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

$10.50
$14.99
+136 Deal Score
78,218 Views
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
Good Deal?

Original Post

Written by
Edited November 24, 2020 at 05:30 PM by
I don't post much but this is a deal I noticed last night.

DOLBY ATMOS for Headphones for Windows 10 PCs, XBOX One, and XBOX SERIES S/X is on sale for $ 10.49 (Normal price $14.99). If you aren't familiar...only Windows Sonic is supported out of the box for Xbox consoles and Windows 10 PCs,

Dolby Atmos and DTS are extra and require installation / activation.

You will need to install the DOLBY ACCESS app (which comes with a 7-day free ATMOS trial) via the Microsoft store on Windows 10 & Xbox Consoles.

Via that app you can access the purchase of DOLBY ATMOS as well as the settings. You also can go directly to the link for purchase.

This rarely ever goes on sale though I do know vouchers for a free copy are included with some RIG headsets.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p...verviewtab
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Deal
Score
+136
78,218 Views
$10.50
$14.99

Community Wiki

Last Edited by UnstableChimp November 24, 2020 at 05:26 PM
For those who have questions, or simply want to learn more about Dolby Atmos and Windows Sonic for headphones, this is a really good article.
https://reddiamondaudio.net/windo...lby-atmos/

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Featured Comments

The x-box comes with real dolby atmos for real speakers. This is simulated Dolby Atmos for headphones only.
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.
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.

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> bubble2 767 Posts
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coheedcollapse
11-24-2020 at 12:04 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:04 PM.
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.
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chomskyknows3
11-24-2020 at 12:06 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:06 PM.
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...
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Sporkinum
11-24-2020 at 12:07 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:07 PM.
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.
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blud7027
11-24-2020 at 12:07 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:07 PM.
Anyone know the regular price?
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jjmai
11-24-2020 at 12:11 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:11 PM.
What if my headphone is already simulated virtual 7.1 sound. Does this atmos app conflict?
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sanges99
11-24-2020 at 12:11 PM.

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank sanges99

11-24-2020 at 12:11 PM.
Quote from carbone :
Can anyone comment if they prefer this over DTS Unbound? Thanks!

FWIW I own both of them (purchased DD previously on a sale, and DTS only just recently released for Xbox), and prefer DTS. It just feels like a more defined virtual surround to my ears but YMMV.

DTS in-app unlock also is on sale during this event. Both have free trials, why not download them both and see if you have a preference.
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XealO
11-24-2020 at 12:12 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:12 PM.
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)?

Correct. I have an Atmos enabled receiver and an XBSX. It's free for home theatre setups.
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Honcho
11-24-2020 at 12:12 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:12 PM.
There's a 7 day free trial and this price is good for 10 days. If you're on the fence like me, seems like that's the way to find out if it this worth $10 to you.
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TheRyan112
11-24-2020 at 12:15 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:15 PM.
I have the stealth 600 first gen. Would this be something good for them?
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Luxowell
11-24-2020 at 12:17 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:17 PM.
I bought this a while ago and it sounds fantastic to me. It was worth the $20 it used to cost, so this is a steal.
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Original Poster
goosedude
11-24-2020 at 12:17 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:17 PM.
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
Yes but remember you have to go into your audio settings and choose DOLBY ATMOS specifically in your headphones (Other options are Windows Sonic and DTS).
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NickS6285
11-24-2020 at 12:18 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:18 PM.
Quote from Honcho :
There's a 7 day free trial and this price is good for 10 days. If you're on the fence like me, seems like that's the way to find out if it this worth $10 to you.

Agreed. Try it for free first and decide if you think the cost will really benefit you. I got access to this app for free with another purchase and the difference between Atmos and Sonic is almost non-existent.
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Original Poster
goosedude
11-24-2020 at 12:19 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:19 PM.
Quote from blud7027 :
anyone know the regular price?
14.99
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goraptors15
11-24-2020 at 12:20 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:20 PM.
Can I use a normal headphone with 2.5mm jack or does it require a USB headphone? I am interested in using the software on PC for watching Netflix Dolby Atmos movies with a headphone. Thanks.
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prankies
11-24-2020 at 12:20 PM.
11-24-2020 at 12:20 PM.
I have found that if you have a decent pair of headphones, then just about all of these software audio "enhancements" just add more compression, screw up your EQ levels, and lower your sound quality.

If you have dirt cheap headphones with little-to-no sound sound separation, then maybe you could get some benefit using something like Dolby Headphone. But any decent pair of headphones is going to sound best with a clean, unprocessed 2.0 signal. Stereo has absolutely no problem creating a 3D sound stage, especially with a good pair of headphones. All of this "virtual surround" stuff is muddled garbage.
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