Dolby Atmos for headphones has been recently introduced and marketed for the audio enthusiasts. Dolby Atmos is an audio format that is meant to take the surround sound to the next level. It does that by giving you a 3D sound experience. It works to bring about a 360-degree sound similar to the cinema.
Best answer: Any Xbox One headset supports Dolby Atmos. All you need is the paid Dolby Atmos license, despite headsets marketed for the technology. If you're looking for a specific option, the Plantronics RIG 800LX SE is a solid bet.
![Dolby Atmos For Headphones Dolby Atmos For Headphones](/uploads/1/2/4/8/124865917/944487082.png)
- Microsoft: Dolby Atmos for Headphones ($15)
- Best Buy: Plantronics RIG 800LX SE ($150)
What is Dolby Atmos for Headphones?
Dolby Atmos is Dolby's in-house spatial sound technology, promising more immersive audio across digital entertainment. With the help of object-based audio mapping, this means improved precision of positioning, depth, and height. Essentially outputting sounds into a three-dimensional virtual space, the technology differentiates itself from the fixed channels of traditional 5.1 and 7.1 systems. It's a significant advancement in immersion, elevating movies, games, and much more.
While best experienced in a full-fledged Atmos-enabled theater, headphone users can also leverage the technology. Dolby Atmos for Headphones takes a virtualized approach to spatial sound, presenting its benefits inches from your eardrums. Paired with Xbox One support, a growing list of Dolby Atmos games highlight it, while gains also span titles embracing standard high-channel formats.
With Dolby Atmos adoption on the rise, Microsoft has delivered native support for Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs. However, the software requires a one-time payment, available via the Microsoft Store for $15. For a free alternative, don't overlook Microsoft's own Windows Sonic spatial sound technology.
Which Xbox headsets support Dolby Atmos?
Dolby Atmos delivers enhancements via software, changing how your Xbox One handles audio. This makes Dolby Atmos compatible with every Xbox One headset, eliminating the need for specialist headsets or peripherals. The license can be used interchangeably between headsets and consoles too.
Dolby Atmos' value will vary based on your hardware and chosen content. Stereo setups often provide a more pronounced difference, ideal for upgrading the average headset. However, the benefits of Dolby Atmos diminish on top-tier hardware (if conceivable) and are sometimes hard to justify. Equally, choosing Atmos-enabled games and videos should provide better audio over standard fixed-channel counterparts.
Third-party headset manufacturer Plantronics boasts an 'exclusive' partnership with Dolby, spanning its Xbox One headset lineup. The firm's RIG gaming headsets now tout included Dolby Atmos, absorbing the licensing fee into the unit cost. However, this equates to a redeemable code inside, no different from purchasing via the Microsoft Store. The headsets sound great with spatial sound but don't let the 'exclusive' marketing mislead you.
Is Dolby Atmos for Xbox One worth it?
Dolby Atmos can deliver real upgrades to Xbox One by altering how the console handles audio. While not revolutionary, it can pull the most from your kit with the right combination of hardware and content. It's just $12 and can pair well with any setup.
For most, using your current headset highlights its advancements. However, with a firm partnership between Plantronics and Dolby, headsets like the Plantronics RIG 800LX SE are an ideal accompaniment, with a free license included.
Our pick
Dolby Atmos for Headphones
Upgrade any Xbox One headset
Dolby Atmos elevates your Xbox One with heightened audio across the complete library. At just $15, it shakes up your games with little effort.
All-in-one
Plantronics RIG 800LX SE
![Dolby Atmos For Headphones Dolby Atmos For Headphones](/uploads/1/2/4/8/124865917/245026922.png)
The complete package.
Plantronics RIG 800LX is a strong wireless Xbox One headset, boasting clear audio and lengthy battery life. Paired with Dolby Atmos inside, it's an all-inclusive audio experience.
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Matt Brown
Matt Brown is a staff writer at Mobile Nations for Windows Central. Following years of professional consumer technology and gaming coverage, he’s focused on the world of Xbox and Windows PCs. You can follow him on Twitter @mattjbrown.
Which Xbox One headsets support Dolby Atmos?
Our pick
Dolby Atmos for Headphones
$15 at MicrosoftAll-in-one
Plantronics RIG 800LX SE
$150 at Best BuyDolby Atmos is the bleeding edge of home cinema technology when it comes to surround sound audio. We've covered what Atmos is and how it works before, but for gamers, things are getting more interesting now as it's now possible to get Dolby Atmos on both Xbox One and PC.
