I see that Naim Audio are already on Dolby’s list of Licensed Manufacturers.
Matthew,
I haven’t tried Apple music’s version but I presume it still uses the Atmos encode but in some kind of Apple wrapper. I’m certain that the vast majority will listen as I expect you did on headphones or to a soundbar and that isn’t what excites me - at best that’s just ‘different’ not necessarily better. The real magic happens when you put loudspeakers around the room and above you on the ceiling, then Atmos really comes alive - it’s no gimmick, the ambient cues and separation for say a choral recording or orchestra in a concert hall or cathedral are off the scale. Similarly subtle placement of instruments or effects on rock, pop or dance records really brings them to life. One of the tracks I heard was Elton John’s rocketman and nearly everything was anchored to the front channels as you would expect but there was a keyboard sound that as Elton sang “I’m a rocketman” lifted off from the front speakers, arced over our heads and disappeared into the ether somewhere where the ceiling met the rear of the room. It sounds like a gimmick but it sent shivers up my spine everytime it happened because it added so much to the immersion. I also gather Atmos mixes are being mixed with less compression than stereo across the industry and that alone will mean enhanced quality. The recording of “Something” by the Beatles was so stunning it left me in tears when I heard it much to the amusement of my Soundstage colleagues. Heff the PMC in house engineer revealed that I wasn’t the only one to have been similarly affected when he played Atmos tracks to other people.
It’s probably only ever going to be audiophiles, home cinema buffs or studio engineers who will ever hear how truly amazing Atmos is because we are the only ones who are dedicated enough to put the necessary hardware (Atmos speakers) in our homes. I see it a bit like owning a Naim hi-fi or an exotic turntable - yes it’s a lot of boxes and no it isn’t going to make the room look like a sunday colour supplement but if you care about sound you simply have to do it properly and put up with the necessary equipment. There are already high performing in ceiling options (from Focal, B&W etc) and plenty of flat ‘hang on wall’ speakers like ATC’s HTS range and the new PMC CI series which can even go in wall. Personally I see that as the future of discerning high end audio in the home.
Atmos is so important, it really is… Put it this way if you offered me a stereo pair of ATC’s top SCM150 monitors or the option to have an ATC array of lesser loudspeakers like my SCM40’s and perhaps some HTS11’s around the room I’d take the latter - even in a system only used for music and totally ignoring home cinema.
Jonathan
That’s rather intriguing Ian!!
Jonathan
Most likely a legacy from the op AV2 etc.
The licensing for Atmos will be difficult and ever changing specifications mean the a quickly evolving products are required. I’m not sure this is really in the remit of the kind of Hi-Fi companies we all love but will be better suited to the likes of Panasonic, Marantz, Denon, etc. Keeping on top of home cinema is a never ending development headache, especially when Naim and Linn etc have a very high standard for sound quality.
Linn already offer surround processing using their exakt digital crossovers, but have yet to offer Atmos support.
Noooooooo! Ignoring the fact that I have no interest in streaming online, the concept, and in particular cost, of more decent amps and above all speakers is too much to contemplate! And with Naim’s approach to date, the boxes would need wall to wall to ceiling racks!
Yes, interesting …
I don’t see Naim as a “market first mover”. Being first to market - if you get it right - can bring great rewards. But it also has huge risks attached.
Another valid approach is to execute well as a “market follower”. Wait to see which way a technology (innovation) might go. Then, quickly build a world class product that just works.
For me, over the years, this is where I see Naim’s great strength in audio engineering.
If you are a big beast of a business in global markets, you have resources to innovate and find new technologies that change (or create) markets. Smaller tech’ SME’s and mid tier firms have to work with different strategies.
It’s all interesting
Yes, Apple calls it Spatial Audio, but it is absolutely Dolby Atmos.
Again, that sounds very interesting and worth exploring where this goes. I’m not a film person and have absolutely no interest in surround sound for that, but having some of the separation from the Atmos mixes is intriguing.
I’m wondering if there is any technical limitation is producing it through stereo speakers, like it can be done through bluetooth headphones (AirPods Pro) and wired headphones?
It might not produce spine-tingling sound but it might be “good enough” for everyday use.
Thanks again for your post.
Matthew
Agree completely. They forget about the lower middle class who helped create them.
There is more money to be made selling new stuff to newbies… Especially if its (relatively) low end, mass market stuff…
Another Muso, sir…?
I think a simple streaming amp that could also handle surround sound via satellite speakers would be welcomed. I’m sure a software update (or a complete new OS) to the existing Muso range wouldn’t be that difficult considering Naim/Focals combined experience.
TBF … Naim offers you Statement, Solstice and Supercaps … as well as Musos.
Indeed they are… nice find @IanRobertM … and cc @JonathanG @IainW seemingly a very recent addition. The internet archive last saved the page on 22 December 2022 (yes, barely a week ago) and Naim was not listed at that time.
Click here for a link for the saved page as at 22 Dec 2022.
Note - if you click the alphabet letters at the top of the archived page, these open the live site. So if you click N and find Naim it’s because you’re looking on the live site, not the archived site. Just scroll down and this is what you’ll see under N, as of 22 December 2022 - no Naim!
Ian (Robert J!)
Atmos is a really interesting concept. There is more to it than simply adding height channels as per wiki. Object oriented sound with the ability to place an object anywhere within the sound stage sounds made for hifi stereo. I suspect that the amount of work and cost required to supplant the existing traditional methods of making and playing hifi music are what is holding it back in our world. I was lucky enough to watch the final game of thrones episode with Atmos sound at the IBC in Amsterdam a couple of years ago and it was pretty amazing. Too much investment in kit (and neighbour goodwill) to get the full effect at home though.
The goal of stereo versus surround are exact opposites though.
- The purpose of surround, and therefore ATMOS, is to delete the room around you and place you where the action is.
- The purpose of stereo is to put the action (the band) in your room.
Having had THX 5.1, then 6.1, then finally 7.1.4 ATMOS, I really have nothing against it. But it’s not for music beyond a gimmick. There have been well mastered surround music albums since the first quadraphonic stuff appeared and they have continued into every surround format since without catching on. Simply because the purpose of surround is at odds with what people are trying to achieve with reproduction of music playback in general.
Znai,
But I’m guessing that if Atmos was to be part of the new range (and I hope it is) they would have needed to become a licensee during the R&D stages of the range development wouldn’t they? Or do you only have to have a licence when you start selling Atmos enabled kit?
Interesting!
Jonathan
You’d also need the licensing for a 2.1 soundbar that takes a Dolby Digital feed from the TV. I can imagine needing the licensing just for a Muso ver.3
Replacement for the 272, a new updated streamer and matching Focal actives would be my guess (salivating already)
Anyone know when this might all be announced?