Similarities: Both formats are supported on 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays and standard blu-ray discs Both Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital have “firing” or “height” speakers Either technology can be used without an external amplifier (A/V Receiver).ĭifferences: A home theater receiver with Dolby Atmos decoding is required for Dolby Atmos to work while a home theater receiver that has built-in Dolby Digital Plus is required for all types of surround sound including Dolby digital 5.1, Dolby digital 7.1, Dolby Digital +, Dolby TrueHD, etc. Now that we’ve gone over how each technology works, let’s compare the two by looking at their similarities and differences.
What Is The Difference Between Dolby Atmos And Dolby Digital? This is why we recommend getting a home theater receiver with this technology on board as well if possible because it’s another layer of information being decoded on top of what you have already. However, although a Dolby Digital track doesn’t require special speakers to work, having a home theater receiver with “Dolby Digital Plus” decoding can improve the quality of your audio because it allows for more channels and room for even more sound information which will enhance the dynamic range within your movie.
The only difference is that a Dolby Digital soundtrack has extra information from the sound mixer encoded into it that tells your receiver how to decode it. On top of having multiple transducer arrays, there are also two additional specifications you look out for when shopping for a new receiver or soundbar: Dolby Atmos Height Speaker Support and Dolby Atmos Decoding.Ī home theater receiver that supports “height speakers” will usually have an additional 2nd zone of speakers on the top (this is where you can add in-ceiling or upward-firing speakers).Īlso, a home theater receiver that has Dolby Atmos decoding means that it’s able to decode more layers of information within your Blu-ray Discs and 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays which gives you an even more immersive surround sound experience.ĭolby Digital on the other hand doesn’t exactly require different types of speakers to work because all channels are meant to be played through your front, center, surround sound speakers.
To be more specific, you’ll need speakers that have special drivers called “multiple transducer arrays” and these allow the sound waves from the speaker to bounce off the ceiling and back down into your room.Įven though Dolby Atmos can technically work on non-Atmos AV Receivers, we recommend getting an A/V receiver that has built-in Dolby Atmos decoding because it will provide higher quality audio (especially if you get one with upfiring or height speakers). Now that we’ve provided a basic understanding of what each technology is, let’s dive into how they both work.ĭolby Atmos is a highly sophisticated audio standard for your home theater system that requires special speakers to work.
Unlike Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital doesn’t require height or upward-firing speakers to work because all channels are meant to be played through your front, center, and surround sound speakers which you have already set up from previous home theater setups. It’s a fairly old technology as it was first introduced back in 1997 but is still being used today because of its standardization for high-quality audio amongst the industry. What is Dolby Digital?ĭolby Digital is a surround sound technology that is also found on Blu-ray discs and 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays.
This technology fills your room with sounds all around you regardless of where they’re coming from it truly makes you feel like you’re inside a movie theater. On some A/V receivers, you can also find height channels as well (these speakers will fire upwards but not necessarily from the ceiling). It was first introduced back in 2012 by Dolby Laboratories and has since then become a standard for the latest home theater receivers and soundbars.ĭolby Atmos is meant to be played back with overhead or upward-firing speakers which create an immersive 3D effect on your home theater system. What Is Dolby Atmos?ĭolby Atmos is a surround sound technology found on Blu-ray discs and 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays that boosts the dynamic range and use of surround sound speakers. To do so, we’re going to compare their differences, specifications, and how these two technologies affect movie playback in your home theater.įirst, though, let’s start by going over what each technology is and where you’ll be able to find it. In this article, we’re going to provide a detailed comparison between both technologies.
Some are now wondering if they should upgrade to a home theater receiver that supports only Dolby Atmos or one that also has Dolby Digital as well. A lot of people have been asking questions regarding the difference between Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital.