AURO Technologies is now preparing to release a preamp/processor which includes both AURO-3D and Dolby Atmos decoding.ĭetails are still a bit sketchy on the Auro Technologies AURO-3D Mensa processor, but here's what we do know. Although it has not been encoded into as many movies as Dolby Atmos, there are a few titles which have been released in theaters with more expected over time. Here's an overview of what's currently available or coming soon.ĪURO Technologies actually offers an alternative height-enhanced surround sound format called AURO-3D. This fall and winter, we've started seeing the introduction of a wide range of Dolby Atmos-capable preamp/processors, from reasonably affordable entry level high-end gear to more esoteric processors from luxury brands. A 9.2.4 configuration would have 9 surround speakers at ear level, two subwoofers and four height channels. So a 5.1.2 configuration includes five surround speakers, one subwoofer and two height speakers. The nomenclature for this is a 3-part number: x.y.z, where "x" is the number of traditional speakers at ear height, "y" is the number of subwoofers and "z" is the number of ceiling speakers (or Dolby Atmos-enabled height speakers). By housing the power amplifiers in a separate box (or multiple boxes), noise and interference between components is minimized, leading to the highest possible sonic performance.Īs with receivers, Dolby Atmos-compatible preamps can support a number of different speaker configurations. In order to maintain the best sound quality, preamp/processors include only low current circuitry and processors.
But unlike receivers, preamp/processors have no built-in amplification. They're similar to A/V receivers in that they provide source switching and decoding of all the various surround sound formats as well as audio and video processing and volume control. Preamp/processors are the brains behind any high-end home theater system. If you're looking for something a little higher performance than an all-in-one receiver, you'll probably want to consider a Dolby Atmos-enabled preamp/processor.
PREPROS 5 VS PREPROS 6 MOVIE
Dolby Atmos is making its way from professional movie cinemas to home theaters in a variety of different products.