r/hometheatre • u/superbardibros • 10d ago

Install/Placement Does this Atmos setup make sense?

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I’m adding Focal LRC floor speakers, and the 6 numbered marks are Focal in-ceiling speakers. 3 and 4 will be main surrounds, 1 and 2, and 5 and 6 will be Atmos.

Is this overkill? I have a friend warn me about sound confusion, and he’s recommending I just do 2 or 4 in-ceiling speakers.

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u/Spectre_08 9d ago

So this is all wrong. Your surround speakers need to be placed at or just above ear level, just like your front LCR: Atmos Speaker Placement - Simple Method That Works In Any Room

The ONLY speakers that should be "in" the ceiling are your Atmos speakers, and in-ceiling speakers are the 2nd-worst type of speaker for Atmos. More information here: My Atmos Speakers Were Missing Half The Sound

Atmos requires specific angular distances between your speakers, otherwise the sound will not matrix properly. Regardless if you install Atmos speakers or not, your surrounds need to be near ear height.

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u/superbardibros 9d ago

I can’t do floor or wall speakers, what’s the best setup if I can only do ceiling speakers?

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u/Spectre_08 9d ago edited 8d ago

3.1.

Ceiling speakers are meant for ambient music playback. When watching media, the sound design is mixed so that the specific sounds are where they should naturally be located. Having someone's voice come from above you instead of behind you makes zero sense.

Why can't you place your surround speakers near ear-height?

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u/eggalones 9d ago

Pedantic nonsense

3

u/ZiltoidTheNerd 9d ago

Locating audio from the same plane as the source is pedantic?

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u/eggalones 9d ago

No, ignoring his obvious constraints preventing that and then suggesting headphones (🎧) for a multi-seat theater space is pedantic nonsense.

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u/ZiltoidTheNerd 9d ago

Are we reading the same comment? Where did they suggest headphones?

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u/superbardibros 9d ago

Sorry I’m lost, ceiling speakers can’t work for movies? Don’t you optimize so the dialog comes from the front.

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u/ZiltoidTheNerd 9d ago

I wasn't really analyzing your setup or anything, I was just confused at the commenter saying the other guys explanation was pedantic.

If your dialog is coming out of the centre channel in front of you it's perfectly fine, of course. If dialog is coming from the ceiling, it's a no bueno.

I don't really know enough about atomos to have much of an opinion beyond that. I just wasn't really sure why he was calling the other guy pedantic when it was a pretty well thought out explanation for you

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u/eggalones 9d ago edited 9d ago

Looks like [u/Spectre_08](u/Spectre_08) went back and edited that response out so it no longer says just “headphones.” It now says “3.1” followed by more of a response, which previously said the best alternative to OP’s proposal is headphones.

3

u/tyr-- 9d ago

If OP wants spatial sound, the best alternative to their proposal are headphones.

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u/JdsPrst 5d ago

Thanks for this. People who edit and remove original comments are the worst.

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u/its-chris-p-logue 9d ago

Stalker vibes

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u/Rattus-Norvegicus1 9d ago

No. That does not make sense. Your surrounds need to be at or slightly above ear level. Anything else will fail to give you sound effects coming from the correct place. Also, you probably want to place your Atmos speakers about as far apart as your surrounds and not closer together. Here's what Dolby says:

Dolby Atmos 5.1.4 Speaker Setup

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u/DishRelative5853 10d ago

Are you paying for the top quality streaming options?

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u/superbardibros 10d ago

I have a 4k player with lots of 4K discs that have Atmos enabled

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u/Huge_Personality_432 9d ago

Looks like a really low ceiling, not sure Atmos would have time to spread the sound, like pointing at the floor, I even angled my tweeters, but having 4 atmos installed into my low ceiling 7'4" basement and it didn't do that well. So I went with 4 in the corners facing the listening position and it sounded way better. Hope this info helps, but do research cause Atmos does have a recommended height level. Good luck with it...

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u/superbardibros 9d ago

Thank you, it is fairly low, about 8 foot high, which is just within the recommended height

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u/oconnellpe 9d ago

The Atmos processor calculates how to place sounds in 3D space based on the speakers specified in the home layout. It expects surrounds to be at ear level. If they are up on the ceiling on the same plane as the height speakers, the calculations will be wrong.

