2 or 4 Atmos Speakers – Do Numbers Matter?

All the best home theatre sound output experiences cannot be avoided at any cost. You shall be vibrating higher when the bass kicks are bumping on the crystalized sounds. The Atmos speakers are going to add spices to your party times. 

Attempts on choosing between 2 or 4 Atmos speakers should clarify things. 

Between 2 or 4 atmos speakers, the 4 atmos speakers are always better. The 2 speakers can be plausible when the surround sound output is not more than 7. However, going beyond 5 surround sound output, the 2 atmos speaker can perform poorly. For bigger rooms and higher channels, the efficiency of 4 speakers cannot be avoided. 

Allowing some common speaker output guidance to take root, you should be worry-free. Some proper investment is going to excite your entertainment ventures. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • 2 atmos speakers aren’t capable to handle the latest Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 or 9.1.4.
  • For home theater setup, 4 atmos speakers work like a charm.
  • These speakers have subwoofers for more clear and more boosted bass.

Atmos Speakers 2 or 4?- Quick Summary!

To compare the 2 and 4 Atmos speakers performance difference, let’s consider Dolby Atmos setup. It’s known that Dolby Atmos works best with Atmos speakers. So, let’s check the compatibility form.

Models2 Atmos Speakers4 Atmos Speakers
Dolby Atmos 5.1.2YesNo
Dolby Atmos 7.1.4NoYes
Dolby Atmos 9.1.4NoYes

Generally, in a very small room, having 4 speakers will cloud up the sound. The 2 Atmos speakers are suggested with a basic small room setup. 

On the other hand, the 4 Atmos speakers are suggested with a bigger room. This is with a higher quality sound set up with more surrounding speakers.

Compatible Dolby Setup with 2 and 4 Atmos Speakers

Atmos Speakers 2 or 4? – Detailed Look!

A general sound system philosophy is to go by the numbers. This means the more the better. Choosing between 2 or 4 Atmos speakers is an easy scenario to deal with. 

It is usually recommended to use 4 overhead speakers with the Dolby Atmos system. The simple reason is that the sound will be more precise. The sound will also be spread adequately around the room. 

This is going to do justice to the surrounding speaker setup of the home theatre system. This does not mean that we are going to only concentrate on the home theater area. In certain cases, 2 atmos speakers can be good too. 

The Dolby Atmos upward-firing speakers should set a good-sounding tone in the living room. What about in your bedroom? 2 Atmos speakers can be enough in a smaller area.

But 4 speakers can just flare up your music listening experience in the room. It is important to note that the Dolby brand concentrates on the surround sound system. Holding this aspect, three scenarios will be indicated. 

Dolby Atmos 5.1.2:

In your living room Dolby atmos 5.1.2 speaker placement would indicate Dolby’s first attention. Dolby is going to hook you in with a Dolby Surround or 5.1 sound setup

The 5.1.2 indicates 5 surrounding speakers, 1 subwoofer, and 2 overhead Atmos speakers. A general question arises on if 4 overhead speakers are compatible with 5 surrounding speakers

2 overhead speakers can carry efficient sound spread adequately with 5 surrounding speakers. However, the sound of 4 overhead speakers may reach a buzzing noise at a higher volume. The situation also depends on the size of the room. More space means more areas for the sound to cover with clarity.  

If ceiling or over-the-head speakers are installed with a 5-speaker surround, it would be 5.1.4. This is something that is there in the Dolby sound setup catalog. 

An expert opinion would be to install 2 overhead speakers in a small room. 

It is good to maintain the best quality sound output. Buying some product can help you in the process:

When setting up it is necessary to know where to place 2 atmos speakers. As it needs to give you a surround sound system. 

Make sure the speakers are 1.2 meters apart at the left front and right front of the atmos setup. Also, it is better to keep them overhead at a listener level.

Verdict:

In the 5.1.2 version setup, the 2 Atmos speakers will do a good job. 

PRO-TIP:

Use high-quality digital or optical cables built for accurate audio frequency distribution.

5.1.2 Surround Sound System Setup
Source: Dolby

Dolby Atmos 7.1.4:

Let us go forward considering a broader living room area. In the Dolby atmos 7.1.4, the 7 surrounding speakers should fit. This is as perfect as possible. 

2 overhead Atmos speakers will absolutely not be efficient. The 4 overhead speakers are really necessary here. In a big living room, certain awesome subwoofer kicks never deny the room size.  

The atmos speaker placement should be efficiently done. The 4 overhead speakers must be set tight on four corners over the top. This is by considering the right measurement. 

The surrounding speakers will get accompanied the right way. This is when they’re placed at the right distance intervals. The sound clarity is going to be something to experience. 

For the best sound distribution, the atmos ceiling speakers should speak to you. This can be possible with some high-quality products:

Also, your home theater will look excellent with such a setup. Just like this person!

Verdict:

The 7.1.4 versions have too many surrounding speakers. On the above level, without the 4 Atmos speakers, it wouldn’t be favorable. 

PRO-TIP:

Place each speaker 3 to 5 feet away from each other.

7.1.4 Overhead Speaker Setup
Source: Dolby

Dolby Atmos 9.1.4:

This is actually a very uncommon scenario. Can you imagine how long your living room has to be for 9 speakers? You really need to have a big living room for the best atmos speakers

As mentioned before, too many speakers can clog up the sound. Especially, if the room is not that really big. This is something you will realize when you consider the pros and cons of the Dolby Atmos Home theater.

You can actually go for 6 top speakers. The Dolby atmos upward-firing speakers angle will not find enough space to spread a proper sound clarity. This is the reason why more than 4 speakers are not usually recommended. 

All in all, it can be said that the 4 overhead speakers are the most efficient if you have Dolby Atmos 9.1.4. It will reflect the most evenly reflected sound quality. The subwoofer will function with longevity complying with good resolution low bass sound. 

Verdict:

The 9.1.4 Dolby surround system is a rich flavored audio setup. It is very much recommended to have a 4 Atmos over the heat speakers configuration. 

PRO-TIP:

Place the subwoofer at a center point, right below the TV.

9.1.4 Overhead Speaker Setup
Source: Dolby

So, Which Type of Atmos Speakers Are More Versatile?

You’ve been through my comparison. However, you might be perplexed to decide on a sound system. Well, here are my final thoughts.

The 2 atmos speakers are good for small rooms. The perfect retention of sound can be ensured by these correctly. However, as a sound system, you may feel it lacks in-depth sound reproduction.

On the other hand, the 4 atmos speakers are suitable for small to large rooms. It can cover up more ground so you can enjoy the dynamic range more clearly. 

Now, the choice is yours. Go for the setup that you find suitable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I increase the bass of the home theatre system?

The best bass output can come with a proper equalization system. This is when you can lower down the treble and midrange sound. The bass output will be more audible. 

How far from the TV should the left and right speakers be?

It is good to place the left and right speakers 3 to 5 feet away from the TV. The other speakers all around should have the same distance as well. You would be enjoying the sound output really well. 

How important is frequency response in speakers?

Proper frequency response in speakers distributes and balances layers of sound signals. The bass, treble, and mid-range sounds are mixed properly. With this, the quality of sound will be top-notch. 

Conclusion

Confusion about choosing between 2 or 4 atmos speakers should not be a problem. This is at the end of it all where things are simpler than before. 

Hope you get the most out of this article.

Bye for now!

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