DOLBY ATMOS MUSIC IS COOL NOW! | Spatial Audio 2023 Updated Review | Apple Music

Great, PLEASE do more - its like the early days of beatles records (left right split) I buy Bluray ATMOS - your review of WHO's NEXT is bang on what i need to hear, Ill now buy it - so much careless crap - or maybe uneducated crap out there - try Hans Zimmer - Prague for amazing mix- thanks

why would you want anything coming from the center channel? Humans have 2 ears, therefore it makes sense that 2 speakers provide the main audio

please try out the Lahai album by Sampha, especially the the track Only if you want a taste of how amazingly it is mixed (mix by david wrench)

Now that I have the Onkyo TX-NR7100 running the Klipsch Cinema Reference speakers (sans Klipsch sub swapped for a superior 12" Atlantic Technology 500W sealed sub) I just upgraded to Amazon Music Unlimited for Atmos and UHD streaming, and it didn't disappoint! I know the Kilpsch speakers aren't the best for Atmos reproduction, yet for music they've been quite fun listening and can present a quite large and immersive sound stage. I was to pleased to find an Ultra HD Atmos recording from the Danish National Symphony Orchestra (Live) of The Morricone Duel - The most dangerous concert ever!!! Easily the best renditions of Clint Eastwood westerns soundtracks (and others like KIll Bill), Italian style by the incredible Ennio Morricone.

Spatial Audio from Apple music doesn't output in Atmos from Apple music app on my LG Tv.. Also doesn't output atmos on any of my android devices.

Best for me is Amazon music which is half the price of tidal and has similar atmos and 360 content. Although Amazon music has its own issues.

I can’t get over the 3 second delay while playing music on my marantz receiver, so I’ll stick to upmixed stereo. Plus my atmos set up doesn’t have rears so it’s not THAT drastic

As well plugged into the music scene as you are, especially how it relates to the latest integrated home theater technology, have you ever thought about doing an episode covering the pros and cons of the myriad of streaming services, like how well they support various surround formats, lossless formats, or whatever is interesting? BTW I really like the looks of your new listening setup!

I like it, nice review on the Atmos mixed (?) albums! DSoTM could sound sublime in Atmos if done properly, oh the potential! I no longer have an Apple TV, but I checked Amazon to see what they support, and it looks like Amazon music also has Atmos support:

Amazon Music offers a wide variety of music formats. In addition to standard definition (SD) audio, some tracks in the Amazon Music catalog are available in high-definition (HD) and ultra-high-definition (UHD) lossless formats. Amazon Music even offers spatial audio in Dolby Atmost and Sony 360 RA formats. Please note that not every audio track is available in all formats. Only standard definition (SD) is available for the Free and Prime subscription tiers.

I cannot wait to get a 9+ channel AVR (I'm not so patiently waiting for a black Friday deal....hopefully not wishful thinking) to get this setup and check it out. It sounds like I need to make sure it also supports IMAX now that Disney+ is supporting it.

I agree. It is L C R and people are ignoring the center and LFE. 7.1.4 not 6.0.4. Thank you for this. I find it helpful.

I agree the Atmos mixes on Apple Music are getting better and better. I'd like to see more of your reviews

The center channel is avoided because most people’s atmos systems don’t have a as balanced center channel as their front left and right. Plus a phantom center mixed in stereo doesn’t sound the same as actual mono in a Atmos setting. .

To my knowledge DVD Audio was a better mixed because it was more realistic please listen to Grover Washington junior DVD Audio and Sade

Hi Ealan. In your personal preference and opinion which soundstage do you enjoy more for movies and music. Dolby surround or DTS X ?

Yes, very few mixes use the center channel, why is that??? I think it has to do with the effects they use on the vocals that are stereo, so they dont want to disturb that link and get a discussion with the artist or record company. Strangely enough some of the Atmos mixes you mentioned aren't Atmos here in Europe. Like The Who and Taylor Swift. That's odd, isn't it?

When mixing in Atmos I disregard the physical speakers and only concern myself with where in the 3D “ audio dome “ I want that object to be . I use object “ size “ extensively and place vocal objects, , particularly lead vocals , close to the listener to create intimacy of that vocal .

Ok , I’m going to set some things straight for Ealan and others who do not quite grasp what’s going on with Atmos. It is not channel only based . When something appears to be coming out of the front center it is not just coming out of the center channel speaker . Each audio object ( instrument, voice , what have you) is placed in a 3 dimensional space and each space is created by incorporating several speakers to create an audio object that is in essence, a sophisticated static phantom zone placement. The stem , track , audio object is rarely ever reproduced by only one speaker . THAT is how Dolby Atmos works . Also , the mixer can increase the object size to incorporate more speakers .

