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expired Posted by goosedude • Nov 24, 2020
expired Posted by goosedude • Nov 24, 2020

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

$11

$15

26% off
Microsoft Store
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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
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Top Comments

vwbeetlvr
1794 Posts
1397 Reputation
The x-box comes with real dolby atmos for real speakers. This is simulated Dolby Atmos for headphones only.
BrainDoc
2936 Posts
932 Reputation
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.
66Days
413 Posts
77 Reputation
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.

157 Comments

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Nov 24, 2020
1,329 Posts
Joined Jun 2008
Nov 24, 2020
tC2009
Nov 24, 2020
1,329 Posts
Interesting I just got an astro gaming 40 headset with a code for this but it states code for 2 years not life time. Very odd
Nov 24, 2020
105 Posts
Joined Jun 2018
Nov 24, 2020
VolForLife1
Nov 24, 2020
105 Posts
I use the Cloud Alphas on Xbox One and feel like Sonic is fine for games. Seems like Dolby and Dts shine for movies and things like that.
Nov 24, 2020
67 Posts
Joined May 2016
Nov 24, 2020
ElMemiux
Nov 24, 2020
67 Posts
Similar question as above. I got a code from the Astro A50s for 2 years, would purchasing this stack on top of the two years?
Nov 24, 2020
394 Posts
Joined Dec 2013
Nov 24, 2020
Showmethmoney
Nov 24, 2020
394 Posts
Quote from jjmai :
What if my headphone is already simulated virtual 7.1 sound. Does this atmos app conflict?

Egon: Don't cross the simulated surround sound.
Peter: Why?
Egon: It would be bad.
Peter: I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean "bad"?
Egon: Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
Raymond: Total protonic reversal.
Peter: That's bad. Okay. Alright, important safety tip, thanks Egon. LMAO
Nov 24, 2020
52 Posts
Joined Jul 2016
Nov 24, 2020
umidikim
Nov 24, 2020
52 Posts
Worked for me. Thank you op!
Nov 24, 2020
1,256 Posts
Joined Nov 2015
Nov 24, 2020
kjvmartin
Nov 24, 2020
1,256 Posts
Bought it, set it up.

Can't tell if it's doing anything. SteelSeries Arctis 3 Xbox One X.
Nov 24, 2020
358 Posts
Joined Sep 2011
Nov 24, 2020
kishin7
Nov 24, 2020
358 Posts
Quote from irod87 :
So this "enhancement" will work with any headphones?
Doesn't work on my audeze mobius for some reason.

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Nov 24, 2020
358 Posts
Joined Sep 2011
Nov 24, 2020
kishin7
Nov 24, 2020
358 Posts
This thing is buggy. I've been using it on and off for a few weeks and I just wish it saved my sound settings after reboot. I have to go into sound settings and enable it more than half the time and when switching to home theater setup the sound cuts out when I switch between video or sound that is playing. Very annoying in terms of usability but sound is good when it works.
Nov 24, 2020
660 Posts
Joined Nov 2013
Nov 24, 2020
UT07
Nov 24, 2020
660 Posts
Quote from kjvmartin :
Bought it, set it up.

Can't tell if it's doing anything. SteelSeries Arctis 3 Xbox One X.
Well...because physics gonna physics, no matter how much marketing nonsense you tag to it. Dolby Atmos requires speakers above your head. You can't do that with software.
3
Nov 24, 2020
1,905 Posts
Joined Dec 2004
Nov 24, 2020
awdawg
Nov 24, 2020
1,905 Posts
Quote from Blane2u :
I got it 2 days ago and have the same question
I believe on the purchase page it says it can be installed on on to I think 10 devices. Read through the fun print, I bought it a few weeks back.
Quote from irod87 :
So this "enhancement" will work with any headphones?
Supposedly so, I imagine the results and experience will vary. I used bluetooth to my laptop and my xbox one s to a pair of Bowers and Wilkins PX which have a pretty awesome sound stage, and the effects are pretty damn good for a pair of headphones. Especially headphones that aren't a "Surround sound" 5.1/7.1 headphone. I also have an Atmos setup in the same room, the actual atmos setup with the dual 12's etc. still provides a better spacial effect, however for $10, it's well worth it. Especially if you don't have an Atmos theater setup. It has to be Atmos content however, so certain games, movies, some netflix content etc.
Nov 24, 2020
1,905 Posts
Joined Dec 2004
Nov 24, 2020
awdawg
Nov 24, 2020
1,905 Posts
Quote from kjvmartin :
Bought it, set it up.

Can't tell if it's doing anything. SteelSeries Arctis 3 Xbox One X.
I have read if your headphones have special software that you are supposed to disable the effects or software for the surround sound headphones for it to work correctly. That said also be sure you are playing content that contains an atmos sound track, otherwise it doesn't enable.
Nov 24, 2020
1,256 Posts
Joined Nov 2015
Nov 24, 2020
kjvmartin
Nov 24, 2020
1,256 Posts
Quote from awdawg :
I have read if your headphones have special software that you are supposed to disable the effects or software for the surround sound headphones for it to work correctly. That said also be sure you are playing content that contains an atmos sound track, otherwise it doesn't enable.
My headphones were plug and play on the Xbox. No special software.

I will need to mess around more in the settings. Thanks
Nov 24, 2020
394 Posts
Joined Dec 2013
Nov 24, 2020
Showmethmoney
Nov 24, 2020
394 Posts
Quote from UT07 :
Well...because physics gonna physics, no matter how much marketing nonsense you tag to it. Dolby Atmos requires speakers above your head. You can't do that with software.

Did you mean Dolby Atmos won't sound as good using headphones as it would with a traditional surround sound speaker setup?
1
Pro
Nov 24, 2020
1,622 Posts
Joined Jun 2011
Nov 24, 2020
mkdenar
Pro
Nov 24, 2020
1,622 Posts
Quote from Showmethmoney :
Did you mean Dolby Atmos won't sound as good using headphones as it would with a traditional surround sound speaker setup?
I think this depends, movies and regular gaming I do surround sound, multiplayer (hearing steps around me) require headphones.

I have this (came with a headset of mine) and am an amateur audiophile, and cannot discern between this and the "windows sonic" with any headset I've tested. If this is lifetime or you have it, why not; if this is 2 year subscription don't waste your money.
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Nov 24, 2020
130 Posts
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