We’ll do the math: that’s between 780% and 2,300% more data than Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus. But Atmos can be encoded losslessly at up to 24-bit/192kHz, which results in bit rates that can soar as high as 18,000 kbps. Dolby Atmos averages around 6,000 kbps when a 48kHz sampling rate is used.

The second flavor of Dolby Atmos is via Dolby TrueHD, a lossless, hi-res-capable audio format that is used on physical media like Blu-ray discs and digital downloads of Dolby Atmos Music from hi-res music sites, where its higher data requirements are less of a concern.īit rates for Dolby TrueHD fluctuate with the audio being encoded. To put that in perspective, lossless, two-channel CD-quality stereo in FLAC format uses 1,411 kbps - twice as much data as lossy, multi-channel Dolby Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus. If you’ve watched a movie in Dolby Atmos from Netflix, Disney+, or Apple TV+, you were listening to Dolby Digital Plus.Īccording to Dolby Labs, Dolby Atmos audio in Dolby Digital Plus is usually encoded at bit rates between 384 and 768 kilobits per second (kbps). If you like to listen on your phone, it also keeps your mobile data costs from going through the roof. It’s designed to provide the Atmos experience, but at a lower bandwidth, so that streaming video and music services can stream Atmos without incurring huge data fees. Dolby Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus is the lossy flavor. Dolby supports two flavors of Dolby Atmos. From lossy to lossless Simon Cohen / Digital Trendsįirst, a quick 101 on how Dolby Atmos (for both music and movies) works. If you’re among those who want the very best audio quality you can get your hands (and ears) on, here’s how you can experience Dolby Atmos Music losslessly - even on a Sonos system - and why I think streaming music services like Apple Music and Amazon Music will eventually offer it to their subscribers. I think you’ll be able to hear the difference too.

I’ve heard both, and the difference was remarkable. Why does that matter? As good as these Dolby Atmos Music tracks sound, they’re a far cry from how good Atmos can sound when delivered in a lossless format.

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