Does Dolby Atmos Work With Bluetooth Headphones?
If you have heard of
Dolby Atmos
, you probably want to experience that amazing spatial surround sound. The good news is that even without Atmos-enabled devices, you can use your headphones and set up Dolby Atmos for headphones. But will this technology work with any pair of headphones?
Dolby Atmos certainly works with Bluetooth headphones, but that's actually not the biggest question. Some credible sources say that high-quality Bluetooth headphones can be used to watch content created with
Dolby Atmos
and can provide an Atmos-like experience.
Also read:
Windows Sonic vs. Dolby Atmos for Headphones
So, in this article, we are going to expose this question and discuss the general idea of Dolby Atmos for Headphones, what is it and how does it work. We'll also explain how any headset can be used with this revolutionary Atmos sound technology and how to set it up on your PC and Xbox One. Let's start.
As an affiliate, I may receive a share of sales or other compensation from links on this page.
Understanding Dolby Atmos for Headphones
Before we get into what Dolby Atmos for headphones is, let's first check that we're all on the same page in our understanding of Atmos.
Dolby Atmos is a new sound technology that allows listeners or viewers to get a one-dimensional audio experience. This audio format allows sound to be heard from all angles, including above and behind you.
Dolby Atmos has been
originally designed and used in cinemas
, but with advances in technology, Atmos quickly began to meet consumer audio needs and provide sound for home entertainment. Today, Dolby Atmos is widely used in home theaters for watching movies, listening to music, and in games.
The biggest difference between traditional surround sound and Dolby Atmos is that Atmos doesn't rely on speakers p>
canals
.
Instead, Dolby has created metadata that selects specific audios based on objects in a film, movie, or video game, and positions them in various locations around the listening space. This creates a scenario where the sound comes at you from different angles.
You can either upgrade your sound system setup with Atmos-enabled devices to test out Atmos sound, but if that's not something you can afford to invest in now, then trying Dolby Atmos for Headphones is your next best option.
So what is Dolby Atmos for Headphones?
Dolby Atmos for headphones is awesome
surround sound
available via earphones or headsets. The best part is that you can use absolutely any headset. But obviously, the quality of the sound produced in the end will depend on the quality of the headphones.
If you're wondering how surround sound can be produced from the two speaker bowls found on a pair of headphones, the answer lies in Dolby Atmos producing spatial sound.
Spatial sound is essentially virtual surround sound. They are audio signals produced in a three-dimensional virtual space. You can hear sounds around you, including above and behind you.
With Dolby Atmos for headphones, movies and movies sound so much better than using the regular TV's built-in speakers. Dolby claims their technology creates a 360-degree sound bubble.
Let's take a look at how Dolby Atmos works with headphones.
How Dolby Atmos works with headphones
Traditionally, surround sounds are transmitted through specific channels depending on the number of speakers in the audio system. All these channels are laid out on a flat plane.
Dolby Atmos, on the other hand, uses the entire 360 degree area in a listening room so that sound seems to be coming from all directions. .
So how is that possible with a pair of headphones that pops into your head?
On the one hand, Dolby Atmos for headphones does not depend on the structure of the headphones. It's not about the number of drivers a headset has (although it can affect the level of sound quality).
It also doesn't depend on whether or not the headset is compatible with Atmos. This object-based technology depends on the software that creates an enhanced surround sound experience.
Dolby Atmos can work with any standard headset. And despite the very small space available on the headphones, Atmos immerses you in the heart of the action in a movie or a video game with exceptional immersive sound.
The software that does the job here is the
< p>Dolby Access app. It is an application created by Dolby for Windows 10 and Xbox. By setting up Dolby Access on your device, you can plug in your favorite headphones, turn on spatial sound, and experience Dolby Atmos.
In the Microsoft Store, you can get the trial version of the Dolby Access app or opt for in-app purchase. The trial lasts for 30 days and after that you can decide whether to pay and unlock lifetime access or not.
Once installed, the Dolby Access app will guide you to enable Dolby Atmos for Headphones. It is a simple process that we have described here. So read on for more details.
How to Set Up Dolby Atmos for Headphones on Windows 10
To set up Dolby Atmos for headphones on your PC, you must have Windows 10 as your operating system. Then follow these steps to get the Dolby Access app.
Configuring Dolby Atmos for Headphones
Go to Windows Store. You can either go through
this link
or through your taskbar. For the second route, right click on the sound icon located in the lower right corner of your taskbar. Select
Spatial Sound
then
Dolby Atmos for Headphones
(Where
Dolby Access
).
