I experienced a Dolby Atmos cinema with 34 speakers and understood the importance of movie theaters.
Magic of cinema.
Recently, I visited Dolby's headquarters in Europe, located in Soho, London, where I had the opportunity to learn in-depth about the company's innovations, from color grading in Dolby Vision HDR to sound production in Dolby Atmos. However, the most impressive moment was my experience in the Dolby Atmos reference cinema, known as the Screening Room.
Upon entering the room, I realized it was not a conventional cinema. Every detail had been meticulously designed to provide the ideal cinematic experience. I enjoyed a demonstration that included clips from popular movies and trailers, such as Dune: Part Two, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Top Gun: Maverick, Barbie, among others. These examples showcased how Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos enhance the quality of the visual and auditory experience.
The audiovisual immersion experienced in that room was something I had never encountered before. Although I had gone to the cinema numerous times, I had opted to watch movies at home for convenience. While it's possible to have a magnificent home theater system that combines exceptional sound and brilliant visuals with the best 4K projectors or OLED televisions, going to the cinema provides a unique feeling.
The Dolby Screening Room, which accommodates 67 people, features black leather chairs and blue lights that create a cozy atmosphere. These design decisions are intended to soften the lighting and prevent reflections on the screen, allowing for better visual immersion. The room is equipped with 34 speakers that are precisely positioned to maximize the effectiveness of Dolby Atmos soundtracks, in addition to utilizing Dolby Vision HDR to deliver stunning images.
The demonstration began with the flight scene from Darkstar in Top Gun: Maverick. Immediately, a powerful bass filled the room, and despite the force, there was perfect control in the sound. The audio effects were clearly positioned, making me feel inside the pilot's cabin. Likewise, the movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse showcased the system's more subtle aspects, where ambient sounds seamlessly blended with the background music.
Dune: Part Two created an impressive immersive experience, while Barbie dazzled with its exciting party sequence, demonstrating the excellent dynamic range of the system during Dua Lipa's performance.
Viewing in the Dolby Screening Room made me reflect on the importance of cinemas. The combination of a giant screen and a sound system that provides unparalleled immersion is what truly makes going to the movies enjoyable, despite the crowds occasionally being bothersome. Moreover, the shared experience contributes to a sense of community among attendees.
Unfortunately, the outlook for cinemas is uncertain, as many are closing worldwide. However, with rising prices in streaming services, cinemas might have the opportunity to recover. Dolby is partnering with various companies to expand its ‘Dolby Cinema’ concept to more locations. In the UK, there are already several cinemas with this technology in cities like London and Birmingham, with plans to open more.
While not all cinemas offer the same level of quality as the Dolby Screening Room, many perform better than what most can achieve at home. Therefore, it's advisable to visit your local cinema as soon as possible.
