I'm kind of at a loss reading through this thread. I've had Atmos for a number of years, did it right with overhead ceiling mounted speakers, not the reflecting modules and overall had no problems with hardware or setup issues. I started with a Marantz AV8802a prepro and now a Trinnov Altitude 16.
It all works, it's solid, and gives me no problems.
This is not meant for just AoQ but you do have to use hardware that supports the format
An Oppo 93 or earlier type of player won't cut it since it can't pass the Dolby TrueHD Atmos metadata. Again no offense to anyone here but this was known from the beginning IF one had sifted through the various mfg support info, and even discussed for a long time on AVSForum. An older BD player in this timeframe wouldn't work. For Oppo, it was clearly noted that you need an 103/105 or 203/205 to pass Atmos. Just bitstream alone isn't all that's needed. It has to pass the specific metadata and the chipsets used in earlier players won't. For Atmos, DTS-X, just get a $200 Sony 1100ES UHD player, a AVR with at least HDMI 1.4 and you're good, the Sony also plays SACD & DVDA, unlike some other UHD players.
Atmos works with HDMI 1.4 although in my case both processors and the players are 2.0.
The main issue with Atmos is not the hardware but the mixers use of it an the platform you use! For music, it adds a lot to the surround field.
For movies, how well it enhances the experience highly depends on the studio and specific mix. For example, Disney titles are notorious for having dumbed down Atmos - weaker bass, fixed instead of moving objects - we call it print-out or hard coded mixes since they use fixed 7.x.2 or 7.x.4 channels instead of objects that can move between channels. For Disney, it's mostly fixed channel based. Some movies & Atmos series have very aggressive mixes with lots of moving objects. Some are pretty lame. With the Altitude, they have an object viewer as well as channel level meters in the software which make it easy to see how the movie/music is mixed.
Streaming platforms:
Netflix makes has consistent & good use of Atmos although some are 7.x.2 with limited objects and some like the space/scifi series Another Life has some of the most aggressive use of Atmos' moving objects of any movie or series I've heard.
OTOH, Amazon Prime is a very mixed bag. Their use of Atmos is inconsistent, at any given time, a series will be in Atmos and then it's dropped to just 5.1 with no explanation or logical reasons. For examples, S5 of The Expanse was in Atmos until several days before the last episode when Amazon reverted it to 5.1 for about a month and then back to Atmos again. Go figure. Jack Ryan, Carnival Row, Hanna were the same, it's Atmos for awhile, then 5.1 then back to Atmos. Jack Ryan in Atmos is 99.9% 7.1 anyway; only a brief moment of overhead use even in action scenes. Carnival Row was done pretty good by someone who knows how to use Atmos.
I can't comment on Atmos in Tidal or Amazon Music since I don't use those services. I use Qobuz which hasn't yet streamed Atmos music.
What I am a little surprised about is some of the posts and denigration of Atmos (doomed? - I think not, it's standard in nearly all hardware). Some of these posts remind me of what I read back in the 70s in the quadraphonic era regarding how quad was dumb, a PITA vs stereo, didn't add much, was harder to implement, needed more speakers. Here it is >40 yrs later and all of us are still playing & value our quad recordings. The same arguments that used to diss quadraphonic sound and formats are being used to diss Atmos. I find that rather ironic
I'm 70 so it's not an age thing...you either change gear and add speakers to use new surround technology and surround formats or you don't. But you can't use old gear and expect it to work. I still have and use legacy quad decoders so I'm not abandoning "purist" stereo or quad. Atmos is an addition not a replacement. I use the Altitude to play 5.1/4.0 and stereo too.
Atmos can be thrilling or it can be disappointing...it's up to the studio or recording label, the mixer's creativity or lack of it regardless of movies or music. I have some Atmos music (and movies) that are really mind enhancing
Sounds from all over the place. If you want to hear some of what Atmos can do for music, REM Automatic for the People, Abbey Road, some electronica and if you get your hands on one, the Dolby Atmos demo discs. The muisic clips are amazing! DTS-X and Auro also make for great surround & overhead mixes.
I just had to add my perspective. When done right, immersive audio like Atmos is fantastic, the same as I feel about great quad mixes today & 40 yrs ago. And adding Auromatic or DSU upmixing on top of a great 4.0 SACD like Miles Davis Bitches' Brew really adds to the surround experience.