Download the Dolby Atmos app. Once in the Dolby Access store listing, click the button
Obtain
to download the app to your PC.
Once the download is complete, open the
Dolby Access
and check the box
With my headphones
.
Enable Spatial Sound for Headphones
1.
Connect your headphones.
Select them from the menu on the right of the screen. Click on the button
Continue
. Allow the app to confirm compatibility between your headset and Dolby Atmos. Since you're using Windows 10, every headset will be compatible, although the sound quality will differ from headset to headset.
Note: To set headphones as the default playback choice (if it isn't already), return to the taskbar to make the change. Right click on the sound icon in the lower right corner. Select
Reading devices
. Check if your headset is the default choice, if not, select it and click the button
Define by default
.
2. Go to the Dolby Access app again. Click on the button
30 day trial
if you just want the free trial. If you want to buy the application, click on the button
Buy for $14.99
.
3. If you select the 30-day trial, a Microsoft Store window will appear next. Click on the button
Obtain
to agree to the store's terms of sale.
4. Return to the Dolby Access window. Select
okay
to download and install additional content for Dolby Access. If this window with the content download prompt does not appear, restart your computer and reopen Dolby Access.
5. Once the download is complete, a new window will appear. Select the button
Configure PC settings
.
6. The following window will be on
Enclosure properties.
Go to tab
Spatial sound
. Under
Spatial sound format
, tap the drop-down menu and select
Dolby Atmos for Headphones
. Select
Apply
to save changes.
You are ready to go. Dolby Atmos is now configured on your headphones.
To start enjoying and testing this Atmos software, return to the Dolby Access app, where you'll get a curated list of videos that are Atmos compatible.
How to Disable Dolby Atmos for Headphones
If for some reason you decide to turn off Dolby Atmos for headphones before your 30-day trial ends, you can do so through the taskbar. Click the sound icon and adjust the
Spatial sound
on
Disabled
.
How to Set Up Dolby Atmos for Headphones on Xbox One
If you use this game console, you can enjoy virtualized spatial sound by taking advantage of Dolby Atmos for headphones. It's easy to set up; just follow these steps:
On your Xbox One, go to
Settings
. Select
General
then
Volume &
sound output
. Adjust
Helmet size
on
Dolby Atmos for headphones
.
HAS
< p>The list of Dolby Access storeswill appear. Click on the button
Install
.
In the application window, select
With my headphones
when asked how you would like to experience Dolby Atmos.
Follow the rest of the onscreen instructions to complete the app download.
If you use a
LS50X,
LS35X,
Where
LS20
, everything is now ready. But if you use a
LS30/31
Where
LS40/41,
continue with the following steps. p>
Select
Using an HDMI or optical headset
.
For the LS40/41, be sure to press the
EQ button
until you hear "Stereo", otherwise the surround effect will not sound right.
That's it, Dolby Atmos for Headphones is now ready to use on your Xbox One.
If you prefer a step-by-step video guide explaining this process of setting up Dolby Atmos for Headphones on Xbox One, watch this video.
Dolby Atmos for Headphones with Xbox One (How to Set Up)
Watch this video
on Youtube
.
Does Dolby Atmos need special headphones? p>
So far we've established that Dolby Atmos for Headphones is powered by software (the Dolby Access app). This setup was created by Dolby so users like you can work with any standard pair of headphones. You don't need any special sound cards on your PC or additional hardware on Xbox One.
Compatibility between your headphones and Dolby Atmos, for example, when using Windows 10, is established by Windows 10, which already has the necessary drivers. The default setting on Windows 10 on a PC means that each connected headset will be compatible with Dolby Atmos.
Now, while any standard pair of headphones can be used to output Atmos sound from a Windows 10 or Xbox One PC, that doesn't mean the sound quality will be the same.
The better quality headphones you have, the higher the Atmos sound quality you're likely to experience. Some of the factors that can guarantee better Atmos sound quality include the multiple drivers and the large diaphragm of the speakers. But overall, any pair of headphones will do.
Let's look at these different types of headphones that one can use to produce Atmos sound.
Multi-Driver vs Single -Earphones for Drivers
Multi-driver headphones are special types of headphones designed with a number of small speakers placed in each ear cup. The speakers are strategically positioned to mimic the surround sound speakers used in home theater setups.
As a result, the quality of sound produced using these multi-driver headphones should be similar to full home theater sound quality. But some people feel like cramming too many small drivers in one place, this ends up reducing the quality of the sound produced overall. So it all depends on what sounds best in your ears.
A popular example of multi-driver headphones is the
Razer Tiamat earphones
(check the price on Amazon)
.
