Adding ATMOS to a 7.2 setup

pratul

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Thread Starter
Joined
Feb 7, 2021
Messages
140
Location
Johns Creek GA
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Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Anthem AVM 70
Main Amp
Anthem MCA 20
Additional Amp
Anthem MCA 50
Other Amp
Monoprice Monolith 7x200
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Oppo
Front Speakers
M&K S-150 THX
Center Channel Speaker
M&K S-150 THX
Surround Speakers
M&K SS-150 THX
Surround Back Speakers
M&K SS-250 THX
Front Height Speakers
Monoprice Caliber
Rear Height Speakers
Monoprice Caliber
Subwoofers
M&K MX5000 M2 x2 + SVS PB-16 Ultra x 2
Video Display Device
JVC RS40U
Screen
Stewart 120" Greyhawk
Streaming Equipment
ROKU Ultra2
Streaming Subscriptions
HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Xfinity
Satellite System
People still use satellite systems? ;)
Hello there! I have a 7.2 setup currently and recently updated my pre-processor to Anthem AVM 70 which is ATMOS capable.
I understand ATMOS supports to front wides and the three pairs of height speakers (front, middle and rear) but not sure how important or useful each of them are.
When I look at some of the guides they recommend going with one or two pairs of height speakers (front and rear) and very few talk about the front wide speakers.
Several even suggest going from 7.2 setup to a 5.2.2 or 5.2.4 setup.
As you can imaging, I am quite confused on how to move to ATMOS and which channels to enable. Should I enable them all or go with just the front and rear height speakers?
What are the next logical steps to add ATMOS? How did you transition to ATMOS?

My theater details are in my profile. Basically the theater is 34x14x9 feet and I am using M&K S-150, S-250 & SS-150 speakers.

Thanks for your help in advance.
 

Travis Ballstadt

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Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Anthem AVM60
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Emotiva BasX 5
Additional Amp
Emotiva UPA-500
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Sony UBP-X800
Front Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema
Center Channel Speaker
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema
Surround Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema
Front Height Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Angled Satellite
Rear Height Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Angled Satellite
Subwoofers
SVS PB2000
Video Display Device
JVC DLA X790R, Lumagen Radiance Pro 4240
Screen
SeymourAV Proscenium 124” diagonal 2.40:1
Remote Control
Harmony Elite - Moving to Unfolded Circle Remote 2
Streaming Equipment
Kaleidescape Strato C/Terra 48TB/Compact Terra 6TB, PLEX Server, AppleTV4K, Bluesound Node2i
Streaming Subscriptions
AppleTV+, Amazon Prime, HBO Max
Satellite System
They still have those?
Other Equipment
Rega Planar 6, Rega Exact2 cart, Rega Aria Mk3 Phono Stage, Jolida JD202BRC, Rega RS-5 Speakers (2-channel system)
Really it depends on your room and where you are able to place speakers most effectively. That will decide which channels you activate in the Anthem.
 

pratul

Member
Thread Starter
Joined
Feb 7, 2021
Messages
140
Location
Johns Creek GA
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Anthem AVM 70
Main Amp
Anthem MCA 20
Additional Amp
Anthem MCA 50
Other Amp
Monoprice Monolith 7x200
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Oppo
Front Speakers
M&K S-150 THX
Center Channel Speaker
M&K S-150 THX
Surround Speakers
M&K SS-150 THX
Surround Back Speakers
M&K SS-250 THX
Front Height Speakers
Monoprice Caliber
Rear Height Speakers
Monoprice Caliber
Subwoofers
M&K MX5000 M2 x2 + SVS PB-16 Ultra x 2
Video Display Device
JVC RS40U
Screen
Stewart 120" Greyhawk
Streaming Equipment
ROKU Ultra2
Streaming Subscriptions
HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Xfinity
Satellite System
People still use satellite systems? ;)
Really it depends on your room and where you are able to place speakers most effectively. That will decide which channels you activate in the Anthem.
Thanks for your reply..
I guess I am trying to understand what will give the most bang for the buck ;)
Let's say the minimum is front and rear height speakers.... what do I gain with middle height speakers and what do I gain with front wide speakers? Does the size of the room drive any of these decisions and if so how?
 

