At CEDIA Expo 2014 last week, Dolby stole the show, not just in their own booth, which had an impressive Dolby Atmos demonstration, but in 10 other rooms highlighting and demonstrating Dolby Atmos in the home theater envionment. Dolby Atmos was introduced in theaters in June 2012, but just two years later, the format is already being rolled out to a number of different receivers, preamp/processors and speakers. Dolby Atmos provides a more immersive movie viewing experience by adding height speakers in addition to standard surround sound.
D&M Holdings had quite a few Atmos-compatible products on display including Denon and Marantz receivers and a Marantz preamp/processor, all of which are currently shipping or will begin shipping to consumers this fall. On active display inside their home theater demo was the upcoming flagship Marantz AV7702 preamp/processor ($1,999) paired with two of their MM8077 seven-channel power amplifiers ($2,399). These were driving seven Snell speakers and two Snell subwoofers (no longer available), with four Boston Acoustics HSI 480 in-ceiling speakers ($299/each) handling the height duties. This classifies as a 7.2.4 system in Dolby Atmos parlance (seven surround channels, two subwoofers, and four height speakers).
Demo material at the show was fairly limited (one test disc from Dolby with some trailers and movie clips), but the Marantz/BA/Snell system availed itself well with this material. The sense of spaciousness was almost tangible, and the dynamic range superb. In the Dolby Atmos trailers, rain sprinkled down from above while insects buzzed all around the room. In the "Star Trek Into Darkness" clip, a light breeze blowing above our heads was all we heard while Captain Kirk and Doctor McCoy plunged into the water below, but shortly after that, majestic music swelled to fill the room.
Some vendors were showing off the new Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers which create the illusion of speakers above your head by bouncing sound off the ceiling, but the D&M demo system used discrete ceiling speakers instead. If you have the flexibility and the budget (and the spousal approval), discrete ceiling speakers are probably your best bet. Dolby recommends at least two height speakers, but from hearing repeated demos (including this one), we believe four height speakers is a much better option.
Denon and Marantz have already begun shipping their Dolby Atmos-enabled receivers. The Marantz AV7702 preamp/processor is expected to begin shipping in October.
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