To get an unforgettable experience of listening to your favorite content on a modern TV, you can not do without a soundbar. Now you can enjoy your favorite shows and the best movies on your Plasma TV with immersive sound on a mono speaker with Dolby Atmos. The dolby atmos soundbar can be selected from well-known brands such as LG, Sony, Samsung at an affordable cost.
What is a soundbar?
As televisions became thinner and turned into liquid crystal plasmas, the sound quality from their speakers gradually deteriorated. The reason for the deterioration of sound in a modern TV is quite simple – there is not enough room in the plasma for a powerful sound system. However, it cannot be argued that the sound quality on many of the most expensive TVs is quite good, but not everyone can afford such a TV – as a result, an invention called the “soundbar” appeared.
Mono speakers of modern assembly have almost no many wires, and several speakers are installed inside such devices. Due to the internal speakers, the sound comes out from the same place where the TV screen is installed.
Interesting to know! Dolby atmos-enabled soundbars range from $50-$70 budget soundbars to $300+ for newer or newer 2021 models.
Factors to consider when choosing a soundbar:
- The presence of inputs for connecting a TV to a soundbar . These can be HDMI, optical or stereo RCA inputs. Before buying a soundbar, it is important to check which inputs your TV model supports.
- Bluetooth support . When installing a soundbar, you do not have to figure out where to hide a lot of tangled wires.
- The number of speakers is important because the quality of the sound signal depends on them.
- Does the panel come with a subwoofer . This unit provides additional bass boost when watching movies and listening to audio format.
- Support for Dolby Atmos to create a vacuum of surround sound.
Please note that many soundbars have less power and fewer features than a complete audio system. The soundbar is not suitable for a room that is too large or for a person who expects the best sound effect, like in a real cinema.
What is Dolby Atmos technology?
In recent years, sound technology has reached incredible heights. From simple stereo systems to 3D sound with Dolby Atmos. This audio format is slowly but surely changing the perception of high-quality sound when watching movies, gaming and listening to music. Dolby Atmos is the ability to create realistic sound from listening to a movie, video game or audio recording.
This object-based audio system takes TV surround sound to a whole new level by creating a certain vacuum from which sound exits in different parts of the room. The sound comes out through certain speakers in the mono speaker. An example of an airplane or helicopter is the effect when using Dolby Atmos, if an airplane is flying on the screen, you can feel that it actually flies right over your head from one side of the room to the other.
Worth knowing! In order for you to experience Dolby Atmos on your TV, you need to have a Dolby Atmos-enabled movie or music enabled. You can find such content on Netflix and iTunes, which have support for a Blu-ray player or soundbar with Dolby Atmos.
Features and functions of the soundbar with Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos home soundbars are represented by three numbers, such as 5.1.2. The first number refers to the number of speakers, the second number is the number of subwoofers, and the third and last number is the number of height speakers. The height speakers are the main distinguishing components of the Atmos setup. Most often, a Dolby Atmos home system will include two or four overhead speakers to end up listening to content with a perfect 3D sound effect. The signals that work with Dolby Atmos are Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus. Another notable aspect of Dolby Atmos is that a speaker with this option will only work in your personal TV settings if all components in your system support this audio format.
Reference! To identify movies that play in Dolby Atmos, look for the Atmos icon next to the movie title. Over 100 Dolby Atmos compatible movies are available on 4K Blu-ray.
When it comes to gaming, Dolby Atmos is still pretty rare in a soundbar. Overwatch and Star Wars Battlefront are some of the games that support Dolby Atmos. Luckily, gamers can access game content using the Dolby Access app on Xbox One, but on a Windows 10 PC. How DOLBY ATMOS surround sound technology works: https://youtu.be/bKeNJNAzDEU
Review of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars
Soundbars with Dolby Atmos are a great option if you have limited space in your home or don’t want to deal with a lot of wires. Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbars include upward-firing speakers. They bounce sound off the ceiling while the other speakers do their normal job of creating surround sound. Top 10 Soundbars with Dolby Atmos:
- The LG SN10YG is a great all-round soundbar for bringing Dolby Atmos to your living room. System 5.1.2 offers 570W of power. And with the built-in Google Assistant, you can play music and control the soundbar with your voice and no additional hardware is required. The AI Room Calibration feature determines the characteristics of the room to provide the best sound. A person can adaptively control the sound to emphasize low or high frequencies. Minus monocolumns at an expensive price of almost 70 thousand rubles.