Thanks for the run down on songs, been curious what songs out there are legit Atmos, because it seems like everyone and their dog has an Atmos mix. I have no idea which ones to focus on.

Here is what I would really like to know. What options do I have for Atmos in my home theater. I have a 7.1.4 setup, but I don't know my options.

What services with what equipment can I use? I have Amazon Music, but can I even do Atmos? If I get Tidal how do I know I can get an Atmos mix to my receiver? For Apple is the only option to have an Apple TV?

Earth Wind and Fire, September came from SACD. Sounded great there, so it was probably easier to translate to Atmos.

What where y playing on sr7015

As you noted, it really depends on the mixer. Steven Wilson is the best. He has made atmos mixes of his own music, Tears for Fears, The Who, Van Morrison's Moondance, Yes... Check out his mix of Aha's "Take on Me." Another great mixer is Greg Penney. He has mixed most of Elton John's catalog in Atmos. His mix of "Rocketman" was considered by other mixers to be a go-to demo track for illustrating the possibilities of Atmos.

Try Point by Yello, I have the Blu-ray, and it's outstanding in Atmos 7.1.4. The best album I've ever heard. Excellent production.

Often the artist/label/publisher specifically request that the vocals NOT be in the center channel. I’m not exactly sure what the concern is, but it has to do with the ability to extract the vocals from the rest of the mix… perhaps it’s too revealing of the extreme manipulation employed to make them sound good. Or, discouraging the easy creation of karaoke versions. I don’t know, but it’s a thing.

Tidal better 🙃🔥

i'll punch dance w/ you! (but maybe not to demi ;) )

Ealan, Have you reviewed the Roku Ultra, Nvidia Shield Pro and the Apple TV 4k? Now that you are experiencing Spatial Audio, I wonder which TV streamer is currently the best for "all of the above" living room entertainment. Thanks a million and all the best to you and yours - Kevin

Also, I you want an amazing Atmos music experience, I highly recommend the album Point by Yello. I couldn't get it in the USA, but I found it on Amazon from England. Well worth the wait!!

I have listened to ' September' by EWF after seeing your contribution above. I was looking forward to be emerged. Usiing a USD 80.000 audio set I was expecting a lot. First I looked for the album but I could only find this specific song within ' Apple spatial audio' so I assume this is the one you mean unless the catalogue is different in Europe. I listened to it after ' Point' by Yello which I allready said sounds incredible. Back to 'September' I managed to listen to it for 15 seconds. It sounded horrible. No tight base vocals likei in the bathroom etc. Did I use the wrong release. It is not my set because as I said ' Yello' sounds superb. Hope to hear

Another solid upload Ealan - love your content.

Genuine 3D audio should be when the music seems to step out of the speakers and immerse you in realistic audio. That for me is listening to say the drummer powering the entire music soundstage but from a specific point. As it would be at a gig/concert/recording.

Rear/surround/height speakers should really just focus on reproducing reflections, reverb etc.

So as a 7.2 multi channel film buff I will be sticking to 2 channel music play back for the foreseeable with phantom centre and broad soundstage courtesy of my very old omni directional speakers with subs.

I'm buying a Denon 3800h what are you thoughts on it , basically i don't want to lose Auro 3D for few bucks , your thoughts on it please 😊😊😊

I also listened to this same list a few days ago with my young kids ages 4 and 5. I generally agree with your review of the Apple Spatial Audio playlist. I was very surprised when September started playing. It was one of the best from the playlist for sure. I thought I had enough of Mariah Carey in the 90s when her songs were all over the radio but Dreamlover sounded nice and different in spatial audio. My kids and I had a fun time listening to it. You definitely should check out the spatial audio version of Everyday is a Winding Road by Sheryl Crow. I believe its further down the playlist and didn't make it to this review of yours. It's one of those songs that was so overplayed back then as well but now it sounds so good in surround format! Easily one of the best spatial audio mixes too.

A Strange Kind of Beautiful by Bruno Major. While there is not a ton going on, it is amazing in Atmos. Much better than stereo weirdly

Once you heard ' Point' by Yello you are convinced

I don’t know but atmos music for me sounds weird.. it makes me dizzy. I still like the live sounds instead when listening to music if its live performance.

