IMAX AND ATMOS VIRTUALIZER UPDATES FOR ONKYO & PIONEER
Onkyo & Pioneer Corporation has this week announced a firmware update, making selected AV receivers IMAX Enhanced and Dolby Atmos Virtualizer compatible.
Since IMAX Enhanced’s inception, we’ve heard little in the way of content. The Dolby Atmos Virtualizer update, however, is welcome news to many, particularly those with more ‘traditional speaker layouts’.
Undoubtedly, the best way to enjoy newer immersive audio formats such as Dolby Atmos is via dedicated height channels. Installing ceiling speakers is not always possible due to space or construction considerations, or for those renting.
The new firmware update allows owners of selected AV receivers to use Dolby’s Atmos Virtualizer. Designed to work with ‘ground- level speaker layouts’ of greater than two channels (5.1 etc.), Virtualizer uses the existing speakers to create virtual height information without the need for dedicated height channels.
The same update also allows owners to enjoy IMAX Enhanced content with selected receivers capable of decoding IMAX’s Enhanced audio codec, which is based upon the DTS-X audio codec.
Onkyo Australia has confirmed the firmware update is available for download for TX-RZ840 and TX-RZ740 owners here.
While the update has appeared on Pioneer’s international site, it’s not yet available on the Australian website.
Tony O'Brien
As the owner of Adelaide based ‘Clarity Audio & Video Calibration’, Tony is a certified ISF Calibrator. Tony is an accomplished Audio-Visual reviewer specialising in theatre and visual products.
Posted in:Home Theatre
Tags: onkyo pioneer amber technology powermove
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