Travis Ballstadt

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Staff member
Joined
Jul 26, 2017
Messages
1,080
Location
Seattle, WA
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Anthem AVM60
Main Amp
Emotiva BasX 5
Additional Amp
Emotiva UPA-500
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Sony UBP-X800
Front Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema
Center Channel Speaker
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema
Surround Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema
Front Height Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Angled Satellite
Rear Height Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Angled Satellite
Subwoofers
SVS PB2000
Video Display Device
JVC DLA X790R, Lumagen Radiance Pro 4240
Screen
SeymourAV Proscenium 124” diagonal 2.40:1
Remote Control
Harmony Elite - Moving to Unfolded Circle Remote 2
Streaming Equipment
Kaleidescape Strato C/Terra 48TB/Compact Terra 6TB, PLEX Server, AppleTV4K, Bluesound Node2i
Streaming Subscriptions
AppleTV+, Amazon Prime, HBO Max
Satellite System
They still have those?
Other Equipment
Rega Planar 6, Rega Exact2 cart, Rega Aria Mk3 Phono Stage, Jolida JD202BRC, Rega RS-5 Speakers (2-channel system)
Well, yes and yes and yes.

the size and shape of the room definitely plays a large factor. As a 7.1.4 user, I’m going to give you a couple generalizations…

the biggest audible improvement is likely the move from 2 immersive speakers to 4. Larger rooms will likely benefit from 6, but most rooms can be extremely satisfying with 4. Which 4 will depend on room size and shape, and where you’re able to place the speakers.

front wides, while seemingly a wise upgrade, have proven in real-world situations to be less than impressive. For whatever reason content is rarely sent to the wides in most peoples’ systems.

What’s your room look like? What are your possibilities?
 

pratul

Member
Thread Starter
Joined
Feb 7, 2021
Messages
140
Location
Johns Creek GA
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Anthem AVM 70
Main Amp
Anthem MCA 20
Additional Amp
Anthem MCA 50
Other Amp
Monoprice Monolith 7x200
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Oppo
Front Speakers
M&K S-150 THX
Center Channel Speaker
M&K S-150 THX
Surround Speakers
M&K SS-150 THX
Surround Back Speakers
M&K SS-250 THX
Front Height Speakers
Monoprice Caliber
Rear Height Speakers
Monoprice Caliber
Subwoofers
M&K MX5000 M2 x2 + SVS PB-16 Ultra x 2
Video Display Device
JVC RS40U
Screen
Stewart 120" Greyhawk
Streaming Equipment
ROKU Ultra2
Streaming Subscriptions
HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Xfinity
Satellite System
People still use satellite systems? ;)
Well, yes and yes and yes.

the size and shape of the room definitely plays a large factor. As a 7.1.4 user, I’m going to give you a couple generalizations…

the biggest audible improvement is likely the move from 2 immersive speakers to 4. Larger rooms will likely benefit from 6, but most rooms can be extremely satisfying with 4. Which 4 will depend on room size and shape, and where you’re able to place the speakers.

front wides, while seemingly a wise upgrade, have proven in real-world situations to be less than impressive. For whatever reason content is rarely sent to the wides in most peoples’ systems.

What’s your room look like? What are your possibilities?

Hi, thanks for your reply. You can see details of my theater in Showcase (https://www.avnirvana.com/showcase/our-theater.66/)
I can easily install all three pairs of in-ceiling hight speakers. Maybe that is what I should?
 

Travis Ballstadt

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 26, 2017
Messages
1,080
Location
Seattle, WA
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Anthem AVM60
Main Amp
Emotiva BasX 5
Additional Amp
Emotiva UPA-500
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Sony UBP-X800
Front Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema
Center Channel Speaker
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema
Surround Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema
Front Height Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Angled Satellite
Rear Height Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Angled Satellite
Subwoofers
SVS PB2000
Video Display Device
JVC DLA X790R, Lumagen Radiance Pro 4240
Screen
SeymourAV Proscenium 124” diagonal 2.40:1
Remote Control
Harmony Elite - Moving to Unfolded Circle Remote 2
Streaming Equipment
Kaleidescape Strato C/Terra 48TB/Compact Terra 6TB, PLEX Server, AppleTV4K, Bluesound Node2i
Streaming Subscriptions
AppleTV+, Amazon Prime, HBO Max
Satellite System
They still have those?
Other Equipment
Rega Planar 6, Rega Exact2 cart, Rega Aria Mk3 Phono Stage, Jolida JD202BRC, Rega RS-5 Speakers (2-channel system)
What I would do, if possible, is take a look here and decide where your best locations would be between the setups on page 36 and 42 of this document, but (again - if possible) try to spend some time with a temporary setup to compare in your room between page 42 and 43.

