For those lucky enough to have a full-blown surround sound setup in their homes, while also enrolled in the Xbox One Review Program, then a new update rolling out this week should sound pretty sweet.
Dolby Atmos Audio support is headed for the Xbox One and Xbox One S, as confirmed by Larry Hryb, Xbox Live's director of programming.
Dolby Atmos Audio For Xbox One And Xbox One S
The new Dolby Atmos Audio support, which was promised late October, works via bitstream pass-through to deliver optimum sound quality, satisfying pretty much every audiophile who previously mourned the Xbox One's or the Xbox One S's apparent lack of high-fidelity audio, an addition which would have greatly complemented the latter's Ultra HD Blu-Ray drive.
Availability
Microsoft hasn't specified when the new feature steps out of Preview, but in October, Microsoft announced that Dolby Atmos Audio support is slated to arrive in 2017. Now that testing is underway, Microsoft is likely aiming for an early 2017 release.
Of course, Dolby Atmos Audio support will only benefit those who have comprehensive audio setups in their homes, and building one can be quite expensive.
Audiophiles are without a doubt already accustomed to the terminologies, but for the uninitiated, Dolby Atmos Sound is a surround sound technology that delivers sounds across a 3D space. It mimics sound effects relative to their location as portrayed in a film. For example, when an on-screen explosion occurs, Dolby Atmos will simulate the sound's natural point of origin and subsequent multi-directional ascent. So instead of simply hearing loud, indiscernible noise, audiences feel as if all that's happening in the film is also happening inside the theater.
Xbox One S
The Xbox One S is the successor to Xbox One, but by only a small margin. It was released in August, featuring a slimmer form factor on the outside, and beefier internals that support 4K and HDR content on the inside. To match the console's release, Microsoft also redesigned the Xbox One controller to be sleeker and sexier.
Upon release, many players were impressed with the Xbox One S's 4K capabilities, though a lot them opined that one should simply wait for Project Scorpio, Microsoft's rumored Xbox One S successor, instead of buying the console.
Are you excited for Dolby Atmos Audio support for the Xbox One and Xbox One S? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
