Extra note on the consumer vs. theater approaches & methods: Maya Cinemas on the west coast mostly, with "MPX powered by CGS", I learned is more a projection tech. obviously ensuring screen size, but utilizes Dolby ATMOS in sound. I don't think that's virtual, just not punched until more recently.

Dolby ATMOS for theater is scalable too, so don't expect this all mentioned at your next movie theater experience. Earlier I recall in theory a floor placement, but IDK what theater would do that.. perhaps ride simulation attractions? Any way, if you're a post-audio mixer pro, correct me anywhere.

..so a bouncing & flowing around the walls result via side-firing loudspeakers at the Soundbar, & inwardly from the Surrounds or L-R at rear. I fig. this later brings a sense of a Center Surround, likely the earlier & now rare Dolby Digital EX ch. (6.1) if I got it correct.

..relation to the earlier mentioned ".. .2", adds an up-firing pair at the Surrounds or L-R at rear, similar ceiling reflection, with the consumer methods for i.e. "11.1.4" & "5.1.4". These are likely up in the ceiling for the theater.

With ATMOS bringing an "11. .." I think are pretty much..

..consumer method is further L & R within the Soundbar, aims at you wider than the L-C-R (so set of 5 discrete in the bar). You can fig. this method of giving a Sides Surround sense of sound direction substitutes for placements on the walls.

It's complex with the upper numbers, but a ".. .4" in..

I conclude that another variation is Side Surrounds, usually found in some 7.1+ systems (L & R side surrounds added on 5.1). These are at slightly varying degrees depending on the system overall, but placed much wider than the front mains, so on the walls but typically slightly forward. The..

Now the consumer approach & method is a compact & efficient up-firing usual pair atop the Soundbar, which aims to reflect the sound off the ceiling, furthermore back down at you. You can fig. this method of giving an Overhead sense of sound direction substitutes for an actual ceiling placement.

..basic distinction. Now the consumer vs. theater approach or method there is you can catch the Overheads next time you're in a Dolby ATMOS auditorium. Before or after the movie perhaps, look up & tell your friend to "Check it out.. 👆 on the ceiling!" Usually at min. a little way from the screen.

What I'm blown-away by is some of these Soundbars are doing the licensed surround tech. up to even astonishingly Dolby ATMOS 11.1.4! Perhaps more on that later but aside that higher priced category, an overview quick grasp I say is ATMOS is scalable too, + consumer vs. theater approaches vary.

In other words, just because there's a "5.1" approach & loudspeakers layout similar to Dolby Digital 5.1, doesn't mean it's licensed for nor properly decoding any Dolby Digital 5.1 signal for the set-up. Check for featuring Dolby Digital 5.1, or other, & check the trademark, if that's your aim.

One way of grasping it is to be aware that even if a multi-loudspeakers set is utilized in a model's configuration, i.e. a "5.1" or even "7.1" & others, they may still be & likely are utilizing a "virtual surround" approach, with typically their own fancy-named circuitry-approach/proprietary tech.

However, with numerous hyped-up ads for Soundbars, not all have the same approach, & can actually confuse you as to what you're really getting. In short, popular systems like DTS to Dolby & whatever format respectively are through licensing; hence a "virtual" can still fool you via 3+ loudspeakers.

..for the mains (L-C-R, or your stereo + center ch.) so 3 obviously small inside the bar-shape case. Some are a set with 3-4 separate pieces, typically 2 "satellite" speakers serving as positioning surrounds; adding 4th for subwoofer - Not virtual; to sense a more compact approach for a 5.1 system.

My take is in study as I haven't personally listened to a Soundbar yet; however, some are getting rave reviews. My take is also in angle & ref. of being an actual movie theater sound fanatic & I'm sharp on catching things there. Some of these Soundbars are actually utilizing discrete loudspeakers..

Reason I was ignoring the hype on Soundbars earlier, (you know, the simple "bar" you place in front of a big-screen HDTV/UHDTV, typically below), I fig they attempted to achieve surround sound in a virtual or synthesized approach, i.e. the stereo wide(r) field for one. Perhaps some still do.

Last time I left off on S2, ep. 1 'The Star Gazer' but today I was like "what the" & the recap was not recapping enough for me. Guess it's been a while & I just wasn't ready for the next cue into start of ep. 2 'Penance'. Had to review ep. 1, it's complex in a totally cool way.. both are terrific.

The Randy Cramer story of a Moon base & more (no matter how outrageous & far-fetched it may sound), has a cross ref. I find w/what's presented in the later portion of

'Aliens on the Moon: The Truth Exposed',

a separate show on the subject, usually showing on the 'Alien Nation by DUST' channel.

It's still 'Extraterrestrial Week' up to today Sunday (10/19). Schedule, where/how to watch,
| Link:
storytelevision.com

..Nixon, Carter, and Reagan are each rumored to have had personal encounters. Could these powerful leaders be hiding the truth about UFOs from the public? Or is it possible that some Presidents are kept in the dark?" -synopsis, Story Television.