Hello,
I was excited for the Creator's Update in large part because of the addition of Dolby Atmos for headphones. However, after installing Dolby Access and the required additional content, I see that I will only have a 30-day trial. I was under the impression this was going to be something free offered to all users. Is the paid feature something extra or will I no longer have access to Dolby Atmos after 30 days?
Dolby atmos proper is free, but Dolby Atmos for Headphone which is a software HRTF is $15. Dolby Atmos Headphone does not require any hardware compatible since its simulated.
In short, if it works and is good then there isn't much issue with plunking down $15 for what should be lifetime use within the windows ecosystem. Unfortunately it does not work as advertised at /all/ which is where any happy tidings with it are cut short. Razer Surround (I would opt for pro to disable bass boost, which cost $20) on the other hand works perfectly in every case other than Dolby Atmos encoded content.
Dolby Atmos Headphone is supposed to bring "5.1 and 7.1 to your dinky pair of headphones" and it sure does with its demos. And despite a bunch of people whining and inflating its issues based on its price point(the only other good option is Razer Surround Pro so I don't see the problem) since your device maintains a 2.0 speaker output many games (including those found on steam) do not detect a surround sound output.
CSgo seemed to work when I forced it into 5.1? Felt as if it did, there was definitely more depth to the surround audio positioning (or possible wishful thinking?) There is no definitive way to know its working. Games like Nier on the other hand which detect surround sound output and are hard encoded to only offer stereo otherwise will fail. Unlike with Razer with its real simulated 7.1 speaker setup in windows.
This is a problem for me and one that despite preffering Dolby HP/Atmos(I must be deaf?) to other HRTF solutions I will give this one a pass unless they can fix their shit to work properly. I am sure UWP games/apps will function perfectly with Atmos enabled, but thats not my thing. (Middle finger @ UWP and how much of a negative it has been so far for PC users that want choice)
Interesting, have you tried setting your playback device to 5.1 / 7.1 and than activating Atmos Headphones? Because this is how most other virtual surround systems work, including Creative cards and Razer Surround. This way you playback device gets 5.1 sound from the game and Atmos can use that signal to generate a HRTF.
In general, I personally wouldn't recommend Razer Surround to anybody who hasn't received it with other Razer products. Its just so much inferior to Creative sound cards, which aren't that expensive either (search for Battlefield Surround Creative Razer on Youtube).
Nah, it is impossible to set a USB Dac to 5.1/7.1 Speakers. Razer surround works similar to "what you hear" on the creative cards, so it creates that fake surround sound device and loops that output to your sound device. The problem is Dolby Atmos Headphone doesn't function like this nor has any options for it.
Problem I have with sound cards is I don't want to use the analog outputs on these cards. If it doesn't work through the digital output then its a bust for me.
On another note you cant even get the dolby digital live pack for the old cards anymore (like the X-Fi's)
Thanks for the replies. Windows Sonic is another option in the dropdown menu and that one seems to be free. Is that a good alternative to Atmos for Headphones
I was excited it become available then after install it says cost $15. is it limited specific videos? I have to pay for each videos then? what is difference between windows sonic and dolby atom?
I was initially going to point out that this is inaccurate, but I wanted to clarify what exactly you mean before making comments based on my assumptions... I am currently using a USB DAC and have the ability to specify Stereo, Quadraphonic, 5.1 and 7.1 surround modes, as I have been able to do with three generic USB DAC's in the past, so I know from my experience it is indeed possible, so I figured you must have meant something other than what I am understanding...
Hope to hear from you!!
BE WELL!
i think you got it wrong , using usb dac , will only stuck at 2.0 output no matter what u send , as your dac has no decoding function for lossless or multichannel direct 3d, you need a soundcard with said chipset to do so, by setting proper multichannel output on a sound card that can actually has multichannel output, this will invoke any games or sources to output to multichannel direct 3d sound , or even lossless output , eg dobly digital, then with virtualization tech like window dolby atmos headphones ,dts x headpones or old dobly headphones, will take the multichannel sound source and convert to virtual stereo, which sound very close to the real thing.
what you are doing is, basically by asking the game source to output only stereo and put no a virtualization app, which honestly sound really fake and horrible.
TLDR = get a gaming sound card or use a multichannel sound card along a proper virtualization app for good headphone surround sound. USB dac are for stereo music listening.
microsoft dolby atmos bitstream out is totally free, but dolby atmos headphone virtualization is usd15 add on, which honestly sound MEH.. at best.. compare to razer own, or any dobly headphone or dts x app built in for most gaming headphone, good example are logitech g933 series with their dts x headphones, which takes pure multichannel sound source to convert to a stereo virtual matrix, its sound very very close to the real thing.
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