'Almost every mixer, without being told to, instinctively did the same thing': Dolby exec explains the subtle changes in movie soundtracks brought by the arrival of Dolby Atmos — and it really makes the case for proper surround setups over soundbars

Buttons on the Majority Bowfell Halo Atmos.

• Dolby exec says movie mixers independently made the same changes in Dolby Atmos mixes
• They moved the music "into the room", away from the screen and the dialogue
• The change was "immediately, obviously better"

Home theater fans often have very strong opinions about soundbars versus separates-based surround sound systems (as a comment on our recent article on the choices in the Fight Club 4K Blu-ray evidences), arguing that even the best soundbars simply can't deliver the same width, depth and immersion of a separates-based surround system.