I still think front wides will become more utilized at some point, and if you're able to test them in your room, you might find that even now they add more in your room than a 3rd pair of heights. I know there are a lot of people hoping wides see more content, and in theory, that is the biggest "hole" in the typical surround setup.

 

pratul

Member
Thread Starter
Joined
Feb 7, 2021
Messages
140
Location
Johns Creek GA
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Anthem AVM 70
Main Amp
Anthem MCA 20
Additional Amp
Anthem MCA 50
Other Amp
Monoprice Monolith 7x200
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Oppo
Front Speakers
M&K S-150 THX
Center Channel Speaker
M&K S-150 THX
Surround Speakers
M&K SS-150 THX
Surround Back Speakers
M&K SS-250 THX
Front Height Speakers
Monoprice Caliber
Rear Height Speakers
Monoprice Caliber
Subwoofers
M&K MX5000 M2 x2 + SVS PB-16 Ultra x 2
Video Display Device
JVC RS40U
Screen
Stewart 120" Greyhawk
Streaming Equipment
ROKU Ultra2
Streaming Subscriptions
HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Xfinity
Satellite System
People still use satellite systems? ;)
What I would do, if possible, is take a look here and decide where your best locations would be between the setups on page 36 and 42 of this document, but (again - if possible) try to spend some time with a temporary setup to compare in your room between page 42 and 43.

I still think front wides will become more utilized at some point, and if you're able to test them in your room, you might find that even now they add more in your room than a 3rd pair of heights. I know there are a lot of people hoping wides see more content, and in theory, that is the biggest "hole" in the typical surround setup.

Thank you!
I think what you suggested makes sense. Not to find some speakers. Having a hard time finding reasonably priced speakers that fit the bill. The doc you shared says the height speakers should have the same frequency range + power rating as the rest and have wider dispersion. Most of the in-ceiling speakers I am finding that are reasonably priced don't go above 100 - 150 W. Search continues :) Then there is the amp ... I was thinking of going with the monoprice monolith which has similar power rating as my current amps but maybe too much for the in-ceiling speakers I am finding. Decisions, decisions... :)

Thanks for your help.
 

Travis Ballstadt

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 26, 2017
Messages
1,080
Location
Seattle, WA
More  
Preamp, Processor or Receiver
Anthem AVM60
Main Amp
Emotiva BasX 5
Additional Amp
Emotiva UPA-500
Universal / Blu-ray / CD Player
Sony UBP-X800
Front Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema
Center Channel Speaker
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema
Surround Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Reference Cinema
Front Height Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Angled Satellite
Rear Height Speakers
NextLevel Acoustics Angled Satellite
Subwoofers
SVS PB2000
Video Display Device
JVC DLA X790R, Lumagen Radiance Pro 4240
Screen
SeymourAV Proscenium 124” diagonal 2.40:1
Remote Control
Harmony Elite - Moving to Unfolded Circle Remote 2
Streaming Equipment
Kaleidescape Strato C/Terra 48TB/Compact Terra 6TB, PLEX Server, AppleTV4K, Bluesound Node2i
Streaming Subscriptions
AppleTV+, Amazon Prime, HBO Max
Satellite System
They still have those?
Other Equipment
Rega Planar 6, Rega Exact2 cart, Rega Aria Mk3 Phono Stage, Jolida JD202BRC, Rega RS-5 Speakers (2-channel system)
My height channels have nowhere near the range of my bed channels. Wides may prove to move more important for matching than heights. I do have the same amplification on all, though that was just by chance.

Unplug all your bed channels, connect your existing speakers and amps to the height channels and turn them on. You’ll be shocked how little comes from them, especially compared to the center channel.

And keep us posted!
 
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