Page 20 - 2022-08-01 Sound & Vision

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angle Q&A

Surround Strategy

BY AL GRIFFIN

Q I currently have a Dolby Atmos/DTS-X 7.1.4 speaker setup that
uses a Marantz SR7011 A/V receiver, which I’m interested in
upgrading to Auro-3D. Apparently you can use the receiver’s
subwoofer 2 output to connect the Auro-3D “Voice of God”
overhead speaker, which I plan to do. But before I take the $199 plunge
to upgrade my Marantz, I have a few questions. Can Auro-3D decode/
convert Atmos and DTS-X? I own around 200 Ultra HD Blu-ray discs and
none of them have an Auro-3D soundtrack. As for the ceiling speakers,
should I set them up the way Auro-3D suggests or leave them in their Dolby
Atmos recommended positions? (My home theater has a drop ceiling so
it’s no problem repositioning the speakers.) Thanks for whatever advice
you can give. A er reading several articles praising the immersive sound
quality of Auro 3D, I’m anxious to check it out.
DAVE DAVEY / MOUNT ARLINGTON, NJ

A I’ll admit upfront to website place the wall-mounted The answer to that is no—all three tion your speakers, the Atmos
As for how you should posi-
are separate and unique codecs.
having no hands-on
height speakers at a 30-degree
way or the Auro-3D way, in our
experience with Auro-
However, according to Marantz’s
angle targeting the area above the
3D, so any answers seated listener’s head, and the top documentation, the overhead test reports of Auro-3D-capable
provided here will be practical speaker placed directly above and effects in Atmos soundtracks surround-sound processors,
and theoretical rather than based firing down on the main seating decoded by your Marantz receiver Sound & Vision has had successful
on real-world listening. Auro-3D area. can be played back on an Auro-3D experiences playing both Auro-
typically uses a “three-layer” A typical Dolby Atmos speaker setup, but with the overhead 3D-encoded and Auro-Matic
speaker configuration, with setup, on the other hand, is quite effects information routed only to upmixed content on standard
a standard 5.1 or 7.1-channel different, with two or more over- the front height speakers. Stan- Atmos speaker configurations.
surround-sound setup augmented head effects speakers located in dard mono/stereo/5.1/7.1 content, Since you have the flexibility in
by four height speakers (L/R front (or on) the ceiling in front of and meanwhile, can be processed by your space to try out different
and L/R back) plus an overhead behind the main listening posi- the Auro-3D Auro-Matic Upmixer speaker positions, you should
top speaker (the “Voice of God” tion and no wall-mounted height in a receiver or surround pre/pro conduct listening experiments
unit you mentioned). Auro-3D’s speakers. Can Auro-3D decode/ for playback on all speakers in an with both setups and see which
setup recommendations on its convert Dolby Atmos and DTS-X? Auro-3D setup. one sounds best to your ears.

Q I am interested in listening to music from the Spotify service you will be able to extend your system’s reach and control everything
via a smartphone app.
using my older Pioneer Elite SC-07 A/V receiver. I tried
One thing to note about Spotify: that particular service is not
connecting my smart TV to the receiver via an optical digital
connection and then streaming using the TV’s built-in CD-quality. Rather, Spotify uses lossy compression to stream albums
Spotify app, but was disappointed with the sound quality. Will adding a and tracks, making it a lesser-quality option than other services like
network media player like the Marantz NA6006 to my system and using Tidal, Qobuz, Apple Music, and Amazon Music HD, which stream at
that to stream Spotify provide the CD-quality fidelity I am a er? CD-quality using lossless compression, along with offering a high-res
ROB PILESKI / BURLINGTON, WI audio option (up to 24-bit/192kHz).

A Adding a media server/streamer like the Marantz NA6006
(or a newer option like the $599 Bluesound Node shown
here) will bring both CD-quality and high-res audio
streaming capability to your system. It will also add up-to-
date features like Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 wireless streaming that your
circa-2009 Pioneer Elite receiver lacks. Along with Spotify, you will gain
access to lossless-quality music services like Tidal, and in the case of
the Bluesound streamer, Qobuz plus Roon compatibility. The Marantz
and the Bluesound both also use proprietary protocols for multiroom
music streaming (Heos on the Marantz, BluOS on the Bluesound), so

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20 August September 2022 soundandvision.com