The taste of people in music has changed over the years. The way they receive the sounds whether it’s a movie or a song or even a game has gone through an evolution. Surround sound systems have become popular among music lovers in recent times.
Two of the most popular surround sound systems are- Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital which can turn your home into a melody. Dolby Digital has always been the standard of the surround sound system. Surround sound system facilitates you with the opportunity to connect as many speakers as you may with a single subwoofer. For instance, Surround sound has two channels and can include five speakers or seven speakers or up to twenty-one speakers and one subwoofer.
Dolby Atmos is the enhanced version of Dolby Digital that delivers the same vivid sound experience. It has become a brand new choice for the people who loved Dolby Digital. In this article, Dolby Atmos vs. Dolby Digital soundbar we will discuss the difference and similarities between these two sound systems that make them unique from one another.
Difference Between Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Soundbar
Let’s look at the comparison chart to find out the possible differences between Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital,
There are some notable differences between Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Soundbars. Let’s jump into a detailed description of the two sound systems.
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos has become a very popular choice of home cinema system as it’s an amazing surround sound system that offers impressive technologies. Dolby Atmos is a way to put speakers above people who are watching movies. It makes a high-quality sound that moves around you for the best home theater sound experience.
Dolby Atmos creates an environment of sound that surrounds you and makes you feel like you’re in the movie. This immersive sound technology was originally developed in 2012. It has a 5.1 and 7.1 channel surround sound setup. You have to place one of your surround channels over your head to get the full experience of the Dolby Atmos.
The speakers have to be placed along the walls at a distinct height even behind the screen. But if you want to be surrounded by cinematic experience you must place them in the ceiling or at the top of the wall. Dolby Atmos cinemas allow up to 400 speakers but you’ll most likely be using it in your room set up so you don’t need a lot of speakers.
You can also buy a purpose-built Dolby Atmos system and install it in your home environment. With the Dolby Atmos system, sound mixers may accurately ‘place’ sounds and voices in the sound field, rather than only on certain channels. It is possible to add new height channels to an Atmos system since each speaker receives a separate feed.
Best 3 Dolby Atmos Soundbar
We are going to be presenting the best 3 Dolby Atmos soundbars in the market. At first, we are going to show you the key specifications in a chart,
JBL Bar 9.1 – Channel Soundbar System with Surround Speakers and Dolby Atmos
JBL Bar 9.1 is one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars out there. Because of its unique audio quality and eye-catching packaging it has won the hearts of thousands of people. You don’t have to install additional speakers or run down on many cables since it supports every audio format.
JBL Bar 9.1 is JBL’s first soundbar with integrated Dolby Atmos and it comes with detachable speakers that are connected with the ends of the subwoofer and the subwoofer. JBL 9.1 soundbar requires no cables which make its design very clever and unique. The audio quality of the JBL Dolby Atmos soundbar is robust and indulging.
This Dolby Atmos speaker enhances your viewing experience to another level. Movies and songs become realistic and engaging. The best Dolby Atmos speakers have overhead speakers but despite lacking overhead speakers JBL 9.1 channel bar can easily bounce off the sound to a higher level.
JBL 9.1 Dolby atmos soundbar delivers a very powerful sound that is sturdy but not too overwhelming for the audience. The output of music is well-balanced and crisp and the bass doesn’t crack up at higher volumes.
Pros
- Well Balanced and powerful audio quality
- Doesn’t need any cables
- Supports Dolby Atmos for an enhanced fulfilling experience
- Easy placement
Cons
- Since it’s a premium quality soundbar it is quite expensive
Read our take on: JBL vs Klipsch Speakers: Model by Model Review
Sony HT-G700: 3.1CH Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar with Bluetooth Technology
Up next in our best Dolby atmos soundbar category is Sony HT-G700 3.1 channel surround sound system. The Sony HT-G700 is an amazing pick for any home theatre system. The most attractive fact about this soundbar is, it is an affordable soundbar that outruns many high-end soundbars in the market.
If you are trying soundbars for the first time, Sony HT-G700 is a great entry-level Dolby Atmos soundbar. Sony HT-G700 pairs with a wireless subwoofer with dedicated HDMI input features and most importantly it supports the Dolby Atmos system.
It is better to keep in mind that Dolby Atmos is a 3.1 channel-only soundbar you cannot add or remove the speaker from its system. Instead, it uses the Atmos stream to recreate both elevation and stereo effects, and it does a fantastic job.
Along with Bluetooth and Wireless features you also get a touch-sensitive button for power and a dedicated remote control to operate the soundbar. Sony Dolby Atmos soundbar also supports DTS:X and it is possible because of S-Force Pro Front Surround and Sony’s patented technology Vertical Surround Engine.
Pros
- Impressive Dolby Atmos performance
- Wireless Subwoofer and Stylish Design
- Comes with dual HDMI input
- Awesome sound quality
Cons
- Doesn’t recreate the true Dolby Atmos Effect rather imitates it
- Doesn’t have crispiness or depth to sound
New Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dolby Atmos with Alexa Built-In, Bluetooth connectivity
In terms of appearance, the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is a purpose-built 5.0.2 configuration with high quality. Dolby Atmos material is supported via the device’s two up-firing drivers. ADAPTiQ room correction allows you to fine-tune the audio output based on the acoustics of your environment, making it ideal for listening to a wide range of audio content.