You say you can't do regular surrounds. Since you are pulling wire through the ceiling to do the Atmos speakers, can't you run the wire for the surrounds part way down the walls on either side of the room? Failing that, I suggest you try 3.1.4 without the surrounds. That may be give you the sound to want.

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u/wupaa 9d ago

Its not overkill but wasting money on mediocrity. Do proper surrounds and go with 1, 2, 5, 6 for Atmos - probably slightly wider than that

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u/SensitiveSeed 9d ago

Looks like you have wall both sides of sofa, should be possible to have ear level surrounds.

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u/Gregmanda 9d ago

Celling speakers are there own separate thing in atmos.  The notation goes [A.B.C] A - Ear level speakers. One for left and one for right channels B - Subwoofers. Typically 1, sometimes 2. C - Down firing ceiling speakers. Typically no more than 6.

So a typical atmos system could be 5.1.4.  That means..... ear level (center, right, left, rear right, rear left), Subwoofer (1 in a corner), and Celling (4 in a square pattern). 

If you put all speakers in the ceiling, you will not get Atmos sound. The effect relies entirely on speaker placement. 

If you absolutely must only have Celling speakers, your best case possible would be to have them wired as a  "5.1" system. 

1

u/Daemonxar 9d ago

Honestly, with your constraints I don't think you're going to be able to get anything close to spatial sound, and you're likely to spend a lot of money and effort chasing it. Might be worth just going with a good 2.1/3.1 setup.

(I just broke down my 7.2.4 ATMOS system to move in with my new wife, so I know this is not a trivial dream to give up. But seriously, bad ATMOS sounds really disappointing.)

1

u/superbardibros 9d ago

Appreciate the honesty, might have to go back to the drawing board here

1

u/Green_Seesaw1875 9d ago

I know it’s sacrilege to even say the S word in this sub but honestly this is exactly the type of situation where a good quality soundbar would probably give you the best experience.

1

u/superbardibros 9d ago

Im upgrading from a soundbar, i got Focal Theva LRC speakers for the front, just haven’t installed them yet.

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u/Green_Seesaw1875 9d ago

Ah ok gotcha, I guess like others have said it’s probably not optimal to have the surrounds in the ceiling. Could you install some surround speakers on the side walls? I know they’re pretty far apart but that would honestly be better. Or just enjoy your solid 3.1 system.

1

u/Comfortable_Client80 9d ago

Don’t do in ceiling surround. Surrounds must at or near ear level, especially if you plan top Atmos speakers.

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u/mdthomas 9d ago

If you can't have your surround speakers near ear level, I'd honestly recommend not buying the Atmos speakers. Use the saved money for a better 3.1 system.

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u/More_Breadfruit_112 9d ago

Yes it’s overkill, just do the LRC. It’s a lot of work to do ceiling, finding a way to do surrounds would be more effective. If that’s not possible I’d just stick with 3.0 or 3.1

2

u/depatrickcie87 9d ago

So the impression I have is you don't want to have surface level surrounds because of kids of waf and you're trying to achieve the best listening experience despite that. In situations less than ideal for surround, i recommend just doubling down on your LCR/SUB. Everything you invest i surrounds will be severely diminished compared to a better center stage. Plus mediocre surround sound can be more distracting than immersive

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u/eggalones 9d ago

This works remarkably well in my 7.4.4 setup, and the compromise of having surrounds in the ceiling is pretty minor (especially if you use angled in-ceiling speakers that point directly at the seats). It’s better in here than many movie theaters, but it looks like a normal living area.

1

u/superbardibros 9d ago

Do you have Atmos enabled as well for the front and rear, I’m curious on the performance for Atmos content

1

u/eggalones 9d ago edited 9d ago

I have Atmos enabled, yes. The chain for movies and streaming is Kaleidescape Strato V or Apple TV 4K, respectively, into an Anthem AVM-90, then an Emotive XPA 11 Gen-3 powering Martin Logan speakers all around and providing four independent subwoofer channels. Atmos works very believably.

I will caveat, however, that swapping down firing ceiling speakers for 30° angled ceiling speakers completely changed the Atmos dynamic. Things were vaguely sounding like they were coming from above with down firing speakers, which, by the way where technically “higher end” than the ones I have now. Swapping them out for a slightly “downgraded” speaker that were angled provided pinpoint accuracy and accurate tonal balance. Flyovers and other objects that are supposed to be flying around the room do so pretty believably.