Dolby's Atmos technology reaches Delhi

Dolby Laboratories announced on Thursday (May 1) the launch of Delhi's first theater with the latest Atmos audio technology. The theatre is the Delite Cinema in Daryaganj.

With a seating capacity of 960, Dolby claims Delite Cinema to be Asia's largest theatre to have Dolby Atmos installed so far. Sources said close to Rs 70 lakh had been spent on the installation.

The Atmos technology was first launched in India at Chennai's Satyam Cineplex in December 2012. Currently, there are 15 theatres with Dolby Atmos technology in Chennai, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai and now Delhi.

According to Dolby Laboratories, there will be around 75 screens with Dolby Atmos in India. This setup requires a CP 850 processor to be installed, which is paired with all the amplifiers that are connected to the multiple speakers placed in the theater.

The setup also involves overhead speakers, additional screen speakers (wide screens), additional surround speakers and subwoofers. As a result, the sound doesn't only come from the sides but almost any direction.

Not every movie can reap the benefits of Dolby Atmos installation. While the shooting is done in regular fashion, the movie can be optimized for this technology as Dolby Atmos studios. At the moment, there are 8 Dolby Atmos studios in Mumbai and Chennai.

While most of the multiplexes pass on the cost to customers, the rates of the tickets continue to remain the same, starting at Rs 60 and going up to Rs 135 for balcony.

Shashank Raizada, owner, Delite Cinema says, "Whatever may be the state-of-the-art technology in the world, we try to get it here. With today's launch, we are the first ones to install this technology in Delhi".

According to Ashim Mathur, marketing head, Dolby Laboratories India, "Usually, installing the setup requires close to two weeks. But the work at Delite was finished with 10 days, during after show timings at night. With Dolby Atmos, you feel as if you are in the movie, not merely watching it."