Dolby's new Atmos surround sound system

[ Don LaFontaine ] "Trapped in a world he never made..." [ /Don LaFontaine ]

Are you crazy? That would mean a salary. And insurance. Any Job Provider worth his salt knows the only way to clear a profit is to get rid of the dead-weight humans and all their expensive little wants and needs.

Coming soon: Automatic Popcorn Dispenser. Insert $20.

 

Well...he could work out some sort of trade deal with the local newspaper? "Loud patrons will be whapped exclusively with a rolled-up copy of the Courier-Times."





Now playing on Ariel Stream: Swing Out Sister - Notgonnachange

 

In case any DC-area people care, the Regal Kingstowne now has an Atmos-equipped theater - I was there today and asked if it was set-up and ready to go, and they said yes. It currently has a non-Atmos film, but I suspect the next Atmos flick that rolls through town will play on it. It's their "RPX" screen.

I think "Pacific Rim" is an Atmos movie, so I suspect that'll be on the RPX screen next week...

 

I'll certainly give Atmos a try if possible, but this seems ridiculous. No theater I've been to can get 7.1 right, let alone 5.1. Often times I 'm most impressed by mono repertory prints because that's when the amps will be turned up. Man of Steel in Dolby 7.1 was so pitiful I went home and started Batman and Returns on LD to get the bad experience out of my mind.

I haven't really heard a good sound mix since the old days of Dolby vs. DTS. Would have loved to have seen an 8 channel SDDS film. (If there was equipment that worked.)

Is there anywhere that plays in the re-branded Datasat?

 

What's a newspaper?

 

The last two movies I watched (Man of Steel and Lone Ranger) were so loud that I watched them with my earbuds in. I'd probably miss any nuance that ATMOS might provide.

 

Out of curiosity, I went to the Datasat website and there is no listing for DTS equipped theaters.

 

Exactly. I haven't been able to find any mention of theatrical Datasat other than end credits and posters.

 

Dolby Labs senior vice president Ioan Allen discusses the Atmos system and other things Dolby. If you can stand the host, it's worth a listen.
http://twit.tv/show/home-theater-geeks/168

 

I've been to a couple more Atmos films: "Pacific Rim" and "The Wolverine". I think it sounds good but I can't say it notably improves on "standard" surround. Those flicks came with strong mixes but I'm not sure the Atmos made them work substantially better...

 

I whipped out my SPL app during Man of Steel at the Imax Theater at Universal City, and the peak levels were going past 105-106dB, which I think is borderline-illegal. Pain-inducing levels!

 

I got to hear "Man Of Steel" and "Star Trek-Into Darkness" in Dolby Atmos at a Century XDS screening room...fortunately, the playback levels weren't at stupid-loud levels and I was suitably impressed by the range and nuance both soundtracks displayed...

 

That's funny, I actually stuffed a bit of tissue paper in my ears when I recently saw it. Some cinema's play their movies waaay too loud. (Didn't help that I wasn't in the centre of the cinema either).

 

I posted this June last year on another forum. It was my first impressions of ATMOS and I thought I'd share it here:

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2254413

I saw Dawn of The Planet of The Apes at Crown Casino (Melbourne, Australia) ATMOS theater (Cinema 5). Here were my impressions:

• The Dobly ATMOS trailer was very impressive. The surrounds were a lot more directional than you find in most 7.1 theaters.

They played a combination of two trailers



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlS...eature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_1995464835

• The overall volume of both the trailer and the film was noticeably louder than I've heard at a multiplex in a while. I get the feeling that Crown Village really want to show off ATMOS. This also helped drown out anybody wanting to whisper and chit chat during the film.
  
  
• The ticket price for 1 x Adult was around $22AUD.
  
  
• The ceiling speakers channels did stand out in scenes that had rain. You could hear it coming from above you. It did it's job well in pulling you into the scene.
  
  
• After the film, I did a head count of the speakers I could see: There were two rows of 5 speakers in the ceiling, 15 around the room (5 on each wall) not included what looked like a subwoofer on each side wall.
  
  
• Overall – it was worth paying extra (not that I'm impressed with ticket prices these day at $18AUD for a regular session). Unlike other 7.1 multiplexes in which the surrounds get lost – the sound was clean, powerful, directional as a small home system near ear at home.