From the day that Walt Disney was so impressed by the Bell Labs’ multiple-microphone stereo recording technology, that he spent a huge fortune so that a small audience could experience surround sound for the first time, in the Flight of the Bumble Bee segment of Fantasia, way back in 1941,  we have been looking for ways to experience  movies in ever more mind gripping detail.

Today, Dolby Atmos brings us a whole different way of creating this field of sound which grabs us, and makes what we watch so much more impressive. We were moved when we could hear a plane fly around us, as it drew us into the action. With the Atmos technology, engineers no longer try to move the object by telling the speakers when to play to create the experience of objects moving around us,  but now tell the 3D Sound-Scape where the object must be and the sound is created in that place. This means that the sound is moving from behind, over your head, and up and down, in the volume of space. You are gripped in a sound field that makes every effect, and the total experience of what you are watching, incredibly more intriguing.

Dolby Technologies tell us :

“Dolby Atmos, by contrast, frees sound from channels. It’s the first cinematic audio format in which sounds exist as individual entities, called audio objects. In Dolby Atmos, any sound—the helicopter, a car screeching around a corner, a melodic bird call—can exist as an independent audio object, free of channel restrictions. They can be precisely placed and moved anywhere in your room, including overhead, to flow above and around you in three-dimensional space.
Through the use of audio objects, overhead sound, and all the richness, clarity, and power of Dolby sound, Dolby Atmos turns your room into an amazing place for entertainment. You’ll feel like you’re inside the action, in ways you’ve never before experienced. “

So you are curious and wonder if this can be true? Visit a Sound and Image store and experience  Atmos for yourself. Be warned though, you might feel the need to upgrade your system on the spot!

Perhaps you would love the Atmos system, and is wondering what is needed to create or upgrade your system to the Atmos standard? Rest assured, it is fairly simple. While it does require height speakers, there is no need to worry about the Better Half getting distressed. In-Ceiling speakers are barely visible, and where it is not possible to add in-ceilings, upward firing options exist. As usual we highly recommend that you evaluate the speaker set up you will require in your room, pick the speakers that appeal to you, both in how they look and sound to you, and then buy the amplifier that is best suited to drive your selection of speakers properly.

If you are new to Home Theatre and want to create your own space, the world is your oyster. You can start with something as affordable as a soundbar,  or go all out with a ‘Dedicated Themed Room’ with all the equipment nicely hidden (except any truly beautiful speakers you may want to show off), cinema chairs, acoustic treatment and all the interior design elements that make up your fantasy. Many of our clients add the Surround Sound into their existing TV-Room/Lounge/Entertainment area and often exercise the option to build the system out over time, to ensure they have good quality sound from day one, and add the effects in bit by bit.

Some of our clients enjoy rooms like these:

Big or small, invisible or the envy of all, Sound and Image Menlyn and Sound and Image Sandton is ready to assist you with your project today.