Denon and Marantz Offer Auro-3D Upgrade on Select Models

We have been inundated with news of Dolby Atmos and its new height and ceiling speakers over the last few months. Everyone is excited (well, many people are) about this new sound processing system. Atmos promises a new level of audio immersion by adding speakers high on the wall and on the ceiling. If you can't place ceiling speakers, they even have "Atmos-enabled" speakers that will bounce the sound off the ceiling; though from our initial home testing, not nearly as effectively as discrete ceiling mounted speakers.

But, we've also heard of competing formats on the horizon. Auro-3D may not be in many theaters (about a handful in the US at last check), but they've been promising to come to the home. DTS has announced their UHD surround system though we've heard little about it other than it exists and is coming...someday. We thought that Atmos would rule the roost for at least a model year as the other formats rush to market.

We couldn't have been more wrong.

Denon and Marantz recently announced that select models will be receiving Auro-3D via firmware update this December (this is a paid update - pricing TBA). Denon's AVR-X5200W and AVR-X4100W receivers along with Marantz's SR7009 receiver and AV7702 preamplifier will all get the update. The Denon AVR-X5200W and both the Marantz units retail for $1999 while the Denon AVR-X4100W sports a $1399 price tag.

Read our Denon AVR-X5200W and AVR-X4100W receiver preview HERE

The Marantz units are identical except that the AV7702 swaps out the nine channels (125 watts per) of amplification for XLR connections (including dual XLR subwoofer connections).

Read our Marantz SR7009 receiver preview HERE

Auro-3D and Dolby Atmos are competing formats and, as such, aren't completely compatible. Auro-3D essentially "stacks" speakers in your room. If you have a 5.1 system, the Auro-3D speakers would be placed above the existing speakers (provided they are all placed at ear level). If you sit far enough away from your speakers, you can add a third height speaker. The only ceiling speaker is the "Voice of God" speaker that is placed directly over your head.  Note that Auro is NOT compatible with Dolby Elevation Speakers.  So keep that in mind if and when you are planning to upgrade your speaker system to accommodate both formats.

Auro-3D Speaker Placement Guide

Dolby Atmos is very different. They require fairly specific speaker locations - most of which are on the ceiling and flank the main seating position. There is no Voice of God speaker directly overhead.

Dolby Atmos Speaker Placement Guide

From what we see, the Dolby Atmos Front Height speaker and the Auro-3D Height speaker overlap. This suggests that if you are going to add height speakers, they should be about 30 degrees above your seated position to take advantage of both formats (not to mention current height channel solutions like Audyessy DSX and DTS Neo:X). The Top Middle speakers for Atmos might be able to be utilized by Auro-3D to create a phantom "Voice of God" speaker but it will be up to the receiver manufacturers to implement this feature.

Conclusion

We're excited to see Auro-3D hit the home market so quickly. Competition for Dolby Atmos can only be a good thing for consumers. With at least one layer of overlapping speakers, users with foresight will be able to take advantage of both formats without having to switch speaker wires. With DTS UHD also in the pipeline, those wanting the most immersive surround sound are surely living in a golden age. 

For more information on the Denon receivers visit www.denon.com.

For more information on the Marantz offerings visit www.marantz.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.