Bose Smart 900 soundbar is one of the best atmos soundbars that stands up to its performance and price. Dolby Atmos is supported through the installation of two dipoles (up-firing) transducers and two tweeters in the bar. Soundbar manufacturer asserts that their PhaseGuide for Atmos content is superior to other soundbars on the market.
The top of the system is made of tempered glass and has a classy appearance, concealing the unit’s discreet, upward-firing Dolby drivers. There are just two onboard controls: a microphone on/off switch and an action button, which is used to activate the assistant, play or pause music.
Read Bose Soundbar 900 vs Bose700: Comparative Review to know more.
Even though the Smart Soundbar 900‘s functions can be controlled via the Bose Music app, the provided remote must be kept in check because there are no controls incorporated into the soundbar directly. Only smart speaker capabilities are accessible via the smooth glass surface of Bose’s speaker. Other functionalities, such as mute, play/pause, and other volume controls require a remote or an app.
Pros
- Great sound quality
- Connects and syncs with Bose Headphones
- Eye-catching design and easy TV voice control
- The Dolby Atmos effect is excellent.
Cons
- Lacks sturdy bass
- Calibration isn’t automatic
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital has stereo surround speakers that can deliver better bandwidth sound. Additionally, a subwoofer-driven effects channel (the “.1” in 5.1) was made possible. Each channel in Dolby Digital 5.1 receives its own set of data. Dolby Digital uses Dolby AC-3 coding technology.
This feature assures that any playback device will be capable of decoding Dolby Digital’s 5.1 channel audio. For each device, the playback device’s decoder provides the exact audio signal. Audio signals can be supplied to mono TVs, for example.
The decoder on the streaming device converts the 5.1 channel audio to a mono signal, which the television may then utilize. The downmixing is done by the playback device, so the producers don’t have to develop numerous acoustic inputs for each device.
Dolby Digital Plus
Dolby Digital audio technology is the predecessor of Dolby Digital Plus. Based on the Dolby Digital 5.1 standard for film, broadcast, and home theater sound system, Dolby Digital Plus is a stereo technology. Content production, program distribution, gadget manufacturing, and customer experience are all part of an overall network.
Unlike Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus can produce high-definition surround sound across eight channels, i.e., seven speakers and one subwoofer, whereas Dolby Digital could only handle six channels. Compression of big audio files with Dolby Digital Plus is possible without sacrificing audio quality.
Let’s look at the compatibility between Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus,
Best Dolby Digital Soundbar
We will now present our best 3 picks on Dolby digital and Dolby digital plus soundbars. Let’s look at the features of the best Dolby soundbar quickly.
JBL Bar 5.1 Soundbar
JBL Bar 5.1 is one of the best Dolby digital soundbars that utilizes Multibeam Technology to improve its surround sound system without needing any rear satellite.
Its sound profile produces a powerful and boomy bass appropriate for action films and Rave music. It also features room correction and you can even broadcast music to the bar via several wifi alternatives.
If you have limited space for your soundbar but if you love boomy music you should buy JBL Bar 5.1. It comes with a wireless subwoofer and the setup is quite easy. The JBL Bar 5.1 Surround supports AirPlay 2 and Chromecast through 2.4GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
If you possess an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV, the soundbar’s AirPlay 2 function allows you to wirelessly stream video from your Apple products to the soundbar without compromising sound quality. So if you have another AirPlay 2-authorized speaker in the house, you can also sync the two together.
And, of course, Android users love Chromecast. It’s not as complex as AirPlay 2, and it can’t function with many speakers, but it’s still easier than Bluetooth. Bluetooth is still available for devices that don’t have integrated Chromecast or AirPlay 2.
Pros
- Quality wireless connectivity
- East set up with room correction available
- Catchy voice clarity
- Affordable
Cons
- The music often seems flat because of the gaps between bass and mid
Samsung HW-Q67CT 7.1CH Soundbar
The Samsung HW-Q67CT is a mid-budget home theater bundle that will enrich your TV speakers’ quality. The HW-Q67CT soundbar has Samsung’s Acoustic Beam Technology, which realistically transfers sound. It will direct the sound to the listeners from the activity onscreen. This will provide consumers with a more immersive experience.
The soundbar stereo system also supports sophisticated audio codecs DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Digital 5.1. The soundbar will be able to play a variety of audio formats, allowing it to be used for a variety of purposes.
Samsung’s HW-Q67CT offers multiple sound modes and you can use them with different audio content. The sound modes would assist you in adjusting the soundbar’s settings and preparing it to give audio output following the played content. When you’re watching a certain type of content, it’ll automatically turn on the features you prefer.
Pros
- Amazing Acoustic Beam Technology integrated
- Supports DTS Virtual:X and 4K
- True wireless subwoofer with remote control
Cons
- Large space requirement and lack of Wi-Fi connectivity
Vizio 51H6 5. 1 CH Soundbar
There is no better 5.1 soundbar under $500 than the Vizio M Series M512a-H6 5.1.2 is a well-built system that provides a neutral, blended sound profile that is excellent for listening to a wide range of audio content. Even EQ settings and bass and treble controls are available to assist you to fine-tune its sound.
