Simple Explanation

A surround sound format used to play Dolby Atmos content, with 7 ear-level speakers, 1 subwoofer, and 4 overhead or up-firing speakers that create a 3D audio space.

Concise Technical Definition

A Dolby Atmos speaker configuration consisting of 7 ear-level speakers (front, surround, rear), 1 LFE subwoofer, and 4 height channels (ceiling-mounted or upward-firing) for immersive spatial audio.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Like stepping into the middle of a movie scene—not only does sound come from around you, but also from above, like a plane flying overhead or rain falling.

Industry Usage Summary

A standard home theater layout for Dolby Atmos playback, combining traditional 7.1 surround with 4 height or elevation channels to deliver three-dimensional sound. Used in high-end home cinema and commercial installations.

Engineering Shortcut

7.1.4 = 7 horizontal + 1 LFE + 4 height (Atmos) channels.

Full Technical Explanation

7.1.4 is a Dolby Atmos speaker configuration featuring 7 ear-level speakers (left, center, right, side surrounds, and rear surrounds), 1 low-frequency effects (LFE) channel, and 4 overhead or up-firing height channels. These height channels allow audio objects to be placed in 3D space, enabling sound designers to position elements above the listener. This configuration is commonly used in high-end home theater systems and Atmos-certified setups, where immersive spatial precision and vertical envelopment are desired. Dolby Atmos content encoded for this format creates a sense of space and movement in all directions, including overhead.