- Sonos Arc has a strong reputation in multi-room audio systems, and the new Sonos Arc soundbar will bring Atmos technology to TV. System 5.0.2 has Amazon Alexa built in, so you can play music, set alarms, and more with a simple voice command. The soundbar is Apple AirPlay 2 compatible. To get the most out of your soundbar, Trueplay technology will customize your soundbar and optimize it for your personal use. The disadvantage of the soundbar is that there is no special subwoofer in the kit. The price is 30-40 thousand rubles.
- LG SK9Y is a 5:1 type system with Dolby Atmos support. With this soundbar, the sound is realistic and detailed across all frequency ranges. The total power of the system is 500 watts. The gadget is certified according to the Hi-Res Audio standard. The disadvantage is the cost of 29 thousand rubles.
- The VIZIO SB46312-F6 is an excellent affordable Dolby Atmos soundbar. The 3.1.2 system doesn’t skimp on low frequencies thanks to the 10″ wireless subwoofer driver. All cables are included, so setting up the system is easy. Minus – there is no support for Apple AirPlay 2. The price is 35-45 thousand rubles.
- JBL Bar 9.1 system has a maximum power of 820W, filling the entire room with high-quality sound. 10″ 300W subwoofer that delivers great bass when watching movies. Minus – despite the name, in fact, the system is 5.1.4. The price is 55 thousand rubles.
- The Samsung HW-Q900T 7.1.2 soundbar comes with built-in Amazon Alexa, so you can interact with the popular voice assistant, play music and watch movies. The adaptive sound feature analyzes the content and delivers the best sound for each scene. A special mode will interact with the console to provide optimized and clear directional audio. Minus there is no support for Chromecast or Apple AirPlay Price 50-60 thousand rubles.
- The Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1.4 is two wired rear speakers, along with four upward-firing speakers in the soundbar, to help create a cinematic experience in your living room. Another great feature is the three HDMI inputs so you can use all your soundbar equipment. The cost is about 40 thousand rubles.
- The Sony ST5000 is a 7.1.2 soundbar with powerful 800W sound. Endowed with a full-fledged Dolby Atmos with two upward-firing speakers. Sony also offers several different enhancements for sound quality. ClearAudio+ mode automatically adjusts audio settings. Three HDMI inputs for devices other than TV. There is no support for Apple AirPlay 2 – this is a minus of the system. The cost is almost 80 thousand rubles.
- The Samsung HW-Q800A is a 3.1.2 channel soundbar with Dolby Atmos / DTS:X. Provides a full range of acoustics with 1 subwoofer and 2 uplinks. Perfectly balanced, room-filling sound developed by the leading audio engineers at the California Audio Lab. The price is 40-45 thousand rubles.
- LG SJ3 is a 2:1 soundbar. The rear speakers come with a full 200W subwoofer. The system has a power of 300 watts. There is an auto-off function, due to which the device is in standby mode when the TV is turned off. The device supports both wired and wireless connections. The panel works with Dolby Digital and DTS decoders. You can control the sound system through the remote control. The downside is the lack of an HDMI connector. Price 11500 rubles.
The best LG soundbars supporting Dolby Atmos technology: LG SN9Y – TOP soundbar for TV: https://youtu.be/W5IIapbmCm0 lg sn7y dolby atmos soundbar review: https://youtu.be/hLFFVOvF9L8
The cheapest soundbar with Dolby Atmos among the best models
Soundbar TCL TS8111 costs up to 21 thousand rubles. It has USB A, mini-Jack (3.5 mm) and optical inputs. The interface also supports Bluetooth.
The second budget soundbar is the Samsung HW-Q600A. It has HDMI input and output, DTS, DTS X, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and of course Dolby Atmos audio encoders. The price of the device is from 20 to 35 thousand rubles.
How to connect and set up?
To create an optimal sound system with Dolby Atmos, first understand the role and position of each speaker. Then select a center point opposite the sofa or chairs. Position the speakers at an angle so that they are at ear level when you are seated. Follow these steps to activate Dolby Atmos:
- Open the Settings app and select Sounds and Vibration.
- Select Sound Quality and Effects.
- Click on the phrase Dolby Atmos to activate the effect.
- If you want to change the playback mode, click Dolby Atmos and select your desired audio settings.
How much to spend on a mono speaker with Dolby Atmos is an individual matter and the amount depends on how picky a person is about sound quality, as well as on what type of content you need to listen to on TV. For example, to watch action movies, it is more profitable to use a mono speaker with a high volume level and powerful bass.
