Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands for deals, including promoted items.
Missed This Deal? Get alerts when similar deals are posted.
  1. Deal Image
Item 1 of 1
expiredgoosedude posted Nov 24, 2020 6:34 PM

Dolby Atmos for Headphones Add-On (Xbox / Windows Digital) for Dolby Access App

$11

$15

26% off
Microsoft Store
156 Comments
82.6K Views
Visit Microsoft Store
Deal Details
Microsoft.com has Dolby Atmos for Headphones Add-On (Xbox / Windows Digital) for use the Dolby Access app (free download) on sale for $10.49. Thanks goosedude

Note, requires installation of the free Dolby Access app (free download) to use this add-on feature.

Description
  • "Dolby Atmos for Headphones is an add-on for the Dolby Access app, Dolby Atmos for Headphones enables your Windows 10 PC to deliver a premium, immersive headphone experience. You’ll get the full Dolby Atmos moving audio experience with games, movies, and shows designed for Dolby Atmos, and an enhanced surround sound experience for all your favorite 5.1- and 7.1-channel content."
Compatibility:
  • Windows 10 PC
  • Xbox One / One S / One X
  • Xbox Series S / Series X

Editor's Notes

Written by RevOne | Staff
Offer ends 12/3/20.

Original Post

Written by goosedude
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Microsoft.com has Dolby Atmos for Headphones Add-On (Xbox / Windows Digital) for use the Dolby Access app (free download) on sale for $10.49. Thanks goosedude

Note, requires installation of the free Dolby Access app (free download) to use this add-on feature.

Description
  • "Dolby Atmos for Headphones is an add-on for the Dolby Access app, Dolby Atmos for Headphones enables your Windows 10 PC to deliver a premium, immersive headphone experience. You’ll get the full Dolby Atmos moving audio experience with games, movies, and shows designed for Dolby Atmos, and an enhanced surround sound experience for all your favorite 5.1- and 7.1-channel content."
Compatibility:
  • Windows 10 PC
  • Xbox One / One S / One X
  • Xbox Series S / Series X

Editor's Notes

Written by RevOne | Staff
Offer ends 12/3/20.

Original Post

Written by goosedude

Community Voting

Deal Score
+136
Good Deal
Visit Microsoft Store

Top Comments

vwbeetlvr
1.8KComments
1.4KReputation
The x-box comes with real dolby atmos for real speakers. This is simulated Dolby Atmos for headphones only.
Go to Comment
BrainDoc
3.1KComments
952Reputation
You can. I have it installed on two computers and use it with multiple headphones on those devices.

EDIT: I wouldn't pay for this. I received it free with a headset purchase but it's not that much better than Windows Sonic. For $11? Maybe worth it but I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.
Go to Comment
66Days
438Comments
77Reputation
I just did a quick test of both Atmos and DTS. Testing left right audio was useless as off provided sufficient information. Depth (distance from me) and angle (above or under me) were the values I ended up testing. I thought about making a more detailed youtube video, but since SlickDeals brought this deal to my attention I figured I would share my early results and then let you all tell me if it's worth making an longer video.

Headphones: Corsair VOID wireless and ATH-MX50
Game: Assassin's Creed Origin. Selected because it is marketed as a game for Atmos for headphones.
Method: I went into a city with a lot of ambient noises and found a donkey. With my eyes shut I ran away while pressing left and right and spinning my mouse for 5 to 10 seconds. I kept my eyes shut and then when the donkey started walking I would follow the sound and try and track back to the animal.

I repeated this for off, sonic, Atmos, and DTS for both headphones.

Then I climbed a building and stood by the edge. With my eyes shut I waited for a hay cart to come by and tried to jump into the cart.

Again I repeated this for all four for both headphones.

Results: Keep in mind the subjective nature of this and the very limited testing sample.

Overall sound quality. While the overall sound was marginally better with any 3D sound tech vs off I couldn't really tell much difference between the quality of the three options.

Non-voice sound effects had a better sense of depth with DTS than the other two 3D solutions. Noticeable but not significant (subjective use of the word, not statistical). I was repeatedly closer to the hay cart with DTS than the other two options.

Voice sound effects were identical for characters that were walking about, but there was a sense of distance. NPC yelling from a fixed point were very strange as their volume seemed to increase as I moved farther away from them until I could no longer hear them. This negated any depth information their sound provided.

Conclusion. Overall the distance a sound was coming from did seem improved with 3D sound enhancement vs off. In limited sampling no single 3D sound solution seemed the best. Angled sound was less impressive. DTS did seem the best of the three but more so when trying to locate birds above my head than people under me. In both above and below testing it was an acceptable improvement but not impressive.

This limited test suggests that, for gaming at least, Sonic is sufficient for improving sound.

Let me know if it's worth me taking the time to try more tests.
Go to Comment

Join The Conversation

Share your experience with the Slickdeals community

Share information with the community. Please follow our Community Guidelines and be kind!

