Sky HDR / Atmos demo problem.

[Ray+P]

A few months ago I downloaded and played the Sky HDR / Atmos videos. As I only had a 5.1 system at the time I couldn't hear the extra height channels.

Last week I replaced that AVR with a Arcam AVR21 capable of Dolby Atmos. I have two ceiling speakers for the overhead channels.

Playing the same video results in the two height channel sounds coming from left and right rears. I've double checked Dolby Digital + is selected, done a soft reset of the box but nothing will come out of the height channels.

Using the DIRAC Live software I'm able to confirm the system recognises the height channels.

Anyone else had this problem and did you fix it?

[nigea99]

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@Ray+P wrote:

A few months ago I downloaded and played the Sky HDR / Atmos videos. As I only had a 5.1 system at the time I couldn't hear the extra height channels.

Last week I replaced that AVR with a Arcam AVR21 capable of Dolby Atmos. I have two ceiling speakers for the overhead channels.

Playing the same video results in the two height channel sounds coming from left and right rears. I've double checked Dolby Digital + is selected, done a soft reset of the box but nothing will come out of the height channels.

Using the DIRAC Live software I'm able to confirm the system recognises the height channels.

Anyone else had this problem and did you fix it?

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I presume you are referring to the SKY HDR test card video.

I am afraid I can't offer any advice regarding the ARCAM avr or it's software. 

I have a Yamaha 7.1.2 set up & the overheads on the test card are working as expected for me - the only thing I have noted that having a 7 speaker rather than 5 speaker normal level speakers the rear channels come from both the mid rear and full rear channels  but I half expected that. 

My Amp does allow you to test each speaker - which I am guessing the app on yours is doing

Have you been able to download any other test videos to a USB device or other device to test your set up (obviously not via SKY) 

Unfortunately I don't remember finding a similar video that tests a dedicated/separate  sound from every speaker including the overheads. I did find some 7.1 & 5.1 that do

Edit: I found a DTS:X video called dts-sound-unbound-callout-11.1-lossless-(www.demolandia.net) which includes the site name where I got it (& others)  from - however only my Laptop will play the DTS:X sound from the video I found - my TV & Blu-ray players only support the files I have Atmos on

Edit 2: I have just replayed this file through my set up and notice the height speakers has some 'bleed' to  my Centre Speaker using this demo file

I also found a couple of good Atmos demos that use the overheads as part of the overall sound - my favourite is Dolby Amaze    where you deifinitely get fairly distinct rain from the overheads

The file I found is an mt2s file called dolby_amaze_lossless-DWEU

Others include Dolby Horizon which has a spaceship overhead as well as others & Dolby Leaf 

[Ray+P]

@nigea99 , yes, that's the one.

I don't have a mid rear and full rear channels. Just two rear making 5.1. The two ceiling speakers make it 5.1.2.

I have a few Atmos-enabled 4K Blu-rays. Top Gun: Maverick and Sicario being two. Either the overhead effects are very subtle or nothing is coming out.

But using DIRAC Live those channels have a sound trace so they're definitely connected correctly.

Thanks for your suggestions. I have a sound engineer coming Friday so I'll hang on until them.

[nigea99]

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@Ray+P wrote:

@nigea99 , yes, that's the one.

I don't have a mid rear and full rear channels. Just two rear making 5.1. The two ceiling speakers make it 5.1.2.

I have a few Atmos-enabled 4K Blu-rays. Top Gun: Maverick and Sicario being two. Either the overhead effects are very subtle or nothing is coming out.

But using DIRAC Live those channels have a sound trace so they're definitely connected correctly.

Thanks for your suggestions. I have a sound engineer coming Friday so I'll hang on until them.

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Interesting that you mention Sicario  - I don't have the 4K disc but I have the ordinary blu-ray which I  just popped in to see if I scan for a scene (sorry won't be watching through again tonight - although I must get round to it before too long as it is ages since I watched it) - the ordinary blu-ray that has Atmos -started with one of the Dolby Atmos trailers - I can't remember what it is called - it has various glass like Trangles forming a shape alongside the sound

It can be quite dfficult to isolate sounds from overheads when mixed with full surround in other speakers  but the initial truck break through the wall definitely kicked in my overheads as does the explosion at around 6 1/2mins - albeit briefly 

I also had a very quick scan also of my SKY Cinema version of Top Gun Maverick but the use of overheads is very subtle (less than I expected for such a film)

[Ray+P]

Thanks @nigea99. I think you're right that the Atmos effects are quite subtle.

I've been watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom on Sky which supposedly has Atmos. My Arcam detected the signal. I have a cunning plan. I'm going to unplug all my speakers except the overheads and then it will be obvious how much they're outputting.

