How to play and play the amazing sound "Dolby Atmos" at home? I tried it easily with "Creative SXFI CARRIER"

If you look closely at movies and games, it says " Dolby Atmos compatible", but what's so amazing isn't it? " Creative SXFI CARRIER " can be used in such cases. Creative , a manufacturer of sound hardware for audio equipment and PCs, has created a sound bar system jointly developed with Dolby , which develops audio recording and playback technology. It is possible to make a sound. It's okay if you say "No, it's annoying to the neighborhood if you make such a roaring sound", Dolby Atmos is also compatible with headphones, and there is also Creative's original virtual surround technology " Super X-Fi ". You can enhance a wide variety of sounds. That said, what should we do to actually experience the power and presence? I'm interested but don't know the details? For those who say, I set it up properly and checked it. Creative SXFI CARRIER --Super X-Fi® Headphones with Audio Holography Dolby Atmos® Speaker System Sound Bar --Creative Technology (Japan) https://jp.creative.com/p/speakers/creative-sxfi-carrier ◆ With Dolby Atmos in the first place teeth? ◆ Appearance of Creative SXFI CARRIER ◆ I tried to set up Creative SXFI CARRIER ◆ I tried to experience Dolby Atmos sound with Creative SXFI CARRIER ◆ I tried to connect virtual surround headphones "SXFI THEATER" ◆ What is Dolby Atmos in the first place? Dolby Atmos is one of the 3D surround sound systems developed by Dolby Laboratories . In addition to the sound from the front, back, left, and right of the conventional surround sound, a three-dimensional sound is realized by adding a sound that spreads up and down. In addition, there is " DTS: X " provided by Digital Theater Systems (DTS) as a stereophonic method.

For 3D surround sound such as Dolby Atmos and DTS: X, it is recommended to install speakers on the front, back, left, right, top and bottom, and a subwoofer in charge of deep bass, but installing a large number of speakers at home is a hurdle. Is quite expensive, especially if you live in a rental property, installing speakers on the ceiling is almost impossible.

However, if you have a soundbar that supports 3D surround sound, you can enjoy the sound of Dolby Atmos and DTS: X with just two soundbars and a subwoofer without building a complicated speaker environment. You will be able to do it. In addition, in order to experience Dolby Atmos and DTS: X, the audio input source side must also support Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. ◆ Appearance of Creative SXFI CARRIER Creative SXFI CARRIER consists of a subwoofer (left) and a sound bar (right). The body is black and has a matte texture except for the front panel of the soundbar.

The front of the soundbar looks like this. The size is 88.0 cm wide x 12.8 cm deep x 7.6 cm high.

There is one speaker in the center, and the power button, volume button (-/ +), source button, mode button, and SXFi button are on the top.

Left speaker part. It's a little hard to see in the photo, but there are three speakers inside the grill cover, each facing diagonally upward, front, and side.

Next to the left speaker, a logo indicating that it is compatible with Dolby Atmos.

The right speaker section also has three speakers, just like the right speaker section. In other words, the soundbar has a total of seven speakers. In addition, the seven speakers installed in the sound bar are individually driven by independent amplifiers.

And next to the right speaker part, there is a logo indicating that it is compatible with Creative's Super X-Fi.

left side

right side

The back of the soundbar looks like this. There are two hook holes for fixing to the wall.

There are connectors in the center of the back. There is a USB Type-A terminal dedicated to Super X-Fi output on the upper left.

And there is a USB Type-C terminal for audio input on the upper right. From the left, there are two HDMI 2.1 compatible inputs, one HDMI 2.1 eARC compatible output, one optical digital terminal, one 3.5mm audio terminal for external audio input, and 3.5 for connecting to a subwoofer. One mm audio terminal. And there is a 2.4V / 4A power supply terminal.

On the left side of the back, the technical suitability mark , CE mark , product serial number, etc. were written.

The bottom looks like this.

And the subwoofer in charge of the deep bass of Creative SXFI CARRIER. The size is 43.0 cm in length x 22.5 cm in width x 45.0 cm in height.

A bass reflex port with a diameter of about 8 cm is on the front.

A driver with a diameter of about 34 cm is on the right side of the subwoofer.

The back of the subwoofer looks like this.

The CE mark, technical suitability mark, and serial number are printed. The terminals are a 3.5mm audio terminal for subwoofer input, a USB Type-A terminal, a reset button, and a glasses terminal for power supply.

And the contents of the bundled items are HDMI cable, 3 power cables for glasses terminal, 1 AC adapter, remote control. The soundbar and subwoofer can be connected wirelessly automatically, but it can also be connected by wire with a 3.5mm audio cable. However, the 3.5mm audio cable is not included, so you will need to prepare it yourself if you want to make a wired connection.

◆ I set up Creative SXFI CARRIER Insert the power cable into the subwoofer ...

