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Upgrade to Atmos with In-Ceiling Speakers

Is it possible to use Atmos for my in ceiling speaker for Dolby Sound?

Many people with in-ceiling surround speaker systems are wondering as they consider upgrading for Dolby Atmos. Atmos set-ups require Atmos-enabled speakers or two or more in- or on- ceiling speakers designed to bounce sound off the ceiling of the room to deliver the highest effects on Dolby Atmos soundtracks.

For those who already have multiple in-ceiling speakers installed it will be possible for you to adapt that system for at least a 5.1.4 Atmos set-up. You just need to rewire both your Back Surround in-ceiling speakers and Front in-ceiling speakers – these will now serve as Atmos Height speakers. You then disconnect your current Center in-ceiling and Side Surround speakers since they will no longer be needed. This is because your new 5.1 speaker rig will take care of the primary surround-sound duties.

In case you want to pursue this 5.1.4 set-up, the new AV receiver you buy should be able to provide connections for both back and front height speakers. Atmos home setups allow for as many as 24 speakers on the floor and 10 overhead speakers, but current Atmos-enabled receivers don’t yet support such elaborate configurations.

You should note that for 5.1.4 setups, Atmos requires the ceiling speakers to be placed 65 degrees in front and 65 degrees on the back for the front height and for the back height of the listener positions respectively. Also, the ceiling speakers should be parallel to the front left and right speakers. This means that if your front speakers are 7 feet apart from each other, the in-ceiling speakers should be the same distance from each other.

Try to arrange your speakers in the best way possible so you can enjoy the perfect theater experience in your home.

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