Best song, movie and or tv show to demonstrate dolby atmos and spatial audio?

[212rikanmofo]

I have a pair of stereo homepods and would like to hear what spatial audio and dolby atmos enabled media sounds like. Could you guys recommend some good movies, songs and or tv shows to demonstrate this?

 

[Kenny99]

YouTube has many Demos for Sound and Videos.

 

[212rikanmofo]

But youtube doesn't support dolby atmos or spatial audio.

 

[ScrumpyDaniel]

Dolby has a video called 'The World of Sound' which is a good Atmos test video. There's a Dolby app on Apple TV which has the test videos on, haven't used it in a while though but it should still be there.

 

[priitv8]

Apple Music has a long playlist of Atmos music:

So far my understanding has been, that for the enjoyment of it in real (multichannel) Atmos (in contrast to binaural audio), you'd need appleTV connected to an Atmos-decoding receiver, processor or soundbar.
I am not that sure about how a pair of homepods handles Atmos/Spatial.
By definition, it can only be binaural rendering.

For more details, see section 5 - Apple's "Spatial Audio" Mess here:

Why Your Atmos Mix Will Sound Different On Apple Music | Production Expert

In this article Edgar Rothermich gives a detailed explanation of the differences between Dolby Atmos and Apple’s Spatial Audio and all the steps you have to take to audition a Spatial Audio rendering of your Atmos mix!

www.pro-tools-expert.com

 

[212rikanmofo]

I thought that the Apple Homepod were capable of supporting Dolby Atmos? So you're saying if I have a pair in stereo mode, I won't be able to hear the benefits of it?

 

[HDFan]

So you're saying if I have a pair in stereo mode, I won't be able to hear the benefits of it?

Atmos is an object oriented format which can assign sounds to a specific x,y,z location. Since stereo homepods don't have a "z" option you aren't going to get the same results as you would when listening with ceiling speakers which provide the "z" axis.

If you can find the same track both atmos encoded and stereo encoded try comparing them to see the difference. When Apple first released spatial I did hear some differences with their demo tracks with just 2 speakers. Note that there can be huge differences in track quality. Maybe someone else can recommend some tracks that they found outstanding.

 

[priitv8]

I thought that the Apple Homepod were capable of supporting Dolby Atmos? So you're saying if I have a pair in stereo mode, I won't be able to hear the benefits of it?

If you read the article I linked above, then you will see that there indeed exists a possibility to create a spatial sound sensation from only 2 speakers. It is called binaural rendering and it relies 100% on psychoacoustics. Technically playing such virtual surround sound via HomePods is no different from how it is played via AirPod Pros.
To my ears that sensation is very inferior to that of real 10 speakers installed in the room.
If you can sense spatial presentation from AirPods, then HomePods should sound similar.
I do not believe HomePods have additional physical speakers for height sounds, that could create ceiling reflections.

 

[Casey Royals]

Using two speakers you will be hearing simulated Atmos, but enjoy what you have. I have a full Atmos set-up and can recommend you listen to An Old Hall Ladymass by Trio Mediaeval, not my kind of music but it incredibly room filling. I also recently listened to Xi - Bleed here now it was quite good too. Have a listen to an album called Sensuous by Cornelius not sure if they have the surround version thoug, give it a listen anyway.

 

[George Dawes]

Bohemian Rhapsody is pretty impressive too

 

[rosebbi]

To experience Dolby Atmos and spatial audio on your stereo HomePods, you'll want content that's specifically encoded for these technologies. Here are some recommendations for movies, songs, and TV shows:
Movies:
Blade Runner 2049
Mad Max: Fury Road
Gravity
Songs:
Shape of You by Ed Sheeran
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo
TV Shows:
Game of Thrones
Stranger Things