Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 front height speaker experience?

Bearjamin · 11 Jul 2019 at 13:59

Wondering if anyone here has a Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 speaker setup and what's your experience? I don't have the option to saw holes in the ceiling since I'm renting right now, so there's only two options. I watched a review recently of up firing vs front hight vs ceiling speakers (https://youtu.be/pqi5dEWp_vs) and now I'm pretty convinced that front heights are much more authentic option than up firing.

However the reviewer received the SVS prime elevation speakers from SVS for free and has Amazon affiliate links for it, so he's probably a bit biased towards those particular speakers. Anyone else here have a front hight 5.1.2 set up? What speakers are you using and how's your experience?

hornetstinger · 11 Jul 2019 at 14:14

Don't have Atmos but when I do it'll be in ceiling.

Bearjamin · 11 Jul 2019 at 14:17

hornetstinger said:
Don't have Atmos but when I do it'll be in ceiling.

Definitely the way to go so long as you've got the option. I'll be envious!

200sols · 11 Jul 2019 at 14:53

I have Dali Alteco front heights, work very well. I would go for it.

killem · 11 Jul 2019 at 16:11

I Have 5.1.2 but with XTZ S2 speakers mounted high up on the left and right wall in the midle of my room. It works well but you can also mount these ontop of you front pair for up firing.

metalmackey · 11 Jul 2019 at 16:14

I went from KEF up firing R50 modules to the SVS Prime elevation speakers and Atmos sounds a lot better to me. I have 4 SVS's though, mI set them to top front and top rear in the AVR settings. I thought the KEF's were good till I got the Primes

Bearjamin · 11 Jul 2019 at 17:48

metalmackey said:
I went from KEF up firing R50 modules to the SVS Prime elevation speakers and Atmos sounds a lot better to me. I have 4 SVS's though, mI set them to top front and top rear in the AVR settings. I thought the KEF's were good till I got the Primes

Thanks. Good to hear from someone who's heard the difference first hand

Bearjamin · 11 Jul 2019 at 17:55

killem said:
I Have 5.1.2 but with XTZ S2 speakers mounted high up on the left and right wall in the midle of my room. It works well but you can also mount these ontop of you front pair for up firing.

Is there a setting in your AVR for that? Not heard of that kind of setup before.

killem · 11 Jul 2019 at 17:59

Bearjamin said:
Is there a setting in your AVR for that? Not heard of that kind of setup before.

I Have a Anthem MRX720 amp and the room correction on it is exellent and it handles the setup for the speakers.

Speakers are down fireing but mounted right at the top of the wall. Due to the shape the design the cones are angled into the room towards the seating position.

Bearjamin · 11 Jul 2019 at 18:24

killem said:
I Have a Anthem MRX720 amp and the room correction on it is exellent and it handles the setup for the speakers.

Speakers are down fireing but mounted right at the top of the wall. Due to the shape the design the cones are angled into the room towards the seating position.

Is that to say the cones are facing towards you, rather than towards the middle of the room? If so, how did you mount them like that if the key holes are on the rear?

killem · 11 Jul 2019 at 19:16

mounting holes are on both the side and bottom so you can buy a flush mounting kit. I did not want to drill into ceiling so this was the best solution.

https://imgur.com/a/wxBbMqE

Bearjamin · 11 Jul 2019 at 20:15

killem said:
mounting holes are on both the side and bottom so you can buy a flush mounting kit. I did not want to drill into ceiling so this was the best solution.

https://imgur.com/a/wxBbMqE

Ahh, I see what you mean now, thanks. Looks great in white! Where did you get them?

killem · 11 Jul 2019 at 20:19

Bearjamin said:
Ahh, I see what you mean now, thanks. Looks great in white! Where did you get them?

http://www.epichomecinema.co.uk/EpicHomeCinema/xtzcinema.html

killem · 11 Jul 2019 at 20:22

They match up well with my bower & wilkins fronts and rears but apparently tonal matching is not as noticable for the atmos effect speakers.

Hedge · 11 Jul 2019 at 23:03

I have Dali Alteco as heights but they sit above and behind me.

Definitely fills the room on atmos movies.

It's not as amazing as going stereo - 5.1 but it sure ain't bad.

Bearjamin · 12 Jul 2019 at 08:06

Hedge said:
I have Dali Alteco as heights but they sit above and behind me.

Definitely fills the room on atmos movies.

It's not as amazing as going stereo - 5.1 but it sure ain't bad.

I think the Dali Alteco seem more in my budget, but I'd probably think about spraying them white to blend in with the ceiling more haha

200sols · 12 Jul 2019 at 08:10

Bearjamin said:
I think the Dali Alteco seem more in my budget, but I'd probably think about spraying them white to blend in with the ceiling more haha

Or just buy the white ones?

Bearjamin · 12 Jul 2019 at 08:18

200sols said:
Or just buy the white ones?

Ah... didn't spot they had white ones. Duh! I'm stupid..

barmyllama · 12 Jul 2019 at 09:41

Don't want to hijack the thread. But I'd like an option on whether the Dali Alteco would be best mounted as front height or rear height down fiirng, for a listing position that is on a rear wall.

Bearjamin · 12 Jul 2019 at 09:55

barmyllama said:
Don't want to hijack the thread. But I'd like an option on whether the Dali Alteco would be best mounted as front height or rear height down fiirng, for a listing position that is on a rear wall.

I couldn't really say, since I'm still researching about it all myself. But from most places I've read, 5.1.2 using elevated speakers as the heights; front heights are optimal, and only adding rear heights for 5.1.4

Hedge said above he's using rear height channels. It would be interesting to hear a comparison between a front height vs rear height 5.1.2 setup.