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Move Over Horse Armor - The New Xbox Wireless Headset Comes With 6 Months Of Dolby Atmos

IntentionalPun

Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
Why didn’t they just include it in the system itself? They slap the advertising label on the box, unless they just kept the advertising money for themselves and still pass on the purchasing a license for their gamers.

They do not have any license for "Dolby Atmos for Headphones" indicated on the box. They have the regular Atmos label, because that comes w/ the system.

"Dolby Atmos for Headphones" is the only thing separate, because Dolby charge an extra fee even on top of what the device manufacturer pays to have the Atmos logo.

I'll never use Dolby Atmos for headphones myself.. so don't have any interest in MS absorbing the $15 extra cost into my purchase price.

The system comes w/ MS's 3d headset tech just like the PS5 comes w/ Sonys.. it also comes w/ the option to pay for Dolby's.. (unlike PS5, which has no such option)
 
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Oh shit, we got Atmos fanatics up in this bitch
Yep I've spent the money on Speakers and recievers and paid for that damn codec and I'm going to use it. :)
I've yet to get an example of this special audio that Sony uses. It's identical on headphones as the Microsoft version. Just a simulated surround experience.
I need a game title for the PS5 and or what headphones and or what setting on my reciever to use to get the most out of it. Otherwise it's just a cheap ass way to fool the gaming masses that they are getting any surround from their expensive game system. Really having a hard time hearing anything better than what a Turtle beach from back in the 360 days will give you from the headphones of PS5 and Series X special free surround offerings.
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Another embarrassing thread, Jesus fuck people get a grip. MS/Xbox isn't coming to take your children away, they've just become slightly more competitive.
Nah, they're just gonna nickel & dime their parents.

Happy I Like It GIF by swerk
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
They do not have any license for "Dolby Atmos for Headphones" indicated on the box. They have the regular Atmos label, because that comes w/ the system.

"Dolby Atmos for Headphones" is the only thing separate, because Dolby charge an extra fee even on top of what the device manufacturer pays to have the Atmos logo.

I'll never use Dolby Atmos for headphones myself.. so don't have any interest in MS absorbing the $15 extra cost into my purchase price.

The system comes w/ MS's 3d headset tech just like the PS5 comes w/ Sonys.. it also comes w/ the option to pay for Dolby's.. (unlike PS5, which has no such option)
Hot damn Dolby is grimy.
 

NullZ3r0

Banned
Don't tell the OP this, but original Xbox owners had to pay for DVD playback as well.

Same reason as before. MS doesn't want to pay a licensing fee to Dolby for every Xbox they sell when it's a feature that maybe 20% of the userbase will ever use. That would be dumb for a machine where you're fighting for every penny to keep it at a competitive price-point.

So just pass the cost on to the consumer. I have no problem with this.
 
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DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Don't tell the OP this, but original Xbox owners had to pay for DVD playback as well.

Same reason as before. MS doesn't want to pay a licensing fee to Dolby for every Xbox they sell when it's a feature that maybe 20% of the userbase will ever use. That would be dumb for a machine where you're fighting for every penny to keep it at a competitive price-point.

So just pass the cost on to the consumer. I have no problem withh this.
I had an OG Xbox, and never bought that trash add on, why? Because the PS2 included it a year+ prior.
 

99Luffy

Banned
Actually, yes.
Licensing costs are usually manufactured inside the product final price. You don't directly pay Unreal Engine fees when you buy a game, and you don't directly pay for other software licenses when buying a console or other products.

Also, licence costs to you and me (final users) and to Microsoft/Sony/etc. (manufacturers) are wildly different.

This is just a cheap way for microsoft to offset costs and increase margins, and yes, it's ridiculous.
Of course its cheaping out. Just like Sony cheaped out by not including an atmos option at all.
Right click on the volume icon on the corner of your PC. Click on spatial audio then click on the DTS/Dolby option. Are you mad that the manufacturer didn't pay the license for you? Im sure you might be but it is what it is. Thats how its been for years.
 

DaGwaphics

Member
Don't tell the OP this, but original Xbox owners had to pay for DVD playback as well.

Same reason as before. MS doesn't want to pay a licensing fee to Dolby for every Xbox they sell when it's a feature that maybe 20% of the userbase will ever use. That would be dumb for a machine where you're fighting for every penny to keep it at a competitive price-point.

So just pass the cost on to the consumer. I have no problem with this.

I think the DVD playback was a much bigger feature back then, and with no free alternative available, a bigger issue. MS was just in a rough spot trying to price match Sony and the year older PS2 with a more advanced/costlier box.

With 3D audio, MS is giving you a perfectly workable solution at no charge.
 
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Alright

Banned
I feel like this deal would be more acceptable is Dolby Atmos came with Gamepass.

But to sell it like this? I would have expected Microsoft to do some deal with Dolby to get atmos for free for its users. Because while this looks bad for Microsoft, it looks very sleazy by Dolby. Even if Dolby legit sell licenses etc, doing this on a console is a faux pas
 

IntentionalPun

Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
I feel like this deal would be more acceptable is Dolby Atmos came with Gamepass.

