How to set up a Dolby Atmos home theatre system

If you have a modern TV then you might have already purchased a soundbar as a way to enhance your home audio system. While soundbars are continuously improving in sound quality, they are still no match for a traditional wired speaker system to create a home theatre with an immersive sound experience. When it comes to building a great home theatre system, you may have come across the term Dolby Atmos.

Home theatre setup at home

Whether you are looking to upgrade from a soundbar or set up a proper home theatre system, here are some things to consider before you get started to set up a Dolby Atmos home theatre system.

1. Room size

When it comes to the room size, you have to consider both the length of your room as well as the height. If you are setting up a home theatre system in a room with a high ceiling then either the sound will be weaker or the system will have to work harder to cover the whole area.

ALSO READ: What is Dolby Atmos?

One thing you need to know is that a long room would require larger speakers while a smaller room can do with smaller speakers. You need to make sure that your small room isn’t overcrowded with speakers that cause muffled sounds.

2. Speaker choice

Once you have factored in the room size, you can begin to choose the speakers for your home theatre system. This choice is essentially between floor-standing speakers or stand-mount speakers. Floor-standing speakers are usually best suited for larger rooms while smaller rooms are better served by stand-mount speakers.

3. Subwoofers

How many subwoofers do I need? This question has troubled every person who has decided to set up a home theatre system. The answer to this question is in the size of the room as well as the A/V receiver you have. Most A/V receivers will accept one or two subwoofers, which is enough for most homes.

The best spot for your subwoofer is at the corner of the room, but if you are going with two subs, make sure they are placed in opposite corners.

4. Height channels

Dolby Atmos is the difference between having a true surround effect or none. With Dolby Atmos, you can add vertical space to your soundscape and create a true surround effect with a dome of sound around you.

The opening scene of Bladerunner 2049 or that helicopter chase in Mission Impossible: Fallout are great examples of fully immersive Dolby Atmos scenes. When brands talk about surround sound systems like 5.1.2, the “.2” refers to the Dolby Atmos configuration or Atmos height channels.

5. Dolby Atmos speakers

Last but not least is to choose Dolby Atmos speakers for that vertical surround sound effect. While there are ceiling speakers, it would be best to choose Atmos speakers that can be positioned on top of your front speakers. They direct the sound towards the ceiling, which is then bounced down to create the dome effect for an immersive sound experience.

Home theatre setup: How to set up Dolby Atmos

Now that you know the key factors to consider before setting up a Dolby Atmos home theatre system, here is the equipment you will need to get started:

1. TV or a projector

2. A/V Receiver

3. Cabling

With your TV, you need to ensure that it has HDMI eARC support to allow for pass-through of Dolby Atmos signal from the content on streaming platforms. The A/V receiver will be the most crucial device in this setup and it will vary depending on the number of speakers you plan to have in your system.

ALSO READ: 5 best soundbars with Dolby Atmos in India in 2024

For Dolby Atmos, make sure your A/V receiver supports at least 5.1.2 channels and pass-through of HDR formats such as Dolby Vision for best picture quality. After doing this, don’t skimp on the cost by choosing poor-quality cables, and also opt for soundproofing the room for an overall enhanced sound experience.