Two pairs of surround

To test Atmos 7.1.4 you don't need a Atmos True HD signal. It also can be done with compressed Atmos which is used by most streaming services. Therefore I recommend content on AppleTV+. Also their trailers often are Atmos. But of course a true HD signal would give you the best quality of the same number of channels.

There are some set top boxes that support true hd, but you have to get content on it in true HD quality.

And just remember… imo you will hear a remarkable difference between Atmos (compressed or uncompressed) and DD5.1, but the Era300 is ONE speaker as an all in one rear channel solution. It does a good job, but you can't expect such channel separation as with dedicated speakers for each rear channel (side rear, back rear, back highs).

@Rhonny 

Thanks for the mentioned Dolby Atmos content on Amazon Music… I thought there is only Atmos Music content, but the Dolby Labs albums offer great channel testing.

Apple Music i can't test because of missing subscription and Qobuz as far as I know still doesn't offer Atmos on Sonos. Or are there some news about that?

@Schlumpf - apologies, my error. Qobuz doesn’t yet support Dolby Atmos/spacial (I was thinking of high-res). I’ve edited my original post.

So yes, just Amazon Music and Apple Music for testing the Dolby Labs 7.1.4 tracks.

Actually, forgive me in not being specific, I was mainly referring to movies.

Thank you, @Rhonny; will do.

Ah, excellent education for me @Schlumpf comp. vs uncomp Atmos - thank yo8.

I’m a bit bummed to hear the 300 doesn’t live up to it’s hype on sr, br, bh seperation. I guess that is why I’ve returned 3 pairs of 300s with their damn stands. I’m keeping the fourth, because well, I got a severely discounted price from Sonos and I”m too lazy to go get shipping boxes for the stands (AMZ) and the 300s (Sonos.com)

I’m not looking to test the 7.1.4 with content. I want to test the separation the 300s do, with the Arc, with a formal channel test.

Oh, man this was easy and the 7.1.4 is as expected.

1. Why is the L and R “rear surround” more muffled than the L and R “surround” and
2. the more treble/bright surround channel on the outside of the 300.
3. I’d prefer to have the clearer, more treble surround channel on the inside.
4. I have my 300s facing directly towards the tv, not pivoted in to my listening area.

Man, Atmos mixes must be, generally, kind of sucky with compressed Atmos (if that is what I'm hearing from Netflix, Max et al). I have the height channel, perennially on +10, and yeah, there are some atmospherics, but nothing worth all the Atmos hype.

So, if I’m understanding things.

1. You have to have a disk player, that does Atmos TrueHD/or uncompressed.
2. Otherwise, one has a sucky Atmos source signal
3. Is this a fair statement?

Just to mention, I believe that +10 doesn’t necessarily equate to the greatest perception of height. This perception will also depend on the height of your ceiling and if there are any ceiling lights/fans in the way. Sometimes setting it to +10 could send it up at such an acute angle that it reflects down in front of you instead of where you’re sitting. A lower number could in fact send the sound up at an angle that bounces down right at you, making the perception of height that much better. 

The other thing about Dolby Atmos in TV and movies is you get so used to it that the best and only way to really demonstrate how atmospheric and enveloping it is would be to suddenly not have it, then listen for a minute, and then have it come back. This would show just how amazing it is (with the right content of course). This isn’t really possible in practice though, so there is often a feeling of being underwhelmed because you’ve become attuned to it all, when what you are experiencing is actually pretty incredible. 

I think it isn’t as straight forward as that.

Atmos (not virtual atmos) works with upfiring speakers that reflect off the ceiling or physical height/overhead speakers.

The Atmos effect with upfiring speakers is greatly influenced by ceiling height and type, room area size, seating position vs speaker distances because it relies on sound reflected off the ceiling, so the sweet spot for Atmos effects is more reliant on your room and can be harder to achieve. High or beamed ceilings for example can weaken or interrupt the ceiling reflections. Large areas can be difficult to create a coherent sound “bubble” in.

With physical height/ceiling speakers the sound is projected down and speakers can be positioned and/or aimed to create a larger sweet spot more easily.

Then there is the content itself. Dolby Atmos demos are designed and mixed specifically to product the best effects. Across movies, series, music and games the mixes vary from very good to why did they even bother and that is without getting into compressed vs uncompressed.

Top Gun & Dune on my Apple TV account have good Atmos mixes using my AVR with height speakers. The tannoy announcements across the carrier deck are very definitely above the base level of the planes on the carrier deck shots. Previously when having a system using upfiring Atmos, there was a difference but nothing as clear or with the same sense of space and height.

Similarly when gaming, there is a far bigger difference between having physical height speakers than there was with the upfiring system.

The Dolby demos included in the upfiring system, with the rain and storm effects, were good when sat in the right place, but are far more effective with 2 physical height speakers than with the 4 upfiring speakers.