Sicario is a cracking film but dialogue heavy. The opening scene is definitely one of the louder sections.

[nigea99]

@Ray+P 

when you have got your set up checked (or even before) the Lord of the Rings films use the overheads at many places. 

One that I can quote is the Dragon Firework Scene at around the 16/17m mark in LOTR Fellowship of the Ring  

BTW one thing in general about Atmos (& DTS:X) is that it does provide for much more precise positioning of other (i.e. non overhead) sounds so I generally find it gives a crisper/cleaner sound  & giving a wider sound field.

This actually can provide a really great sound field to films you don't always think of - for example I found the Atmos track on A Secret Garden delightful - the ambient sounds like birdsong really coming alive  . 

This more precise positioning, also, of course, enhances sounds like  gunshots  in action films etc. (The modern version of The Magnificent Seven comes to mind)

[Ray+P]

@nigea99 , thanks for the tip about LOTR. It's available to watch so I'll check the section you suggest and report back in a day or two.

I was impressed with The Matrix which is UHD and Atmos. Maybe I'm expecting to hear too much from the overheads. I did feel at the centre of a globe with that film with sound filling a much larger area than just 5.1.

But that could also be down to a better AVR which has had DIRAC Live run to clean up the effects of my lounge. Dialogue from the centre is much clearer without any chestiness. The bass seems tighter and deeper too.

[Ray+P]

@nigea99 , I'm watching LOTR Fellowship now. Initially the AVR showed the sound signal as DD+.

But after going through the options it detected Atmos. Even in the opening battle sequence I can now hear overhead sounds. Much better. Thanks! 👏

[Ray+P · Accepted solution]

I got so engrossed in LOTR I ended up watching it all the way through. Very enjoyable. I'll watch the other two in the coming days. The Atmos effects are more subtle than I imagined but when they kick in it certainly adds to the whole atmosphere.

And I've finally got the UHD HDR Atmos demo working in my overhead speakers. I imagined the AVR would automatically detect the signal and switch. What I had to do was cycle through to Dolby Surround and then it switched to Dolby Atmos. Both overhead speakers were then correctly identified.

I'll mark this as the answer but I appreciate your help @nigea99 . 👏

[nigea99]

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@Ray+P wrote:

I got so engrossed in LOTR I ended up watching it all the way through. Very enjoyable. I'll watch the other two in the coming days. The Atmos effects are more subtle than I imagined but when they kick in it certainly adds to the whole atmosphere.

And I've finally got the UHD HDR Atmos demo working in my overhead speakers. I imagined the AVR would automatically detect the signal and switch. What I had to do was cycle through to Dolby Surround and then it switched to Dolby Atmos. Both overhead speakers were then correctly identified.

I'll mark this as the answer but I appreciate your help @nigea99 . 👏

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Glad you enjoyed LOTR . 

I definitely think that the sound mixes for LOTR and The Hobbit trilogy make full use of the sound stage without being unnatural. 

BTW should you ever strecth the pocket to get the UHD disks I found the DTS:X on the UHD Harry Potter films  does use the overheads and the wider sound stage to good effect 

On my Yamaha there are, like on yours various sound modes but there is also a 'Straight' mode that uses whatever the source is sending - sorry I didn't think to suggest looking for this or cyscling through modes

Glad you now have it all sorted and I am sure you will enjoy listening using it in future - even if some of the sounds may not be obvious as I I think I stated earlier I think Atmos & DTS:X extend the sound stage and give more precision to sound location - of course how well depends on the sound mixers. 

BTW I think your inclusion of going through the sound modes makes your marked answer as correct    - Marked Answers here are about informing others that may come to read of the solutions 

[Ray+P]

Sky have the Harry Potter films so I'll check those out. Not a big enough fan to buy the 4K disks although I have 30+ of that media.

I have a Naim XS3 to drive the front pair (for music) and the Direct option on the Arcam doesn't work. Odd as it did on the Yamaha. The Naim acts as a power amp in AV mode.

No worries, all sorted. 👍

[nigea99]

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@Ray+P wrote:

Sky have the Harry Potter films so I'll check those out. Not a big enough fan to buy the 4K disks although I have 30+ of that media.

I have a Naim XS3 to drive the front pair (for music) and the Direct option on the Arcam doesn't work. Odd as it did on the Yamaha. The Naim acts as a power amp in AV mode.

No worries, all sorted. 👍

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Unfortunately the Harry Potter UHD films on SKY don't have Atmos - only 5.1 - & to my knowledge no streaming services use DTS:X (DTS' version of Atmos) - hence my mention of the discs but I wouldn't get the discs unles you are a reasonable fan

[Ray+P]

@nigea99 , yes, spotted that this morning. Ho hum. Not enough of a fan to buy the disks.