STACK #211 May 2022

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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Can you tell a Dolby from a DTS? When it comes to home theatre audio, a myriad of different surround sound options are available. Here are some of the more common ones you’re likely to encounter, and why they matter. Dolby Atmos – cinema-quality, object-based surround sound that includes height speakers to create an immersive 3D soundscape Dolby Digital – digital audio coding that reduces the amount of data required to produce high quality sound (also known as AC-3) Dolby Digital EX – adds an extra rear surround channel to create a 6.1 system Dolby Digital Plus – supports up to 15 channels of audio and greater bitrates Dolby Surround – an algorithm that upmixes a stereo or surround soundtrack to match a room’s speaker configuration DolbyTrue HD – multi-channel format that delivers uncompressed audio DTS – audio encoded at a high bitrate for better quality audio reproduction DTS-ES – Extended Surround format that adds an extra channel for spatial effects DTS-HD Master Audio – multi-channel format that uses lossless compression to deliver the original studio soundtrack DTS: X – multi-directional object-based format that works with standard surround speakers and supports up to 11 channels

With an exciting new range of big screen smart TVs available in 2022, a soundbar is the perfect match to bring the complete cinema experience home. I f you haven’t been on the hunt for a new Making connections For newTVs, an HDMI port, or even better, an HDMI ARC or eARC port, is where you’ll get the best sound quality from your soundbar. Most soundbars will include an optical port if you’re

TV in a few years, the first two things you’ll likely notice are an increase in screen size and a decrease in thickness. You’ll never hear us complaining about bigger screens, but the move to a slimmer design comes with a sacrifice in speaker size. If you’re upgrading a visual home entertainment experience, you’ll want plenty of oomph in the audio department, and that’s where a soundbar comes in. The modern soundbar is an unobtrusive bit of kit that packs a real punch and can now support immersive Dolby Atmos audio to bring the cinema right into your lounge room. They are easy to install, and you don’t have to worry about separate speakers and metres of wiring. But what are the key considerations when buying a soundbar? Sizing up There’s a bit of common sense at play here. Assess the area that the soundbar will service, and this will determine what size unit you want and how much grunt it needs under the hood. If you want the soundbar's length to complement the length of your TV – and ensure that it fits beneath – get the tape measure out before you buy.

connecting to an older TV. In the channel Should you want to enhance the soundbar’s surround sound output, it might be worth augmenting it with a subwoofer and rear speakers (preferably wireless). At the higher end of the pricing scale is the excellent Dolby Atmos. This immersive technology adds height to the sound, providing a full, enveloping soundscape. Set for streaming Remember, soundbars make excellent music players too. Bluetooth and Apple AirPlay 2 support will allow you to stream music from a smart device, while Wi-Fi enables direct connection to an online streaming service, and you can link other compatible speakers throughout the house. Smart move If you want to control all your audio commands with your voice, smart functionality such as Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa is essential.

34 MAY 2022

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