But to sell it like this? I would have expected Microsoft to do some deal with Dolby to get atmos for free for its users. Because while this looks bad for Microsoft, it looks very sleazy by Dolby. Even if Dolby legit sell licenses etc, doing this on a console is a faux pas
You do get Dolby Atmos for free w/ the Xbox (or included in the price, as MS eats the licensing fee.)

You do not get "Dolby Atmos for Headphones."

You get Windows Sonic, and DTS:X for Headphones though.
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Of course its cheaping out. Just like Sony cheaped out by not including an atmos option at all.
Right click on the volume icon on the corner of your PC. Click on spatial audio then click on the DTS/Dolby option. Are you mad that the manufacturer didn't pay the license for you? Im sure you might be but it is what it is. Thats how its been for years.
That makes it okay? Just like DLC’s been a thing for years that started with horse armor, and we still bitch about it till this day no matter the platform.

If these codec makers start to see that new source of “accepted” revenue stream with what Dolby is doing and they want to get in on the pie, then that horse armor title is apt a decade from now, innit.
 

harmny

Banned
That makes it okay? Just like DLC’s been a thing for years that started with horse armor, and we still bitch about it till this day no matter the platform.

If these codec makers start to see that new source of “accepted” revenue stream with what Dolby is doing and they want to get in on the pie, then that horse armor title is apt a decade from now, innit.

You bitch for it online. In real life no one actually cares. It is and has been okay for years. If people bitching on reddit and gaf controlled the market fifa and cod wouldn't sell 20 million copies every year and roblox wouldn't be almost as big as nintendo
 
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Alright

Banned
That makes it okay? Just like DLC’s been a thing for years that started with horse armor, and we still bitch about it till this day no matter the platform.

If these codec makers start to see that new source of “accepted” revenue stream with what Dolby is doing and they want to get in on the pie, then that horse armor title is apt a decade from now, innit.
2030. You will own nothing and be happy.

We can bitch and moan and point out the shit all day long. We all know what's coming; a piecemeal existence made up of subscription based products, streamed from a server of which we will own zero.

Not aiming this at MS btw, but this is the direction all media is going
 

Alright

Banned
Because there are people out there to make excuses for this practice and pay, just like the dawn of horse armor. Kind of fitting that it went full circle with Bethesda starting horse armor than Microsoft buying Bethesda. Will they buy Dolby next? 🤭

That's a good point 😂

They'll 'buy out' Dolby when Microsoft need some new IPs or PR
 

IntentionalPun

Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
That makes it okay? Just like DLC’s been a thing for years that started with horse armor, and we still bitch about it till this day no matter the platform.

If these codec makers start to see that new source of “accepted” revenue stream with what Dolby is doing and they want to get in on the pie, then that horse armor title is apt a decade from now, innit.

I'd love the option to pay for formats that a manufacturer didn't want to buy a license for.

If I could buy a TV, and decide for myself whether to pay for HDR10+ or Dolby Vision, or both.. that would be awesome actually. It's all just software anyways.

This isn't anything brand new either; this $15 license came out in 2017 for Xbox. I'd love the OPTION to pay for it on my PS5 too.
 

Batiman

Banned
Yeah man, I’m the one who’s out of touch. I’m so out of touch because at one time when you plastered labels all over your box the licensing of codecs were included. But hey if the free one is just as good I’ll be sure to note that one down on the sheet when the the spec wars try to use that as a big dick talking point in the never ending war of plastic attrition.

FOR THE BRAAAAANNNND!*

*that’ll be $5.99 and you’ll like it.
You sound salty for some reason.
 

Chukhopops

Member
There were a lot of debates between Dolby Atmos and Tempest. It was pretty much THE argument on 3D audio around here. Which one was better. So it's worth pointing out that one requires you to pay. I'm not in this for "TEH CONSOLE WARZ". Just to make sure information is known.
I’m not comparing Tempest vs Atmos but the two headsets and one just has more options/features than the other.
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
2030. You will own nothing and be happy.

We can bitch and moan and point out the shit all day long. We all know what's coming; a piecemeal existence made up of subscription based products, streamed from a server of which we will own zero.

Not aiming this at MS btw, but this is the direction all media is going
The Great Reset.

Press Play, that’ll be 1 Bitcoin for 10 minutes, please.
Old man yells at cloud
803923.jpg
 

99Luffy

Banned
That makes it okay? Just like DLC’s been a thing for years that started with horse armor, and we still bitch about it till this day no matter the platform.

If these codec makers start to see that new source of “accepted” revenue stream with what Dolby is doing and they want to get in on the pie, then that horse armor title is apt a decade from now, innit.
The codec revenue has always been there. The pie is now optional.
 

TriSuit666

Banned
There are two products: Dolby Access for Headphones, and Dolby Access for Home Theater. Both require OTF's to unlock.

It's also the same for the DTS Unbound app too by the way, so let's not get in front of ourselves here. Both companies are at it.
 