Also plug the power cable into the soundbar. The soundbar and subwoofer are connected by a wireless connection in the 2.4GHz band, so the equipment setup is almost complete. Insanely easy.

However, you need to calibrate with the dedicated app before using it. The dedicated app is distributed free of charge for iOS and Android . This time, we will calibrate using the iOS version. This time I will use an iPhone. First, press and hold the power button on the Creative SXFI CARRIER ...

Switch to Bluetooth pairing mode. "BT PAIRING" is displayed on the front.

Select "SXFI CARRIER" from "Settings" → "Bluetooth" on your iPhone, and tap "Pairing".

When the status of SXFI CARRIER becomes "Connected", the Bluetooth connection between iPhone and Creative SXFI CARRIER is successful.

Next, go to the App Store and tap Get to install the dedicated app.

Tap "Add new device" while connected via Bluetooth. If you install the app first, the app will automatically search for Creative SXFI CARRIER, so you can connect by simply tapping the product name.

Tap the device name that says "SX FI CARRIER".

When the connection is successful, it looks like this. For example, if you tap "Sound Mode" ...

"Movie" best for watching movies, "Music" best for listening to music, "Night" with a modest overall sound attack, "Neutral" with standard settings, "Super Wide" with an emphasis on wide range You can switch the sound mode to five.

In order to experience Dolby Atmos, which is a 3D surround sound, it is necessary to perform calibration that optimizes the direction and reflection of the sound emitted from the speakers. Tap "Calibration" from the dedicated app.

For calibration, you first need to measure the "distance" and enter it into your app. The distance to be measured is the distance from the listener to the soundbar, the distance between you and the subwoofer, and the height of the ceiling. The distance between the sound bar and the subwoofer can be entered from 0m to 20m, and the ceiling height can be entered from 2.5m to 5m.

Next, in "Bass", the sound is played alternately from the sound bar and the subwoofer, so adjust the volume of the bass so that the volume is the same, and adjust the balance.

Then, the amount of height channel effect is determined from "height", but if you enter the distance and the bus, this will be determined automatically. Now the Creative SXFI CARRIER calibration is OK.

◆ I tried to experience Dolby Atmos sound with Creative SXFI CARRIER I tried to play music from an iPhone connected to Creative SXFI CARRIER. In addition, Apple Music will support Dolby Atmos as " spatial audio " in June 2021 for some of the songs distributed on Apple Music. Since this Apple Music Dolby Atmos playback is officially supported only by Apple products, it is unknown whether it is supported by Creative SXFI CARRIER, but even if it can not be played by Dolby Atmos, if it is Creative SXFI CARRIER It should be played with powerful sound.

When I actually listen to it, the expression that it is wrapped in sound is perfect. The powerful sound from the subwoofer reverberates, but the bass does not reverberate too much and cracks, giving the impression that the sound reaches firmly. The treble part also sounds straightforward and clear without being overwhelmed by the bass. Especially when playing with an orchestra, you can clearly hear not only the bass drum but also the sound of the contrabass pulling the bow firmly. Also, in the treble part, the tremolo of the stringed instrument and the delicate breathing of the woodwind instrument are grainy, and it is not defeated by the bass part. In addition, because it is connected via Bluetooth 5.0, it was a nice point that the operation delay was almost eliminated.

And, in order to experience Dolby Atmos with Creative SXFI CARRIER, the audio equipment and input content connected to Creative SXFI CARRIER must support Dolby Atmos. For home video game consoles, Xbox One and Xbox Series X are officially compatible with Dolby Atmos. Xbox Series X --Dolby https://www.dolby.com/experience/gaming-consoles/xbox-series-x/

So I chose Xbox Series X as the input source. If you input from Xbox Series X to Creative SXFI CARRIER via HDMI and output to a TV or monitor from the HDMI eARC port of Creative SXFI CARRIER, the audio will be played from Creative SXFI CARRIER. The specific connection configuration looks like the figure below.

Wiring is insanely easy and very simple, as you only need to connect the video output, soundbar and Xbox Series X with two cables. First, connect the HDMI cable of Xbox Series X to the HDMI input of the soundbar.

Next, connect the HDMI cable to the HDMI eARC output of the soundbar.

Just connect the HDMI cable connected to the HDMI eARC output to the video device.

By using an HDMI 2.1 cable as the cable, you can output 4K video, 8K video, and HDR content to the TV as they are through pass-through.

Dolby Atmos compatible content is distributed not only on Blu-ray discs but also on streaming distribution sites. For example, the movie " BLAME! " Distributed on Netflix has Japanese original audio compatible with Dolby Atmos. When I actually played "BLAME!" On the Xbox Series X Netflix app, "Japanese [original] (Atmos)" was selected. Impression that the deep bass at the time of the explosion can be heard firmly, and at the same time, the treble part can be heard clearly. The deep bass of the launch scene of the graviton radiation emitting device does not reach the sound system or the real movie theater that has a more authentic configuration, but the bass sound from the woofer is raised or the sound mode You can adjust the bass as much as possible by switching.