I absolutely love and geek out over audio and music but a lot of music is at 440hz frequency which can negatively affect human brains. I just use a audio ripper and get the song in Flac audio and convert it to 432hz and sometimes put it through my equalizer if I notice the vocals aren’t clean as apples hi ress lossless quality.

Most immersive music is mixed in a quad like manner to mimic the old style of immersive audio. Most do not have great center channel speakers and are at times better to use left and right to create the center stage with the actual center to support/fill in the gap. To get the vocals to center remove the back atmos and surrounds in the settings, or form your speakers in an 180 degree curve with speakers closer with the center in small setting but cranked up for poorly mixed tracks. Older 5.1 tracks sound better in this set up epsecially if all the speakers are identical (center included) but doing this until they improve atmos, this will give you an AC3 sound like the old days but wil give you a great wall of sound that mimics live music being played.

@elanosborne Check out the following albums in Dolby Atmos Kx5, C’est Chic, Quest for Fire Skrillex, Surfing with the Alien Joe Satriani, American Beauty Grateful Dead. You’re welcome.

Listen to Point by Yello, great atmos album

Elan, do yourself a favor and listen to the entire “Who’s Next” (Remastered 2022). All selections are very good and several with GREAT Atmos.

This is going to be a long one, I usually don't engadge on comments, but this is a subject that I love and talk all day, First I got hoocked on your videos almos 2 year ago when I started to get in atoms and was looking for a review on great speaker and sew your klipsch videos and love your style (touch of humor)
Any way of course I loved to see another videos not this thumb your top 10 best apple music in spatial audio songs, I agree 100% with everything you said and your video I feed the same way that was the trigger to write this comment. Every Friday evening after work my MO is run home an fire Apple TV Apple Music to see what now on spatial audio. Im talking the liberty to recommend you 10 songs you definitely should try on you amazing theater: 1: Señorita (Shaw Mendes) 2: Im Coming Out (Diana Ross) 3: The Chain (Fleetwood Mac) 4: Thriller (MJ) 5: Wanted Death or Alive (Bon Jovi) 6: I Love you always Forever (Donna Lewis) 7: The Look (Roxette) 8: Take on me (A-Ha) 9: Nothing is going to stop us now (Starship) finally 10: Ironic (Alan's Morissette. Thanks for talking the time to ready my message. See you on your next video.

I was hoping you were going to tell us that there is a way to stream Atmos from our phone to our AVR. It's really a deal breaker for me to have to have the TV on and navigate with the Apple TV remote. The great thing about music streaming is the convenience, and it's just not convenient to stream Atmos yet. I can't understand why it can't be made simpler.

Great video as always. I'm happy to "hear" things are getting better. I plan on doing some atmos listening this weekend. I'll let you know what I think.

Of topic but what size is your tv and viewing distance? It looks like a cool setup.👍

Yep I agree 1000% the older albums shine while the modern albums seemed just upmixed

For a change I like playing the AM spatial music mixes but have noticed there are no discrete sounds coming through my inceiling Atmos speakers. They are working fine but just playing a mix of bed layer and nothing discrete which I expected. Have you experienced the same?

Hi Ealan, Thank you for doing this video. I would like to see more Atmos reviews. I listen to every one of these songs on Apple. Thank you for doing what you do.

Bohemian Rhapsody!

Hi Ealan, i am just getting into hifi and am intrigued by spatial. It's great how you are describing the sounds and where they are coming from. I was curious if it sounds better as a whole in spatial. For example does Taylor 1989 sounds better when playing in spatial vs the regular trac (atmos off)

Found out a couple of days ago that Spatial audio on IOS is a 5.1 mixdown of the .ADA Dolby Atmos music file that's then upmixed to Apple Spatial. However, if you are listening on the Apple TV or macOS out to a receiver and not Airpods, it is the actual Atmos .ADA file. Tidal plays the original Atmos file no matter what you listen on. Not sure about the other streaming platforms.

All that being said. The songs are mixed on a proper Atmos rig but there are two versions made. One that will play on a native .ADA Atmos file and another that will play through Apple Spatial. This is because Apple Spatial automatically adds a boost to the lows and highs. So, mixing engineers now have to submit two separate .ADA files.

All this info coming from Adam Audio's channel. There's a Q&A from a recent video.

Yes please do it again!!! This is amazing o have someone who has the tools to dissect it in this manor and I appreciate that you spanned genres!

Thanks Ealan

Production teams are now actually starting to MAKE the music properly ...so now it's NOT a format magic thing... it's an actual mix.

I wonder if people actually understand what and how the tech works... or even know how music is mixed into stereo ..