TriSuit666

Banned
It’s now passed on to the consumer by the hardware manufacturers, While codec makers find more clever ways to have separate ones depending on the hardware device.

🤣👍
Bought a TV with a Dolby product in it recently?

Well, the Licensing fee will be in the cost of the TV, bucko. :)
 

Chukhopops

Member
Because there are people out there to make excuses for this practice and pay, just like the dawn of horse armor. Kind of fitting that it went full circle with Bethesda starting horse armor than Microsoft buying Bethesda. Will they buy Dolby next? 🤭
I don’t even get how you draw a comparison with horse armor, which was entirely cosmetic - are you saying Atmos is cosmetic? It’s more comparable with the dvd playback license thing back in the days.

If you buy another Atmos compatible headset (even a Sony one) you’ll still need to pay for the Dolby Atmos license.
 

IntentionalPun

Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
It’s now passed on to the consumer by the hardware manufacturers, While codec makers find more clever ways to have separate ones depending on the hardware device.

🤣👍
You really seem confused by all of this.

It's always been passed on to consumers in the price of the product as it's one of the direct costs of selling that product. A deal is negotiated per device, or you pay a ton of money to become part of a "consortium" then get to put that logo on all devices (but the cost of being part of the consortium is still something "passed on to consumers", you don't do any of this for free.) Sony was the founder of the DVD consortium for instance.. it's not like we all didn't "pay for that" when we bought Sony products.

The Xbox Series X comes w/ more included licenses than the PS5.. and also has the option to buy one not available on the PS5.

I'd honestly much rather my devices come w/ none of these licenses.. it would make MORE sense for consumers to be able to choose, and pay for what they actually use.. rather than have to buy a device where the manufacturer chooses what licenses to support, and still makes you pay for it whether you use it or not.
 
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DeepEnigma

Gold Member
You really seem confused by all of this.

It's always been passed on to consumers in the price of the product as it's one of the direct costs of selling that product. A deal is negotiated per device, or you pay a ton of money to become part of a "consortium" then get to put that logo on all devices (but the cost of being part of the consortium is still something "passed on to consumers", you don't do any of this for free.) Sony was the founder of the DVD consortium for instance.. it's not like we all didn't "pay for that" when we bought Sony products.

The Xbox Series X comes w/ more included licenses than the PS5.. and also has the option to buy one not available on the PS5.

I'd honestly much rather my devices come w/ none of these licenses.. it would make MORE sense for consumers to be able to choose, and pay for what they actually use.. rather than have to buy a device where the manufacturer chooses what licenses to support, and still makes you pay for it whether you use it or not.
It wasn’t really passed on to the consumer, since those things were sold at a loss and always at that price point that people expected the consoles to be.

I’m not confused at all, I’m just gonna look back on this thread in 10 years just like we all did horse armor where everyone will be bitching at that point. And I bet it’ll read the same as that horse armor one did where certain people will be defending it, only to say FUuuuu 2K and charging me for dunks and shit a decade later.
 
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KungFucius

King Snowflake
Why is it an issue with Dolby themselves? Why isn’t the platform holder eating the licensing cost for a spec that their marketing is hocking their product around? At one time those licensing costs were included with the price of the product and eaten by the manufacturer.

Especially when they want to PR it as a selling point.
Agreed it is utter shit. Need to get a license on each platform too. Headphones in general are fucking awful. They need to come up with a standard instead of having dongles with special installs. Fuck Sony too for making me stick a fucking dongle in the PS5 to use their fucking headphones.
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
You do get Dolby Atmos for free w/ the Xbox (or included in the price, as MS eats the licensing fee.)

You do not get "Dolby Atmos for Headphones."

You get Windows Sonic,
I don’t even get how you draw a comparison with horse armor, which was entirely cosmetic - are you saying Atmos is cosmetic? It’s more comparable with the dvd playback license thing back in the days.

If you buy another Atmos compatible headset (even a Sony one) you’ll still need to pay for the Dolby Atmos license.
We are in a new age where it’s so much easier now for other makers to sniff this out and do the same thing via 1KB software unlocks (like horse armor ;))

Back then you had to buy a junk kit, or a PS2 that had it out of the box.
 
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DonF

Member
You need to buy a license for Dolby Atmos for headphones as far as I know. The version for sound systems is free though.

I see your point but that’s a kinda weak concern when all reviews say the headset is great value for money.
For now, that's the thing. Everything is a service now. You have to RENT a function for a hardware. It's ridiculous.
 

Chukhopops

Member
We are in a new age where it’s so much easier now for other makers to sniff this out and do the same thing via 1KB software unlocks (like horse armor ;))

Back then you had to buy a junk kit, or a PS2 that had it out of the box.
Well there is actual technology behind Atmos, it really does something and so far every game that had good spatial sound used it (it’s quite rare actually).

Ill concede to your slippery slope argument though as I guess there is some truth to it. But on a practical level you build your home system with a certain technology in mind and you won’t buy plenty of different software.
 
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