Jump to content

Is Atmos up-firing speakers a gimmick?


spencersmb

Recommended Posts

I just setup my new Denon 4500H receiver and have not invested yet in height speakers. I've read a lot of online reviews about how some think the atmos speakers when positioned to fire up facing the ceiling and then bounce the sound waves off back down to the listener is a total gimmick, but then I also have read how some say it works. I'm not totally convinced that those are just paid reviews to be honest. I'm wondering if anyone here has tried or is using this type of height speaker setup vs. putting speakers in the ceiling. The one catch for me is that my ceiling is vaulted where the peak is about 17 ft high and I think the angle is about 20 deg. I think if the up-firing does actually work, if placed right I can shoot the bounce to the main listening position.


Wondering what other opinions on this are!

Thanks,

Spencer

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If it was a gimmick, I don't Klipsch would invest any R&D to design a speaker like the RP-280FA.  Maybe they would but I highly doubt it.

 

38 minutes ago, spencersmb said:

The one catch for me is that my ceiling is vaulted where the peak is about 17 ft high and I think the angle is about 20 deg.

Now that could get a bit tricky.

 

38 minutes ago, spencersmb said:

I think if the up-firing does actually work, if placed right I can shoot the bounce to the main listening position.

Careful placement and aiming would be important here.

 

Bill

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It works with a few caveats.  First of all in my opinion you really need four.  Secondly, the 8060FA's work better.  The problem isn't that they don't work at all, it's that the modules can be localized sometimes.  I mean, you have a direct line of sight to the drivers, should be pretty obvious that this is a possibility.  The 8060's do like Triad and Deftech and inset the drivers and encapsulate them with foam, it looks and works better in this regard.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
On 4/6/2019 at 4:46 AM, MarkPayton said:

I was wondering, would 5.1.2 be a noticeable upgrade from 5.1? 

Well... that really depends on the movie you're watching. But when you have a movie that utilizes the height channels, you will notice the difference. If you're asking if its worth getting, I would say it is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To me, after being in the business from about 1984 till 2010, most all of the surround technology became more of a gimmick to better give people somewhat of a reason to spend money on "new technology" versus keeping what  they had for years.  Look at things like the HD-DVD/BluRay battle, the failure of 3D stuff, curved TV's, etc., etc., etc.  I'm so glad to be out of that business as I'd have a hard time persuading my dealers to stock up on new emerging technology that may or may not make it over the course of a few years.  They are running our of ideas and are grasping at straws to figure out how to keep it all going.  That was told to us by MANY manufacturers and some of the people in R&D.  (I got to sit in on some of their "pow-wows" over the years)  It was quite humorous, really.  

 

I'll probably do a small surround system in my upstairs bonus room but it will be like I did before where it's completely separate from the 2-channel rig.  In my last house in Texas, I used 3 in-wall speakers for the front and 4 in-ceiling speakers for the surround along with 2 Sunfire subs.  Not high dollar stuff...but happy average.  Thankfully, I bought it all at Rep sample pricing as there was no way I'd spend the retail money on it.  Same goes for now.  I'm happy I still know all the Nat'l Sales Managers for the companies I used to rep plus many I didn't so I don't have to pay retail.  That or I'll just buy used as it's really not a big deal to me.

 

I wonder what the next gimmick will be after this runs its course....

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well I just installed my new Denon 4500H receiver, an Emotiva XPA-5 Gen3 amp, with 4 atmos speakers "mounted" in the front and rear of the room. I have an 11 speaker setup right now total with no sub yet. I just watched BladeRunner 2049 4kUHD and DAMN! Atmos does work pretty well, I didn't even try up firing as I have vaulted ceilings. I also setup the calibrated speaker EQ with Denon. I will admit this is my first major system and first atmos system, but during some of the scenes the sound really does go all around you. An echo for example in a hallway doesn't just echo to the side, it's above you as well - crazy.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...