Simple Explanation

A sound format that lets audio move all around you—even above you—by treating each sound as its own “object” that can be placed anywhere in 3D space.

Concise Technical Definition

Dolby Atmos is an object-based surround sound format that supports overhead and height speakers in addition to traditional surround channels, enabling 3D spatial audio using up to 128 audio objects and metadata.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Like virtual reality for your ears—each sound (like a plane or voice) can move around you in a bubble of sound, even above your head.

Industry Usage Summary

Used in cinemas, home theaters, soundbars, games, and streaming platforms, Atmos expands on 5.1 or 7.1 by adding height channels and object-based positioning. Popular setups include 5.1.2 or 7.1.4, and Atmos can be delivered via Blu-ray, Apple TV, or streaming services like Netflix and Disney+.

Engineering Shortcut

Object-based 3D audio format with overhead channels; supports up to 128 audio objects.

Full Technical Explanation

Dolby Atmos is a next-generation surround sound format that uses object-based audio mixing. Instead of assigning sounds to specific channels, Atmos treats each sound (e.g., a voice, a helicopter, raindrops) as an independent object with spatial metadata. This allows sound engineers to place and move these objects dynamically in a three-dimensional sound field, including overhead. Atmos supports up to 128 discrete audio elements and metadata for rendering in real time across various speaker configurations (e.g., 5.1.2, 7.1.4). It’s scalable for use in cinemas, professional mixing environments, and consumer playback devices like TVs, AVRs, and soundbars.