157 Comments

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Nov 24, 2020 7:16 PM
1.2K Comments
Joined Mar 2016
Rookies1000Nov 24, 2020 7:16 PM
1.2K Comments
Confused. I have Xbox series X and steel series arctis 1 wireless coming. Would this be something for me?
Nov 24, 2020 7:16 PM
1.7K Comments
Joined Sep 2011
StutterFaceNov 24, 2020 7:16 PM
1.7K Comments
Quote from ruff4life :
Does this translate over to Xbox series x or is this just for PC only. Didn't specify on Xbox on website
Wondering that myself, everything in the description page points to Win10.
Last edited by StutterFace November 24, 2020 at 11:19 AM.
Nov 24, 2020 7:19 PM
83 Comments
Joined Oct 2016
nrao2Nov 24, 2020 7:19 PM
83 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank nrao2

I have tested this on my Xbox Series X, it works through plugged in headphones on controllers.
2
Nov 24, 2020 7:21 PM
1.7K Comments
Joined Sep 2011
StutterFaceNov 24, 2020 7:21 PM
1.7K Comments
Quote from nrao2 :
I have tested this on my Xbox Series X, it works through plugged in headphones on controllers.
I would hope so. I'm just trying to see the need for this. My sound is pretty great as-is, not sure what benefit this app will bring.
Nov 24, 2020 7:23 PM
424 Comments
Joined Sep 2013
chomskyknows3Nov 24, 2020 7:23 PM
424 Comments
As an Xbox insider, I can tell you one of the most common things that is broken (seems like for years now) is sound, including Dolby, including Atmos. "we are aware that some users are experiencing bla bla with Dolby Atmos bla bla..." I must have seen this message a hundred times...They are "aware" and yet never seem to be able to fix it permanently...
4
Nov 24, 2020 7:32 PM
542 Comments
Joined Jul 2019
mjsevillaNov 24, 2020 7:32 PM
542 Comments
Quote from StutterFace :
Wondering that myself, everything in the description page points to Win10.
It does specify on Xbox's website and it does translate for all consoles and Windows PC. Just need the Dolby Access app and turn on the right settings after purchasing.
Pro
Nov 24, 2020 7:37 PM
11.9K Comments
Joined Feb 2012
nottrollin
Pro
Nov 24, 2020 7:37 PM
11.9K Comments
Quote from StutterFace :
I would hope so. I'm just trying to see the need for this. My sound is pretty great as-is, not sure what benefit this app will bring.
It's called Marketing. They've got suckers buying phones, laptops and crappy soundbars labeled with 'atmos' stickers now.
4

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Nov 24, 2020 7:38 PM
1.7K Comments
Joined Jan 2009
guitarguy316Nov 24, 2020 7:38 PM
1.7K Comments
I've had this for years...but it's too bad the current implementation on XSX via ATMOS has serious audio lag issues.
Nov 24, 2020 7:39 PM
95 Comments
Joined Apr 2013
John4687Nov 24, 2020 7:39 PM
95 Comments
I am confused. Why would I pay for have to pay for this? Why wouldn't my Xbox series x come with it enabled?
7
Nov 24, 2020 7:44 PM
1.7K Comments
Joined Sep 2011
StutterFaceNov 24, 2020 7:44 PM
1.7K Comments
Quote from mjsevilla :
It does specify on Xbox's website and it does translate for all consoles and Windows PC. Just need the Dolby Access app and turn on the right settings after purchasing.
Yes I can see the icons denoting compatibility, like everything else in the MS Store. It's just curious they only mention Win10 in the description and literally zero mention of it's benefit on a console.
Nov 24, 2020 7:45 PM
1.8K Comments
Joined Apr 2007
vwbeetlvrNov 24, 2020 7:45 PM
1.8K Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank vwbeetlvr

Quote from John4687 :
I am confused. Why would I pay for have to pay for this? Why wouldn't my Xbox series x come with it enabled?
The x-box comes with real dolby atmos for real speakers. This is simulated Dolby Atmos for headphones only.
3
Nov 24, 2020 7:53 PM
685 Comments
Joined Jan 2007
foobar42Nov 24, 2020 7:53 PM
685 Comments
Quote from StutterFace :
So is Windows Sonic no bueno? What does this give that Sonic doesn't?

Also, the product description only mentions Win10...nothing about consoles. Odd. Meh, sale ends in 10 days...time to educate myself.
Windows Sonic vs Dolby Atmos. It sounds like it comes down to preference. I am not convinced I need this.

Some details on the two technologies:
https://www.windowscentral.com/xb...dows-sonic
Nov 24, 2020 8:04 PM
790 Comments
Joined Aug 2007
coheedcollapseNov 24, 2020 8:04 PM
790 Comments
If it isn't absolutely imperative that you use Dolby Atmos, Windows Sonic does pretty much the same thing. It's just 3D audio virtualization. Sony also has a version of it in their new console.

The results should be pretty similar between the free one and this one, but $10 could be worth the price of entry to you if you want to try a different model or something.
Nov 24, 2020 8:06 PM
424 Comments
Joined Sep 2013
chomskyknows3Nov 24, 2020 8:06 PM
424 Comments
Quote from vwbeetlvr :
The x-box comes with real dolby atmos for real speakers. This is simulated Dolby Atmos for headphones only.
Yes. Simulated. Most (not all of course) headphones are probably stereo. This must send a discrete signal toward the top edges of the headphone speakers somehow (for Atmos, which just means ceiling speakers)...so if there is rain or a plane flies over you in your game, it'll sound like it's coming above you. This, assuming the game supports Atmos to begin with...
3

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Nov 24, 2020 8:07 PM
2K Comments
Joined Sep 2003
SporkinumNov 24, 2020 8:07 PM
2K Comments
Quote from sarcean :
I have a Atmos reciever, I don't need to purchase this if I am just doing Atmos through my sound system right (not headphones)?
No, but it is currently broken. Seemed to break around a week ago. Having to have all sound from computer go out 5.1 now. Shame too, as the Atmos from PC to receiver sounded great while it was working. Hoping they get it fixed soon.

Join The Conversation

Share your experience with the Slickdeals community

Share information with the community. Please follow our Community Guidelines and be kind!

Related Searches

Tech & ElectronicsAudio / VideoVideo GamesVideo Game AccessoriesXbox OneXbox Series X and Series SMicrosoft Store