- Dolby Atmos has aimed to change how entertainment is created and experienced.
- But, is owning it even neccesary to create the desired effects?
- Read on to learn all about the potential and drawbacks of Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos for Headphones is a relatively cheap ($15) software that enables the full 360-degree spatial experience for movies and gaming.
Atmos for headphones is aimed at Windows 10 and X-Box users and is only available via the Dolby Access App for Windows.
If you do not use those platforms, Dolby Atmos for headphones is not for you.
If you do use Windows 10 and/or X-Box, then you will find some interesting insights, a couple of useful resources and a word of caution about the Atmos for Headphones software. I use a Windows 10 machine so I installed Dolby Access and this is what I found:
Dolby Atmos for Headphones recreates stunning spatial sound in any standard headphone. The immersive experience is immediately evident when viewing movies, gaming and even listening to remastered Dolby Atmos albums.
However, it is not as simple as that. To truly understand what the Atmos for headphones software is all about and whether or not you need it, a full understanding of why the software is required is best.
Dolby Atmos and Headphones Explained
There are in fact, two ways to experience Dolby Atmos with your favourite headphones.
The first, and easiest way is to listen to a Binaural print of an Atmos production on a streaming site. Atmos productions include movies and music.
The benefit of using a streaming site is that you don’t need any Dolby Atmos hardware. Neither do you need the Dolby Access app and Dolby Atmos for headphones software.
Are you ready for a demonstration? Then plug in your headphones, and let’s listen.
Rocket Man by Elton John
Elton John was an early adopter of the Atmos for music format.
While preparing for this article, I had the privilege of sitting with Atmos engineer Paul Caboche at his Devon-based studio.
Rocket Man was mindblowing in Paul’s studio, as were his remixes of Depeche Mode. (Big thanks to Paul for his help with this article).
I was pleased to see my feelings were the same when listening to the Atmos mix in my Sennheiser 650s back at my studio.
Now it is time for you to decide what you think.
When the decoding is handled by a streaming site, there is no need for you to have an Atmos Decoder, the Dolby Access App or the Dolby Atmos for Headphones Software.
The decoded information is played in a standard stereo format. That stereo image recreates a binaural recording and so you perceive the full 360-degree sphere around your head.
You can stream without Dolby Atmos hardware, or the need to use Dolby Atmos for headphones from the following platforms:
- Tidal
- Apple Music
- Amazone Prime
- YouTube
Dolby Atmos for Spotify is allegedly coming soon.
Of course, the binaural system works for movies too. That means you can stream Dolby Atmos Binaural (headphone) mixes from Apple and Amazon Prime, as well as the following platforms:
- Disney +
- Netflix
- Max (Formerly HBO)
- Vudu
If you have any doubt in your mind as to how effective Dolby Atmos can be in your headphones, check out this simple demo from Dolby.
Whatever you decide about the quality of the music mixes or the immersive effect for movies, the question remains…
If you can experience Dolby Atmos with normal headphones, why has Dolby released Dolby Atmos for Headphones? If you know the answer, let us know down in the comments!
Is Dolby Atmos For headphones worth installing?
As mentioned, Dolby Atmos for headphones is cheap — just $15. Atmos for headphones is used with Dolby Atmos to enhance the listener experience.
However, the software is aimed squarely at the Windows 10 and X-Box community. We have already seen how you can enjoy the immersive effect without software, so what does Dolby Atmos for headphones do?
Dolby Access for Headphones enables your Windows 10 PC or Xbox to (supposedly) deliver a premium, immersive audio experience through any set of headphones.
I thought the Atmos for headphones software was merely creating the binaural print that the streaming sites broadcast. However, to my surprise, it is doing more than that.
💡A Word Of Caution: Dolby Access and its bundled Dolby Atmos for headphones feature affect all of your audio sources. That means music files are treated (even when listening to stereo mixes on streaming sites, or via your DAW if you are a producer). While this Dolby effect is welcome when watching films or playing games, it can be very frustrating when you want to listen to a stereo file without the Dolby software adding effects to the audio.
My Review Of Dolby Atmos For Headphones
Being an audio purist, I did not enjoy how Atmos for headphones changed the signal when listening to normal stereo mixes of some of my favorite playlists on Spotify.
Dolby Atmos for headphones has an “intelligent equalizer” which automatically processes signals for “Warmth” “Balance” and “Detail”.
While you may prefer how the software changes your favorite music, I found it too intrusive.
I had to completely de-install the software before I could use my DAW in the recording studio, as the stereo signal was affected there too, which is absolutely a no-go for music producers.
The name “Dolby Atmos for headphones” is, in fact, a little misleading as the Dolby spatial effect can be achieved through streaming binaural stereo images through your everyday headphones and without the software.
If you’re a gamer or avid film buff, Dolby Access, with the optional headphone enhancement, might be worth it.
For me, Dolby Atmos for headphones and Dolby Access was an unnecessary and somewhat intrusive piece of software that made sound engineering decisions that I would have preferred were not there.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed Elton John’s Rocketman, remixed for Atmos. I am in the camp that prefers the new Atmos mix to the original when listened to in stereo and on headphones.
I will check out more Atmos mixes, and I plan on remixing one of my meditation mixes into full Atmos. However, I did not need Access or Atmos for headphones to experience the joy of immersive sound.
Before You Go
While the name can be a little misleading, and the software itself can be viewed as unnecessary and somewhat intrusive, Dolby Atmos for headphones can transform the listening experience for some users. Let us know below if you use it, love it, or hate it!
