Gaming with immersive sound makes you a professional gamer. When it comes to Dolby Atmos sound quality, it can make a big difference.
Dolby Atmos is great for games where audio makes all the differences and allows sound to be projected precisely into a three-dimensional space.
Most gamers habited with stereo sounds, now the question Is Dolby Atmos good for gaming and will it be worth it?
Key Takeaways:
- For a regular gamer yes Dolby Atmos is good for them,
- Not the first choice for Competitive pro gamers,
- In a few cases, using Dolby gives better results in a competitive edge,
- Older legendary games do not yet support Dolby Atmos,
- Dolby Atmos can give you positional precise sound with 3d audio quality.
Using Dolby Atmos you can identify more precisely what gunfire is coming from and accurately estimate the position of your enemy based on the sound of their footsteps.
This can make the difference between winning and losing or helps to improve your survival skills. Also positional audio can help you to quickly reflect in-game. In open-world games, Dolby Atmos can feel you’re in live action. Overall yes Dolby Atmos can improve your gaming experience and skills.
Dolby Atmos in competitive gaming scenarios
Dolby Atmos allows for more precise audio positioning. In competitive games where knowing the exact location of opponents is crucial (For example first-person shooters), this can give players a competitive edge.
Gamers hear an enemy charging at them from behind (foot-steps), requiring quick reflexes to avoid certain death. With standard quality headphones, you can enjoy Doldy atmos in competitive scenarios.
Dolby Atmos can help competitive games like:
- Precise Footsteps,
- Gunfire direction,
- Other objects sound,
- Car sound,
- Proper communication,
- Quick reflex,
- In-game decision,
When Dolby Atmos performs well in those games support its technology, many games still need to support this audio quality. Frankly speaking, most of the pro gamers like to use stereo in competitive scenarios. As a gamer, I would like to suggest you that try it at once. If you find Dolby Atmos works more precisely than stereo, you can choose it.
What things are required for Dolby Atmos Gaming?
You can experience Dolby Atmos for gaming through a Dolby Atmos-capable A/V receiver and speakers or headphones.
1. Compatible Hardware:
- Console or PC: Your gaming device such as Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 5, or 4 supports Dolby Atmos. Some mobile device supports Dolby Atmos.
- Headphones or Speakers: You need headphones or speakers that support Dolby Atmos. This could be a headset designed for Dolby Atmos, or speakers that support Dolby Atmos technology. In the modern era, soundbars comes with Dolby Atmos.
2. Software and Settings:
- Dolby Atmos License: Dolby Access only provides free access for a limited time. After the trial period is done, you need to pay for the license. For some devices, you might need to purchase a Dolby Atmos license.
- Dolby Access install: You just need to install Dolby Access on your PC. Download Dolby Access from the Microsoft Store.
- Settings Configuration: Ensure your console or PC is configured correctly to output audio in Dolby Atmos. In the current era, you can access Dolby Atmos without changing the settings.
3. Content:
- Dolby Atmos Games: Not all games support Dolby Atmos, but newer games come with it. Check the game’s specifications or settings to enable Dolby Atmos audio if supported.
4. Internet Connection:
- With offline gaming, this may not required. A stable internet is required when the Dolby-supported game is playable only with the internet. Some devices might require an internet connection to verify the Dolby Atmos license or to download necessary software updates.
5. Av Receiver or Amplifier:
- Using an AV Receiver or amplifier gives you access to Dolby Atmos with any type of standard headphone. There are a few headphones that come with inbuild receiver technology.
Some mobile phones also support Dolby Atmos for mobile gaming, but you need a Dolby Atmos-enabled headphone or speaker setup to enjoy it. With a mobile speaker, you may not be able to enjoy it.
Is Dolby Atmos worth it for gaming?
The most important things on Dolby Atmos are three-dimensional and positional audio which is important for gamers to detect footsteps and gunfire.
Dolby Atmos provides a more immersive gaming experience by projecting sound in precise audio around you. A well-setup Dolby Atmos can feel you’re in the real and enjoying the live moment, especially when it comes to open-world games like Elden Ring.
For those gamer who plays games for entertainment purposes, this will be worth it. However, in competitive scenarios, there are different feedback circulating in the gaming community.
Few pro gamers like to take advantage of positional and 3d audio, but few are still happy with stereo quality. Indeed, Dolby Atmos technology is not perfect for every gaming category, it evolves and comes with more precise audio quality that may work more efficiently in the future.
As of now, it could depend on which type of games you like to play. For me, Dolby Atmos for my PC is totally worth it. For competitive gamers, it depends on his/her personal choice.
Most of the standard stereo headsets can play Dolby Atmos with the software called Dolby Access. You can try Dolby Access freely for a limited time to see whether it works for you.
Is Dolby Atmos for gaming free?
For a limited time, if you have a Standard quality headset you can try it out for free by downloading the Dolby Access app from the Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, or Windows 10 Store.
If you want to access Dolby Atmos for a long time, no it’s not possible as of now for PC gaming. For the Dolby Atmos, you may need to invest in software and hardware or gear.
- Software: Dolby Acces is the software that you need to install on your PC or console for Dolby Atmos. Dolby Access has free trials for a limited time but is not free to use for a long time. You can download it from the Microsft app store.
- Headphone: For the Dolby Atmos Access, you need a standard headphone or more. In the new era of sound technology, almost all budget-friendly headsets come with Dolby Atmos.
- Speaker or Soundbar: As a gamer, if you want to enjoy Dolby Atmos without headphones, this is the option available for you. A proper surround sound speaker setup or Dolby Atmos Atmos-supported soundbar can able to access your Dolby Atmos sound quality. Now it depends on how much you want to invest in the speaker and Soundbar.
Now the question is, can I use Dolby Atmos for free, is there any tricks available?
If you have standard-quality headphones, you can use Dolby Atmos for free for 7 days with Dolby Access. Many third-party apps claim they can provide Dolby quality for free but I don’t suggest you t do that. Many Headphone models are capable of providing Dolby sound quality without software.
Final Word:
There are many pros and cons of using Dolby Atmos for gaming but overall yes, Dolby Atmos is good for gaming. As a PC gamer, I have been using this audio technology for a long time and it improves a lot.
If you are still confused about is Dolby Atmos good for gaming or not and have any questions regarding this topic comment below. We tried our best to solve all the doubts about this topic, if you need to know more things about it you can suggest me through email or comments.
I’m sourav, a music lover and sound enthusiast. After experiencing multiple sound qualities, I thought many people searching regarding this topic, but there is not enough detailed information on it. That’s the main reason why I created this blog.
