Atlantic Technology Bows Dedicated Ceiling Speaker for Object-Based Audio

Atlantic Technology announced what it called the first in-ceiling speaker specifically designed to reproduce "object based" elevation channels in a surround-sound system. The company cited Dolby Atmos and DTS' plans for an upcoming object-based algorithm system designed to “envelop” a home theater listener with “a bubble of sound” from above. The object-based sound systems and compatible soundtracks have been developed to place the audience in an immersive sound field, Atlantic said Thursday. The round, IC-6-OBA speaker ($325 each) has a high-dynamic range 6-inch woofer, matched with a pair of one-inch tweeters, in a “wide scatter” design that differentiates it from other in-ceiling speakers with more narrow dispersion, the company said. It compared the “scatter” approach to that of a theater where elevation speakers are typically “30 to 40 feet” above the listener. "It is the closest we can get to a true movie theater experience," said Atlantic Technology President Peter Tribeman.