As for single-driver earphones, they enclose only one driver in the earphone. Just like multi-driver headsets, they can also produce Atmos sound, but some would argue that single-driver headsets won't give you the optimal, expansive sound experience of Atmos.
Surround headphones vs stereo headphones< /p>
Headphones with surround sound are designed to produce immersive sound that is as similar as possible to the
home cinema
surround sound.
These headphones create a virtual surround sound setup that makes you feel like there are a number of speakers all around you. An example is
Razer Kraken 7.1 V2: Gaming headset with 7.1 surround sound
(Amazon link)
. This is one of the high-end helmets with a
built-in virtual 7.1 surround sound
. They're loud and clear, and the mic features active noise cancellation for crystal-clear communication.
For a more economical option, see the
Jeecoo USB Pro 7.1 Surround Audio Gaming Headset for PC
(Amazon link)
. These also have virtual 7.1 surround sound built-in.
The stereo headphones can also produce Atmos sound when connected to a Windows 10 or Xbox One PC with Dolby Access installed. BENGOO G9000 Stereo Gaming Headset is a cost-effective stereo headset compatible with multiple platforms including PlayStation 4, New Xbox One, PC, Nintendo, among others.
Dolby Atmos headphones compared to normal headphones
There are headphones pre-made for use with Dolby Atmos. These are what we call Dolby Atmos headphones. Then there are the regular headphones which obviously aren't pre-designed for use with Dolby.
Both of these types of headphones, as mentioned before, can output Dolby Atmos sound as long as they are connected to a device that has Dolby Access installed.
The Sony MDR-HW700DS wireless headphones
(Amazon link) is a good example of Dolby Atmos headphones. It comes with a sound mixing decoder capable of handling Dolby Atmos decoding and 9.1 surround sound.
As for normal headphones, see
Cowin E7 Pro
(Amazon link)
. Not only is it affordable, but it also pairs well with Dolby.
Now, do you know that Dolby also sells its own headphones that can be used with the Dolby Access app? In fact, they even have non-Dolby headphones called Dimension. And since they're made by the same company that makes Dolby Atmos, you can trust it to perform well.
Dolby Atmos with wireless headphones
Now focus on wireless headphones, let's see how they work with Dolby Atmos.
The wireless headphones can be used to deliver Dolby Atmos sound when using Dolby Access on your Windows 10 PC or Xbox One. This is based on the fact that
Dolby Atmos for headphones supports all headphones
as we have already seen.
Additionally, during the process of installing the Dolby Access app on your Windows 10 PC, you will even notice that when it comes time to test your headset connection, one of the default playback choices offered on the app is "
Wireless stereo headphones. ”
Hence, it is safe to say that the Dolby Access app can work with wireless headsets as well as wired versions.
That said, there's still the aspect of Bluetooth headphones and whether they support Atmos. Since Bluetooth headphones are a type of wireless headphones, the situation is unclear. How? Users and tech companies seem to have different opinions on whether Bluetooth headphones work with Dolby Atmos.
First of all, some
users report
incredible experiences with Dolby Atmos. sound when using a Bluetooth headset, while others say the sound is nothing out of the ordinary.
On another side,
Engadget
, one of the highly trusted tech blogs, has something slightly different to say. In their review of headphones from Dolby, Dimension, Engadget mentions that the Dimension headphones
cannot support Dolby's Atmos
based solely on the fact that this pair of earphones relies on Bluetooth. Even so, they admit that the Bluetooth headphones “provide an almost Atmos-like experience.”
So what's our verdict?
The verdict
It's safe to say that wireless headphones (whether Bluetooth enabled or not) can support Dolby Atmos through the Dolby Access app. Engadget, in the same review above, points out that the headphones sounded amazing when viewing content created with Dolby Atmos.
Now, the audio from wireless headphones (or any other headphones for that matter) may not necessarily be exactly what you'll hear with Dolby Atmos in your home theater room because, after all, you're still only using headphones, and these cannot be compared to stand-alone surround speakers in a room.
Even so, the sound quality is really improved, immersive and unlike anything we've heard before.
Conclusion
The compatibility of headphones and Dolby Atmos does not depend on the headphones themselves but on the Dolby Access software. So if you're wondering if Dolby Atmos works with Bluetooth headphones, the simple answer is yes, it does. As for Atmos sound quality, that's a whole different story.
For Dolby Atmos to work with any headset, whether Bluetooth-enabled or not, wireless or wired, you must first install the Dolby Access app on your Windows 10 or Xbox One PC and enable Dolby Atmos for them. listeners. Enjoy your Atmos listening experience.