Theater Calculators

Speaker placement & acoustics

Dolby Atmos Ceiling Speaker Angle Calculator

With four overheads, Dolby wants the front and rear pairs around 45° elevation from the listener, with 30–55° acceptable. This maps those angles onto a flat ceiling.

Inputs

Units
m
m
°
°

Results

Height above ears
1.45m
Front overhead offset
1.45m
Rear overhead offset
1.45m

The Result is indicative and educational. It does not constitute a design, a technical opinion or medical advice and does not replace calculations or verification by a person with the appropriate qualifications and authorisations. Before purchase, installation or use in practice – in particular in electrical installations – the Result should be verified by a qualified specialist. Details: Terms of Service, point 4.

Example products

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Calculation method

Offset on the ceiling = (ceiling − ear height) / tan(elevation).

Exact formula

d = h / tan(θ). Limits: flat ceiling, on-axis seat, no slope, no upfiring Atmos modules.

Frequently asked questions

45 degrees from where?

From the seated ear, looking up, not from the front wall.

Can I use upfirers?

They bounce. This calculator is for speakers actually in or on the ceiling.

Too close to the wall?

Raise the elevation toward 55°, which pulls the speaker toward the seat, or move the seat. Do not bury a speaker in a corner cove.

Only two overheads?

Dolby puts a single Top Middle pair at about 80°, just in front of the seat; 65–100° is allowed. Enter 80° as the front elevation and ignore the rear result.

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