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Q I am installing my first home theater setup and using five ceiling speakers that were already pre-wired into the house when we bought it. It’s a medium-sized family room. Should I buy a receiver with Dolby Atmos such as the Sony STR-DH790 or a better quality non-Atmos receiver like the Denon AVR-S670? I do not want to add any more speakers, so I’m wondering if the Dolby Atmos is worth it or would I not notice the Atmos effect using only the ceiling speakers? — Mark Miller

A Before I get to your receiver question, I want to address the likely bigger issue: using five in-ceiling speakers. While I frequently employ in-ceiling speakers for height and even surround channels, we seldom recommend them for the main left/center/right (LCR) channels. The problem is nearly all in-ceiling speakers direct sound straight down, not toward the listening position, which causes issues with imaging, clarity, and dialogue intelligibility, especially if the floor is a hard surface like wood or tile. The experience of all sound channels coming from above the seating position and screen can create a disjointed effect.

There are, however, in-ceiling speakers designed for LCR applications with angled baffles that project sound down toward the listening position. Examples include Focal’s 300 ICLCR 5 and Episode’s ES-HT700-ICLCR-5. Or you could go with something like SpeakerCraft’s AIM series speakers, which allow you to pivot the midrange drivers and tweeters toward the listening position.

Careful receiver selection is essential; it is arguably the most important piece of electronics in your theater system, as it handles virtually everything. I always suggest buying up or at least getting a receiver that’s fairly up-to-date. Regarding the two models you mentioned, the Sony is long in the tooth, having been released in 2018, whereas the Denon was replaced by the updated AVR-S670H in 2023.

On the question of Dolby Atmos versus Dolby Audio, I reached out to Dolby Laboratories for an answer. Here’s what they said: “To unlock Dolby Atmos with [your] current speaker setup, [you] would need to add additional speakers. Regarding choosing an AVR, most high-end receivers today will come with Dolby Atmos anyway. In addition, while Dolby Audio will elevate dialogue, improve audio clarity, and deliver a Dolby surround sound experience, Dolby Atmos can do everything that Dolby Audio is capable of and more, including multidimensional immersive Dolby Atmos sound.”

Another possibility worth considering is Sony’s AZ series of AV receivers. Released in 2023, AZ models include a feature called “In-Ceiling Speaker Mode,” which uses DSP to lower the perceived height of the soundstage to make it seem as though audio from your ceiling speakers is coming from ear level.

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