Even though the M512a-H6 has a variety of settings, it, however, manages to be both simple and complex at the same time, which is a good thing and a bad thing simultaneously. If the bass is too overbearing, you’ll probably need a few tweaks. Although the greatest soundbars can create a more immersive experience, the Vizio M-Series M512a-H6 review shows that this is still a great value.
You can also use DTS Virtual:X instead of surround or height speakers which will give you the same impression as you are using a surround speaker. It will save you money but also give you a premium experience within budget.
Also read, How to Connect Vizio Soundbar to TV
Pros
- Amazing surround sound system
- Budget-friendly
- Multiple EQ settings and sound modes
- Supports Dolby Atmos
Cons
- No app to control externally
- Bass can be too boomy at times
Dolby Atmos vs. Dolby Digital
As the name suggests, surround sound “surrounds” the listener with 360 degrees sounds coming from the right, left, above, and below, making the sound more authentic. A digital or analog system is more widely employed in home theater systems. Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital are two of the most commonly referred to surround sound formats.
Dolby Digital is widely regarded as the ultimate benchmark in surround sound. It reproduces multichannel audio using sophisticated encoding and decoding technologies to provide a dramatic audio experience in home theaters.
Dolby Atmos builds on the success of Dolby Digital by providing a panoramic sound experience. It has emerged as the most recent ideal in surround sound. This audio format first appeared in cinemas but has now been adapted to work with home cinemas.
Dolby Digital is a 2D audio technique that improves the overall sound of whatever you’re seeing, whether it’s a game, a streaming movie, or even DVDs or Blu-ray. With Dolby Atmos‘ 3D immersive technology, you can deceive your brain into believing that sound is originating from your surroundings. It creates the illusion that you’re in a movie theater, complete with surround sound.
Dolby Atmos vs. Dolby Digital: Set up
Dolby Digital vs. Dolby Atmos, setup is very easy. Both types of home theatres are multichannel surround sound systems and they come with multiple speakers. The Dolby Digital home theatre setup requires the alignment of the speakers. But the concept of Dolby Atmos is run by height and the speakers need to be placed on a higher level to get the actual immersive sound.
Dolby Atmos vs. Dolby Digital: No. of Channels
The number of channels differs greatly in Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos respectively. Dolby Digital allocates between 2.0 and 5.1 channels, depending on the DVD format. As a rule, speakers are positioned horizontally.
Dolby Atmos distributes between 3.1.2 and 4.1.4 channels to speakers that are positioned horizontally and vertically in a room’s ceiling. Using the first number, you can identify horizontal speakers. For Dolby Atmos, the third digit specifies how many vertical speakers are used.
Dolby Atmos vs. Dolby Digital: Audio Experience
It is possible to create an illusion of a person behind the audience using Dolby Digital technology. For this reason, Dolby Digital uses a speaker-based surround sound system. Instead of directing the sound to a specific speaker, Dolby Atmos indulges the listener in its sound. It creates a three-dimensional sound field.
Both the Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital employ sound augmentation software that provides superior sound quality. Even though Dolby Digital produces sound from your current speaker setup, Dolby Atmos utilizes both software and compatible hardware to provide a more panoramic experience. The additional hardware required by Dolby Atmos results in a better audio experience than Dolby Digital.
You can also read: Dolby Digital Plus vs Atmos vs Stereo :Which Sound System Is Better?
Alternative to Dolby Atmos Soundbars
There are amazing soundbars in the market that will make your home theatre system more enriched. So, we are going to compare 3 of the best alternative soundbars that can replace a Dolby Atmos Soundbar,
These are some great alternatives to the Dolby Atmos soundbars. They go amazingly with any home theatre system. You can go for any of these soundbars as per your choice.
You can also read: Best Soundbar for Vaulted Ceiling
Read a detailed review on Klipsch Cinema 600 vs 800 vs 1200 Review and Comparison.
Final Verdict
In the Dolby Atmos Vs. Dolby Digital Soundbar article, Dolby Atmos surely beats Dolby Digital since it provides realistic and indulging three-dimensional acoustics. Truly outstanding components in Dolby Atmos remain the greatest method to assure superior surround sound in movies, especially as standards and technology evolve. These elements must be properly set up, and the source material must be of the highest quality.
So, if you are willing to go for Dolby Atmos soundbars you have a variety of choices. Hope that we could help you in making a correct decision between Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos.
FAQ
This Faq is here to solve some of your problems that may arise in the pavement of these two sound system. let’s find out more!
What is the difference between DTS:X and Dolby Atmos?
In order to experience DTS:X, you won’t require anything besides DTS:X speakers. As a result, Dolby Atmos requires either upward-firing or ceiling-mounted speakers for elevated channels.
Does Dolby Atmos sound better for headsets?
Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound for headsets is one of the greatest and most convincing virtual surround sound systems.
Student and Tech Journalist. Read More…