In addition, on Xbox Series X, a demo app " Dolby Access " that allows you to experience Dolby Atmos is distributed.

When you connect Xbox Series X to a Dolby Atmos-compatible environment, you can use "Dolby Atmos for Home Theater".

The prepared Dolby Atmos demo content "Nature's Fury" allows you to experience the demo video that flows before the movie is shown at a Dolby Atmos-compatible movie theater. The sound space expands forward, backward, left, right, up and down, and you can experience the overwhelming power and presence. The range is so wide that it cannot be compared with a normal 2ch speaker due to the sizzling bass and fine treble, the feeling of thunder trembling in the distance, the sound of a stream flowing in a quiet forest, and the strong wind blowing. You can clearly see how the charcoal of the bonfire is crackling, and the impression that the amount of information obtained from the sound is amplified many times.

Of course, trailers for Dolby Atmos-compatible games and movies are also available. For example, in " ANUBIS ZONE OF THE ENDERS: M∀RS ", the sound of enemy attacks attacking from the left and right can be heard from the left and right, and the sound of weapons firing, booster sounds, and the sound of the aircraft colliding with each other can be heard with a three-dimensional effect. to reach.

Also, in one scene of the movie " 1917 Life-threatening messenger ", a heavy BGM is flowing from beginning to end, but the sound of the building wrapped in flames burning and collapsing, the breathing of the characters, the gunshots, and the discharge from the gun. You can clearly hear the sound of the cartridge case falling to the ground, giving you a tremendous sense of presence.

◆ I tried connecting the virtual surround headphones "SXFI THEATER" If you connect the wireless headphones " SXFI THEATER " compatible with the virtual surround technology "Super X-Fi (SXFI)" originally developed by Creative to Creative SXFI CARRIER, Dolby You can also enjoy Atmos sound with surround headphones. The package of SXFI THEATER looks like this.

Inside was an instruction manual and peripherals such as the SXFI THEATER main unit and SXFI USB dongle.

SXFI THEATER looks like normal headphones.

Right ear cup

Left ear cup.

The inner diameter of the ear cup is actually 6 cm in length x 4 cm in width x 2.5 cm in depth, which is large enough to cover your ears completely.

The arm of the ear cup can be adjusted in 11 steps.

The left ear cup has a power button, a terminal for connecting a microphone, and a 3.5mm audio terminal for wired output.

There is a SUPER X-Fi connection button, a volume control dial, and a microphone mute button.

SXFI THEATER connects to Super X-Fi compatible audio equipment via the SXFI USB dongle to enable virtual surround. Creative SXFI CARRIER is compatible with Super X-Fi, and you can connect the SXFI USB dongle to the USB Type-A terminal for Super X-Fi output on the back of Creative SXFI CARRIER.

Even if it is not SXFI THEATER, you can enjoy Super X-Fi technology with the built-in function of the sound bar even with cable type earphones. In that case, press the "SX Fi" button to turn on the function, or turn it on with the remote control or smartphone.

When you turn on the SXFI THEATER and put it on, you can certainly hear the sound from the soundbar through the headphones. When I tried playing the demo sound with Dolby Access of Xbox Series X, the sound was heard from various directions, and it was certainly a surround sound. Compared to the sound bar + subwoofer of Creative SXFI CARRIER, the power of the deep bass is a little weaker because there is no subwoofer, but the presence created by the surround sound remains the same. The editorial staff who auditioned said, "It's not as powerful as when you listen to it on the soundbar, but it has a perspective and three-dimensional effect, so you may prefer this one. I don't know. The voice I heard on the way really felt like someone was calling me from afar. "

Creative SXFI CARRIER for Dolby Atmos is a total 450W sound system that will definitely improve the acoustic experience of movies and games at home. The balance between clear and grainy treble and delicate yet crisp deep bass is good, and there is no noise due to speaker vibration, creating a sound space that firmly wraps around. It's very easy to set up, so even beginners of audio can easily install it. Since it is compatible with Bluetooth 5.0, it is also a big point that there is no delay in playing music from a smartphone or operating the sound bar and it is stress-free. Furthermore, if you connect SX FI THEATER, you can enjoy surround sound at a loud volume even at night, so it is also recommended for people who want to enjoy movies with powerful sound but are worried about complaints from neighbors. Creative SXFI CARRIER can be purchased from the following page. The price of Creative SXFI CARRIER is 120,000 yen including tax, and the price of SXFI THEATER is 23,800 yen including tax. Creative SXFI CARRIER --Super X-Fi® Headphones with Audio Holography Dolby Atmos® Speaker System Sound Bar --Creative Technology (Japan) https://jp.creative.com/p/speakers/creative-sxfi-carrier

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