If thou hast spent any time delving into the realm of home theater wares — be it TVs, soundbars, or full surround-sound systems — perchance thou art well-acquainted with the phrase “Dolby Atmos.” Unveiled in 2012, Dolby Atmos doth stand as one of the most immersive surround-sound formats of our current age.
In the land of consumer technology, a fondness for placing hardware afore software doth reign supreme, and the maze of home theater gadgets is no exception to this rule. (Thou may acquire an 8K TV, but what entertainment canst thou feast thine eyes upon?) Nonetheless, various audiovisual (AV) domains hath proven diligent in keeping pace with the grand Atmos standard. Verily, one can now partake in the glory of Dolby Atmos through select Blu-rays and an array of streaming platforms … including that of Netflix.
In order to revel in the auditory splendor of Atmos through Netflix, thou art required to invest in the priciest Netflix streaming Premium plan. Yet ere we embark upon this journey, let us first dissect Atmos a tad further to gain a deeper comprehension of the foundational elements thou shalt need to partake of Atmos sound.
What manner of sorcery is this that goes by the name of Dolby Atmos, one might ask. We hath expounded upon this revolutionary audio codec ere, but it is well worth revisiting the fundamentals.
Ere the advent of Dolby Atmos, traditional surround-sound configurations most oft bore the designations of 5.1 and 7.1 systems. In a 5.1 arrangement, the “home theater” doth consist of three front speakers denoted as the left, right, and center channels. Two rear speakers (left and right channels) do complement the directional speaker roster, with a subwoofer completing the soundscape for lower frequencies (the .1 in 5.1).
In a 7.1 arrangement, the same speaker and subwoofer layout is maintained, yet another pair of channels is added to the array. These additional speakers may serve as either side-facing “surround” speakers or as extra “height” channels situated above the two front speakers.
Dolby Atmos, for the most part, is a surround format crafted around supplementary, height-centric channels. The upshot? A complete 3D surround-sound adventure that shall transport thee as near to the experience of sitting within a veritable movie theater as is humanly achievable.
Common Atmos configurations encompass 5.1.2, 5.1.4, 7.1.2, and 7.1.4 — with the first numeral representing the primary speaker setup, the second numeral indicating the number of subwoofers in operation, and the final digit denoting the quantity of dedicated Atmos height channels.
Whilst the optimal method to achieve full Dolby Atmos immersion is through dedicated, down-firing ceiling speakers in groupings of two or four, thou can also procure Atmos-ready floor-standing and bookshelf speakers endowed with additional drivers atop the cabinets. These top-mounted speakers doth emit sound upwards toward the ceiling, whence the waves are deflected back down to engender a simulated “height” effect.
Shouldst thou find thyself constrained by limited available space though desiring to draw nigh unto a complete Atmos experience, there doth exist some remarkably splendid Dolby Atmos soundbars meticulously crafted to deliver Atmos sound from their very inception.
One of the most beloved manners in which to savor the mighty majesty of Dolby Atmos sound is through thine Netflix subscription. Alas, for some amongst us, this entails an additional expenditure upfront to commence the festivities. For Netflix hath ensconced Dolby Atmos-laden films and series behind the paywall of their most opulent monthly plan — the $20-a-month Premium tier.
Assuredly, Netflix’s $15.50-a-month Standard plan doth grant thee boundless HD streaming upon two screens concurrently. However, shouldst thou have already invested in an Atmos speaker system or soundbar of grandeur, perchance thou dost possess a splendid 4K TV to match thine exquisite audio setup. For $20 a month, not only doth Netflix’s Premium plan unlock Dolby Atmos sound (for available titles), but thou art also bestowed access to a vast repository of Netflix UHD films and series upon up to four screens at one time.
Having ascended to the ranks of Netflix’s esteemed “Premium” subscribers, the moment of Atmos-infused jubilation draweth nigh. Verily, thou hast attained the Netflix plan of thy dreams; when might the enchanting auditory revelry of Atmos commence?
Primarily, alongside all those Dolby Atmos speakers thou didst painstakingly install this very weekend, to fully engross thyself within the realm of Atmos sound, every single component and connection threading in and out of thine AV receiver, soundbar, and TV must needs be suitably equipped to both handle and disseminate Dolby Atmos.
Shouldst thou intend to access Netflix via a streaming contrivance such as an Apple TV 4K or a Roku Streaming Stick, these devices absolutely must be compatible with Dolby Atmos. The same holds true for whatever HDMI cables (18Gbps or higher) thou dost employ to link said hardware with thine AV receiver or soundbar. And yea, thou hast guessed aright: Thy receiver and soundbar must needs be crafted to process the Atmos codec without fail.
Intendest thou to access Netflix through thine smart TV? Then ensure thy TV is capable of transmitting Dolby Atmos back into thine AV receiver or Atmos soundbar through HDMI ARC. Moreover, verify that the version of Netflix’s app tailored for thine TV (or AV device) is able to fully support Atmos. Indeed, the path may appear daunting, yet in truth, Netflix’s Atmos performance doth fluctuate from one device to the next — a revelation we hath unearthed in our close examination of the format.
As thou peruse Netflix’s library of cinematic marvels and entertaining wonders, those titles available in Dolby Atmos shall proudly showcase an Atmos icon contiguous to their description.
Pray, bear in mind that not every season or episode of a Dolby Atmos-compatible show will embrace Atmos. Furthermore, some linguistic impediments may arise, for not every TV show or film on Netflix doth support Atmos for every available language option.
Withal, is there a definitive manner to discern whether the audio emanating from thine Atmos speakers doth truly bear the hallmark of Atmos sound? In brief, the answer is aye. Most AV receivers and soundbars shall sport some form of display panel that doth proffer a glimpse into the variety of surround sound codec currently being employed. In most instances, thine display shall herald “Atmos” or “Dolby Atmos” when decoding Atmos audio.
Shouldst thou be transmitting Atmos from a smart TV unto an AV receiver or soundbar, there doth exist a fair likelihood that thine TV shall present some manner of swift Atmos indicator when thou embark upon streaming thine Atmos-laden movie or show.
Better still, if thine TV remote dost boast an Info or Status button, upon pressing one such button, thou shouldst espy a modest display upon thine TV screen detailing the resolution being showcased, the refresh rate operational, and the type of audio in play. Should “Atmos” beits appellation in full or in abbreviation, this doth signify that thy TV hath indeed succeeded in sending Netflix-powered Atmos back into thine AV system.
Thou art now prepared, and thou art cognizant that thy setup hath the prowess to generate true Dolby Atmos sound. Yet pray tell, how might one unearth Dolby Atmos content upon Netflix? Be vigilant for the emblem.
Netflix works that support Dolby Atmos shall bear a wee speaker icon with the word “Atmos” beside it. Take heed of this insignia, and thou shalt be assured of receiving the full Atmos sound experience. Shows often accompanied by this auditory marvel include Stranger Things, Black Mirror, Locke & Key, Lost in Space, Ozark, The Umbrella Academy, and more (along with a myriad of films).
Mark well that Netflix titles touting Dolby Atmos also endorse Dolby Vision, thus shouldst thou command a compatible display, thou shalt likewise be regaled with visual enhancements.
Shouldst thou express a desire to enhance thine system to embrace Dolby Atmos, fear not for we hath the perfect starting point for thee: our compendium of the best Atmos-compatible soundbars thou may procure, replete with selections like the Sonos Arc and complete surround-sound systems from Samsung.
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