What does that mean for you? Well, a more enhanced and immersive gaming experience for a start.
What Dolby Atmos means for gaming?
Dolby Atmos allows sound to be projected precisely into a three-dimensional space, which means, in theory, you get a better experience when it comes to positional audio.
This is great for games where audio makes all the difference, like first person shooters for example. Knowing where gun fire is coming from or being able to accurately estimate the position of your enemy based on the sound of their footsteps can mean the difference between life and death, winning and losing.
For other games, Dolby Atmos simply offers a more immersive and all-enveloping experience. You're surrounded by sound and have a new-found sense of where in the game space sound is coming from.
What's required to run Dolby Atmos at home?
Dolby Atmos sounds great for gaming, doesn't it? But you might be wondering what you need to get that experience in your home. Well, the good news is it might not be as complicated as you think.
There are essentially two different ways to run Atmos for gaming - that's either via a Dolby Atmos capable A/V receiver and speakers or by headphones. The latter is far easier to setup and get into, but doesn't offer the same level of experience as it's entirely virtual so perhaps not for the audiophiles amongst us.
That's not to say that Atmos over headphones or a headset isn't good though. We were thoroughly impressed when we tested it out recently. If you're interested, Plantronics has an exclusive deal with Dolby to sell Atmos certified headsets which are more than capable and the technology itself is easily accessible.
PC Dolby Atmos compatibility
For the best experience, Dolby Atmos support runs via the graphics card on a PC. With Battlefield 1, for example, the game utilises DICE's Frostbite graphics engine to include the encoding for the Dolby Atmos element of the soundtrack.
You'll need a PC with a modern graphics card and an HDMI cable from that to a Dolby Atmos capable A/V receiver. Dolby Atmos audio can then be activated in the audio settings of the game and as long as you've got the right amount of speakers (or capable soundbar) then you're away.
Alternatively, you can download the Dolby Access app for Windows 10, pay £13.89 and get access to the ability to run Dolby Atmos through your headset or headphones.
The advantage here is you don't even need a surround sound headset (in fact the app recommends you turn any surround sound functionality off). A good pair of stereo headphones or a standard gaming headset will do. That's because Dolby Atmos is encoded into the games then the Dolby Access app applies the necessary technology to deliver the spatial audio and the Dolby Access experience.
A combination of the Dolby Access app and Windows 10 with the latest Creators update allows you to open up sound settings for your device and apply spatial sound formats and virtual surround sound to your headphone audio. This is relatively straightforward if you know your way around Windows settings and Dolby gives guidance on how to do it within the app.
Then you just need to ensure you have the right games to play because both methods require a Dolby Atmos compatible game as there's no upscaling of sound like there is for HD/4K picture. So you'll need to ensure you have the right games before you think about diving in.
Blizzard's Overwatch was one of the first games to support Dolby Atmos over headphones and we've seen other capable games including Star Wars Battlefront and Battlefield 1 too.
We'll cover the full list of compatible games below.
PlayStation 4 Dolby Atmos support
At the time of writing, Sony's PS4 offers Dolby Atmos support via audio settings and specific settings within the Blu-ray app which means you can watch films and enjoy the full glory of immersive sound in your home theatre. However, current support for Dolby Atmos in PlayStation gaming is unfortunately lacking.
When we spoke with representatives from EA, they told us that to play Battlefield 1 with Atmos on this console Sony would first have to roll out a firmware update and then DICE would need to patch the game. There's no word from Sony currently on whether this is in the pipeline.
Xbox One Dolby Atmos support
Microsoft started rolling out bitstream pass-through for Xbox One a while back, so that console is certainly capable of supporting Dolby Atmos for Blu-ray playback. The console is also now capable of playing games in Dolby Atmos and we've seen it in action and can attest that it's certainly impressive.
If you have a capable A/V receiver and compatible games then you're good to go. Otherwise, much like on PC, you can buy the Dolby Access app and enjoy Dolby Atmos over headphones.
Dolby Atmos compatible games
The current list of Dolby Atmos compatible games includes:
- Battlefield 1 (PC)
- Gears of War 4 (Xbox One X)
- Crackdown 3 (Xbox One/Xbox One X)
- Assassin’s Creed Origins (Xbox One X)
- Final Fantasy XV (Xbox One X)
- Rise Of The Tomb Raider (Xbox One X)
- Super Lucky’s Tale (Xbox One X)
- Mass Effect: Andromeda (PC)