Onkyo releases Dolby Atmos firmware update

By
published

Onkyo has announced that owners of its TX-NR636, TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 (pictured above) AV receivers are now able to experience Dolby Atmos sound in the comfort of their own living rooms, thanks to a firmware update that's been made available to download for free.

If you're someone with one of those three Onkyo receivers installed as part of your home cinema set-up, you'll be able to get the firmware update via either a network connection or through a USB download from today [29th September].

Dolby Atmos is the sound technology that expands on the traditional 5.1 and 7.1 surround configurations by placing speakers at all areas around a room, including overhead. It provides a fully enveloping sound field, with the aim of completely immersing the audience.

MORE: Onkyo launches Dolby Atmos amplifiers and speaker packages

Onkyo Corporation General Manager Kevin Miyagi said: "We are excited to provide this free update to owners of our 2014 network receivers - beginning with the TX-NR636.

"Our Dolby Atmos enabled receivers allow Onkyo customers not only new content that will be released in Dolby Atmos, but will also provide an enhanced experience of their current Blu-ray libraries through Dolby Surround."

In addition to Onkyo, other AV manufacturers including Pioneer, Yamaha and Denon have also announced, or have already released, Dolby Atmos-enabled AV receivers as the technology looks to establish itself as one of the key home cinema trends of 2014/15.

MORE: Dolby Atmos - What is it? How can you get it?

Max Langridge

Max is a staff writer for What Hi-Fi?'s sister site, TechRadar, in Australia. But being the wonderful English guy he is, he helps out with content across a number of Future sites, including What Hi-Fi?. It wouldn't be his first exposure to the world of all things hi-fi and home cinema, as his first role in technology journalism was with What Hi-Fi? in the UK. Clearly he pined to return after making the move to Australia and the team have welcomed him back with arms wide open.